7800/x1800/x1900xt

[CaiNaM]

was getting rdy to bit the bullet and purchase a new mb (haven't seen a good reason to dump my agp yet) and video card.

something to consider is that i have several 19" lcd's, so have no need to run above 1280 res.

dual gpu if i go with ati is not an option. the master/slave card, extra cables, and poor ratings of current ati chipset motherboards have given me cause to ignore that as an option.

at any rate, it was brought to my attention in another thread there are a couple new x1800xt's available for around $400 shipped, which muddies the picture a bit, so i thought i would seek some second opinions.

1. grab a 7800gt and free sli motherboard. there are still some avail from evga. should the 7900 being released in the next few weeks warrant an upgrade, evga offers a "step up" program. i would also have the option of adding a 2nd card later in sli configuration. total cost: $350

2. grab an x1800xl, a non-sli mb, and overclock the xl. total cost: $450

3. grab an x1800xt and a non-sli motherboard. as mentioned earlier, there are a couple avail (for a short time perhaps? $50 instant rebate) for $400. add another $120ish for a decent mainboard. total cost: $525

an x1900xt isn't included as it would run me over $600 (with mb), which is an area i don't really want to approach (nor something i wish to justify to my wife, lol).

anyway, opinions are appreciated, and feel free to suggest other options if you have something you feel makes sense.

thanks!

 

[Keysplayr]

CaiNaM, don't do a blessed thing til the second week in March. Prices on X1800/X1900's are pretty damn good and very tempting right now, but with new releases 2 weeks away, it does not make sense to buy a damn thing right now. IMHO. You were smart to wait this long, why not take it to full term.

 

[Zenoth]

I can say one thing ...

There is no reasons to buy high-end R520 cards anymore now that R580 is available. More stable, faster, and around the same prices, if not actually the same.

If you're considering R520, go with X1800 XL. Not only you'd save money, but it's a superb card, with an even greater over-clocking potential then a 7800 GT. I do suggest getting after market/third-party air-cooling solutions however.

 

[CaiNaM]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
CaiNaM, don't do a blessed thing til the second week in March. Prices on X1800/X1900's are pretty damn good and very tempting right now, but with new releases 2 weeks away, it does not make sense to buy a damn thing right now. IMHO. You were smart to wait this long, why not take it to full term.

cause honestly, i'm having a hard time not grabbing the free sli board while i can. i'm still getting along just fine with my 6800GT OC. with lcd and a 1280 native res, the only game i've really had to back down (and then only to 2xaa) is FEAR, which i haven't played since i completed the game months ago.. the only reason i'm even doing this now is my wife's pc (a64 @ 2.4ghz/9800pro) is getting a little long in the tooth in the video dept...

one other thing to consider (which i neglected to mention) is i have 3 other pc's, so i always have some place to put whatever i replace

 

[SpeedZealot369]

free mobo? where?

 

[Witchfire]

CaiNam, I have the eVGA SLI mobo they offer with the 7800GT and GTX, and it's not that great. it has some SERIOUS memory compatability issues (noted right in eVGA's own forums), and the BIOS options, especially OCing options, leave a lot to be desired IMHO. Another issue to be aware of with taht board is the lack of compatability with any good harware monitoring program... MBM5 doesn't work with it, Speedfan BARELY works. If you're in the market, I'd recommend either the ASUS A8R-MVP or the ABIT AT8. The X1900XT can be had for right at, or just under $500 right now, and as was stated already, the prices should drop pretty soon. I see no good reason to get the X1800XT, as it's priced right there with a X1900XT. I'd say if you coiuld swing it, get the X1900XT, if not, get the mobo and an X800GTO2 & softmod to a X850XT PE for under $200, & wait ill prices drop to get the heavy hitter card (whatever one you choose)

Just my $ .02

 

[n7]

The 7800GT option is the best bang for buck way to go, but if you like to play those newer games @ maxed settings, then grabbing the X1800XT would be what i'd do.

 

[SpeedZealot369]

Just wait for the new nvidias to come out.

 

[Capt Caveman]

If you can find one in store, this might not be bad - X1800XT for $350

 

[CaiNaM]

Originally posted by: SpeedZealot369
free mobo? where?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130277

Originally posted by: Witchfire
CaiNam, I have the eVGA SLI mobo they offer with the 7800GT and GTX, and it's not that great. it has some SERIOUS memory compatability issues (noted right in eVGA's own forums), and the BIOS options, especially OCing options, leave a lot to be desired IMHO. Another issue to be aware of with taht board is the lack of compatability with any good harware monitoring program... MBM5 doesn't work with it, Speedfan BARELY works. If you're in the market, I'd recommend either the ASUS A8R-MVP or the ABIT AT8. The X1900XT can be had for right at, or just under $500 right now, and as was stated already, the prices should drop pretty soon. I see no good reason to get the X1800XT, as it's priced right there with a X1900XT. I'd say if you coiuld swing it, get the X1900XT, if not, get the mobo and an X800GTO2 & softmod to a X850XT PE for under $200, & wait ill prices drop to get the heavy hitter card (whatever one you choose)

Just my $ .02

thanks for the input. i was aware of some of the issues, but overall i've read several reviews (AT incl.) which gave some high marks for it.

it's not the most full featured board, but it's hard to beat that combo price.

the x1900xt is still a full $100 more than the x1800xt (msi apparently dropped their price no the x1800xt ), which, moneywise would not be that big of a deal except i have to upgrade the mainboard as well, which, as i stated earlier puts it up over $600 for the x1900.... that's just hard for me to justify.

Originally posted by: n7
The 7800GT option is the best bang for buck way to go, but if you like to play those newer games @ maxed settings, then grabbing the X1800XT would be what i'd do.

i am of a similar opinion (at least when incl. free mb), but at the same time, i've had an nvidia in my main pc for 2 years, and part of me would like to play with something a little different, and i am also enticed by the features (6xaa, adap. af, avivo...).

part of the problem is in the back of my mind, i keep thinking that if video cards aren't going to be making "generational leaps" or adding new features (upcoming nv's are just a refresh), adding a 2nd video card somewhere down the road to gain performance might be a viable option. here i sincerely feel ati is lacking, from a lack of variety in crossfire mainboards, the fact that southbridge options are holding it back, and the cumbersome way they've implemented master/slave, extra cables, etc (nvidia can do it without all that; it's surprising ati couldn't).

so in essence, i feel nvidia gives me a dual card option, while ati does not.

still, the x1800xt option has me intrigued - there's even a refurb out there for $340... but then which way do i go for a mainboard? nf4 sli has kind of become the mainstream now that the new nv chipset is out (dual 16x pcie lanes), but that's a waste if i go ati.. nf4 ultra has fewer and fewer options.. and i just have little confidence in current crossfire mb's (as stated above).

in terms of which way to go on hardware, this has been the most confusing upgrade i can remember (and i've been doing this a long time).

Originally posted by: SpeedZealot369
Just wait for the new nvidias to come out.

heh.. well, baby needs a new pair of shoes (ie the wife needs a new vid card) and again, i'm just at a point where i desire playing with something new NOW - heh.. im sure we've all be there. there's also that gnawing in the back of my mind that wants to see what it's like using the latest from ati on a day to day basis...

 

[LW07]

wait until the X1900XT drops. It is significantly faster than a X1800XT. It's got the performance of 2 7800GTs in SLI and will offer much better performance than any of those cards in upcoming games this year.

 

[Bobthelost]

There's no need at all for a 1900XT for 1240x1080 gaming, (excepting ultra hardcore gamers, who wierd me out). But the 7900GT should be just about right, a bit faster than my 7800GT which can do full/most eyecandy and decent fps for almost any games out, the 7900GT should be a nice little improvement.

If you really can't wait then get a 7800GT, just remember you'll have to remove the card, send it off, wait for them to process it and return it at some point, where you'll be stuck without any graphics card... hell in other words

 

[LW07]

But a year down the road, the X1900XT will be needed to run at 1280*1024.

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: LW07
But a year down the road, the X1900XT will be needed to run at 1280*1024.

No it won't. It might be needed to run games with every single bit of eyecandy at decent fps. But by dropping down to a slightly lower level of eyecandy (2xAA rather than 4x, the horror! ) it'll still be more than playable with a 7900GT.

 

[LW07]

But The X1900XT will last him much longer and has more performance than 2 7800GTs in sli. He might like 4xAA in his games. The X1900XT even has 6xAA as a feature. I'd get a crossfire mobo with that too as when the X1900XT becomes a little weak, get a X1900 Crossfire edition and put them together and you have super performance! Also, ATI delivers much better Image quality than Nvidia.

 

[Bobthelost]

Cross fire isn't in the cards (excuse the pun) and i can't really see the need or point in a X1900XT for 19" LCD gaming. However that's all up to the OP.

PS: I still think that SLI/crossfire is a bad buy unless you know you'll be upgrading within a year or so from one card to two.

 

[LW07]

I wasn't paying any attention to his post. Then, I would wait for prices to drop and get the X1900XT. If you can, get the XTX.

 

[CaiNaM]

the xtx is only a couple fps faster than an xt, correct? doesn't seem the price premium would be worth it for just that.

the more i keep considering which route to take, the more it seems to be that if ati had a decent dual card option (master/slave card? wtf were they thinking?), nvidia would clearly be a second choice (even with the upcoming g71 and their rumored aggressive pricing) until g80. not that i WANT to go dual card, but it just seems nice to having more options for later. my how things change...