7600gt or x1800gto?

[killajl]

I have a 6800nu rite now. I was wondering if I should go with a 7600gt or x1800gto and how long would it last? I mostly play bf2 and will start playing oblivion soon and probably the next bf whatever (bf2145 or sumthin) when it comes out. I would like to play bf2 at 1280x1024 (I have a 19" lcd) with the AA/AF turned up and oblivion too if possible. Worth the upgrade?

Or should I go with 7900gt (i would consider voltmod'ing) or x1800xt or even x1900xt? Although for these, I would really have to think hard about using that much money on them...I would like to keep it under $200 if possible.

Any suggestions or comments appreciated.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

The 2 primary games you list will play better on the X1800GTO, which can be had for just under $175 shipped after MIR.

 

[Exsomnis]

Battlefield 2 and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion generally run better on ATi hardware, but the X800 GTO will not support HDR in the latter. It's just my point of view, but that alone would convince me to buy the 7600GT instead.

 

[Extelleron]

X1800GTO for those games. However, you might want to try and get a cheap 7800GT off the FS/T forums or spend a little more and get an X1800XT (you can get one for $250 AR these days)

 

[killajl]

How often does the x1800xt dip to ~$250? On newegg, the MSI x1800xt is $286 after $30 MIR. Is that a good deal?

 

[Rockhound1]

Killajl,

I too have a problem spending over $200 for a video card, especially since the video cards seem to change so frequently. I am currently using a 6600GT and have decided to upgrade. I looked hard at the X1800GTO and the 7600GT. I did searches on the Internet and looked at the reviews. Based on the reviews that I was able to find comparing these two cards, it looked like the 7600GT was faster than the X1800GTO in the majority of benchmarks (real games, not synthetic) at stock speeds. However, I will be the first to admit the differences were not that great one way or the other. Now, if you are planning on overclocking, then it looks like the X1800GTO has more overclocking potential, which would make it somewhat faster than the 7600GT. I am not an overclocker, so in the end, I decided to purchase the 7600GT. It was my decision on what I felt was best for me and my computing habits.

Either way you decide, I think the two GPUs (X1800GTO and 7600GT) are pretty evenly matched at stock speeds. If you are going to stay mainly with the games you identified in your original post, and you are open to overclocking, then I think I would give the nod to the X1800GTO.

Good Luck!! :thumbsup:

 

[Sonikku]

How does the GTO fare against the X850XT?

 

[Munky]

At the current prices of the x1800 series cards, you'd think Ati is loosing money on them instead of making money. Basically, the 7600gt is slightly faster without AA and AF, the x1800gto is slightly faster with AA and AF. Overall they're closely matched, although the gto does have some extra featurs like HQ AF and the ability do do HDR+AA at the same time. However, since these are midrange cards, the gto may not have the power to run stressful games like Oblivion at high settings with HDR+AA. It could probably do it in AOE3, though. But is would certainly benefit from HQ AF, since the performance hit of that feature is minimal.

What surprises me is that despite the fact that it costs Ati a lot more to make the x1800gto than it costs Nv to make the 7600gt, somehow they still manage to compete pricewise. And for that money you cant go wrong with either card.

Here's some benches with both cards:
http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/hard...test_geforce_7600_gt_7900_gt_7900_gtx/

 

[RussianSensation]

BF2 @ 1280x960 AA/AF
X1800GTO = 67.74
7600GT = 50.75
Also BF2 @ 1280x1024
Oblivion

X1800GTO it is then. Although $250 X1800XT 256mb is certainly a good value too.

 

[killajl]

Originally posted by: Rockhound1
Killajl,

I too have a problem spending over $200 for a video card, especially since the video cards seem to change so frequently. I am currently using a 6600GT and have decided to upgrade. I looked hard at the X1800GTO and the 7600GT. I did searches on the Internet and looked at the reviews. Based on the reviews that I was able to find comparing these two cards, it looked like the 7600GT was faster than the X1800GTO in the majority of benchmarks (real games, not synthetic) at stock speeds. However, I will be the first to admit the differences were not that great one way or the other. Now, if you are planning on overclocking, then it looks like the X1800GTO has more overclocking potential, which would make it somewhat faster than the 7600GT. I am not an overclocker, so in the end, I decided to purchase the 7600GT. It was my decision on what I felt was best for me and my computing habits.

Either way you decide, I think the two GPUs (X1800GTO and 7600GT) are pretty evenly matched at stock speeds. If you are going to stay mainly with the games you identified in your original post, and you are open to overclocking, then I think I would give the nod to the X1800GTO.

Good Luck!! :thumbsup:

Thanks for the write up! Great info and I appreciate the help! Now...I'm thinking x1800gto or x1800xt 512mb. I'm leaning towards the x1800xt 512mb, and I wonder if I'm right in thinking that the 512mb will come in handy later on? Or does 512mb even matter?

 

[Munky]

512mb may or may not matter, depending on the game and settings. It would matter in most games if you play at 1600x1200 resolution or higher with high settings. At lower settings it varies, but the x1800xt certainly has the gpu power to put the 512mb to good use. It's not like buying a 512mb geforce 6200. Here's one article that show the benefits of 512mb on the x1800xt: Text

 

[JimmyH]

As between the gto and the xt 512mb I would say the xt the majority of the time. There's a chance you could get a HIS or C3d x1800gto to unlock to 16pipe and then that would be your bang for bux champ.

HIS & C3d x1800gto unlocked to 16 pipes

Unfortunatley the HIS gto is expensive and the C3d doesn't have real good odds. I personally would just get the cheapest x1800xt I could find. IMHO as a gambler I'd try:

C3d x1800gto at ~ $150 for the against the odds unlock win
HIS x1800gto for the probable unlock at ~ $190
x1800xt for the safe win @ ~ $250

 

[killajl]

Thanks for all the help. I'll probably go with a x1800xt. Anyone have any idea how often there are deals on the x1800xt or if there is any indication that the prices are gonna drop anymore some time soon?

 

[A554SS1N]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
BF2 @ 1280x960 AA/AF
X1800GTO = 67.74
7600GT = 50.75
Also BF2 @ 1280x1024
Oblivion

X1800GTO it is then. Although $250 X1800XT 256mb is certainly a good value too.

Oddly enough, if you add all the fps values together for 1280x1024 in the Firingsquad Oblivion review you linked to, the 7600GT is a tiny bit faster on average! The X1800GTO is the much better choice though as the minimal frame-rates in the demanding areas are much higher, but that seems like some sort of NVidia driver big to me at the moment with it effecting all NV cards so badly. Kinda weird.... just thought I'd come out with some completely useless random fact.

 

[Sonikku]

Originally posted by: munky
At the current prices of the x1800 series cards, you'd think Ati is loosing money on them instead of making money. Basically, the 7600gt is slightly faster without AA and AF, the x1800gto is slightly faster with AA and AF. Overall they're closely matched, although the gto does have some extra featurs like HQ AF and the ability do do HDR+AA at the same time. However, since these are midrange cards, the gto may not have the power to run stressful games like Oblivion at high settings with HDR+AA. It could probably do it in AOE3, though. But is would certainly benefit from HQ AF, since the performance hit of that feature is minimal.

What surprises me is that despite the fact that it costs Ati a lot more to make the x1800gto than it costs Nv to make the 7600gt, somehow they still manage to compete pricewise. And for that money you cant go wrong with either card.

Here's some benches with both cards:
http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/hard...test_geforce_7600_gt_7900_gt_7900_gtx/

Thanks, but I asked how the X850XT faired against the GTO. I already know the X850XT is faster then a 7600GT for $160. My question is if the GTO is worth paying $169 for, even with a annoying rebate.

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: Sonikku

Thanks, but I asked how the X850XT faired against the GTO. I already know the X850XT is faster then a 7600GT for $160. My question is if the GTO is worth paying $169 for, even with a annoying rebate.

It's probably not worth the upgrade costs from X850XT to X1800GTO, unless you step up to 7900GT or X1800XT or the GTO unlocks. I usually expect 2x the performance increase for $300 graphics card value.