7900GTX vs. X1900XTX - Consolidated Results

[DeathReborn]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

Originally posted by: Matt2
One thing is undeniable.

If you want a multi-GPU system, there is no other choice but 7900GTX SLI

Why test cards at 4AA only without exposing their true potential? Many people forget that these cards can display 8AA/14AA/ 16AA and still provide playable framerates. If I purchased 2 7900GTX or X1900XT cards i'd surely want to enable as many image settings as I could while still maintaining 50+ frames. With these settings ON Nvidia gets owned:

SLI gets smoked part 1
SLI gets smoked in almost every game part 2
And the latest Firingsquad 7900 gtx sli and xtx crossfire roundup is garbage because they don't use AA at all.

Also, with 2 graphics cards the point of having HDR and AA enabled in games is a strong one since 2 cards can actually handle it. So besides the dongle issues and overpriced Crossifre cards and Xpress 3200 boards, Crossfire destroys SLI for playability factor imo.

While I do agree that SLI is not the ONLY way, it's just the better way in certain hardware configurations. Those 2 reviews top out at 1600x1200 which to me is too low to benchmark ultra high end systems like Crossfire X1900XTX & SLI 7900GTX. Both those sites should branch out into 1920x1200, 1920x1440 & 2048x1536 with such setups.

I have a old CRT that does 2048x1536 which I used to do light CAD work with (LaCie Electron Blue II 22") and i'd like to try gaming on it. That is why i'd like to see high resolution tests on CF & SLI setups.

4xAA & 16xAF is just fine to me, don't really notice any improvement at higher AA since I spend more time playing the game than admiring the scenery.

 

[moonboy403]

firingsquad just posted a review about those 2 setup with the dell 3007

sli edges out crossfire in 3/4 games (ati won cod2)

i was surprised by the gtx sli edging out xtx crossfire in fear

 

[beggerking]

ah . read the wrong link..its the first link...
well, why isn't there a 16xAA for 1900?
I thought 14xAA isn't true 14x...
CF does take a less performance hit at 8xAA..

 

[CaiNaM]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

Originally posted by: CaiNaM

"destroys"? this is the kind of highly subjective, unsubstantiated, color-tainted adjective that gets people's feathers ruffled and flamefests going.

Please check the benchmarks I actually linked. There is nothing subjective about ATI Crossfire setup consistenly providing faster framerates (still playable) at 14AA/16AA settings while Nvidia's setup struggles.

there's plenty of subjection; the specific situations you choose to focus on are highly selective and mean little, and i'll throw in 2 reasons why:

1) you're compaing a mode that is only available on ati

2) there's no comparision of the improvement you get on 14x aa compared to other modes. it's a fact there's a point of diminishing returns... where is it on this?

the reality is across the modes that are more frequently used, nv not only doesn't get "destroyed", but is actually the better performer. this is why your statement is "tainted" - only showing a highly specific situation supporting your point of view, rather than looking at the overall situation which is far more relative - would be like an nv fan only discussing Q4 benchmarks and declaring NV destroys ATI, and that certainly would not be accurate, now would it?

 

[Cookie Monster]

When playing at 2560x1600 is AA needed?

That is one insane resolution.

Note - ATis Super AA is different to NVs SLi AA. ATi's way is more efficent, but they both produce similiar results.

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
FWIW - I'm interested in seeing how these two cards perform w/ Elder Scrollsblivion when it comes out on March 20. Currently, I'm leaning towards the X1900XT. However, the G80 is suppsed to be out in June. Correct? If so, I wonder if waiting til the end of the month or til April to buy an EVGA 7900GTX would be a good thing b/c I could then step-up to a G80 when it comes out. Just a thought.

June would be nice. I'd like to see them bring back angle-independent AF and shore up some of their long-standing image quality issues, also add HDR + AA. No unified architecture though, but it still should be much better than G70/71.

Then R600 in November/December.

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: Acanthus

one minor thing, hardware volt mods are about 80 cents at radio shack.

Actually I paid $5.00 for the hardware to do each of my 7800GTs but when talking in such large amounts, a few bucks here and there isn't much at all. The only way doing your own vmods will work though is if you have the necessary soldering skills and for this level of stuff you need to be very good. I had a friend, who's been soldering on circuit boards for 20+ years, attempt the vmod on one of my 7800GTs and she came very close to ruining it. To get someone else to solder it for you, like ViperJohn, will run you another $80-120 a card which makes the cost of the setup increase a lot. But I get your point.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: Elfear

Originally posted by: Acanthus

one minor thing, hardware volt mods are about 80 cents at radio shack.

Actually I paid $5.00 for the hardware to do each of my 7800GTs but when talking in such large amounts, a few bucks here and there isn't much at all. The only way doing your own vmods will work though is if you have the necessary soldering skills and for this level of stuff you need to be very good. I had a friend, who's been soldering on circuit boards for 20+ years, attempt the vmod on one of my 7800GTs and she came very close to ruining it. To get someone else to solder it for you, like ViperJohn, will run you another $80-120 a card which makes the cost of the setup increase a lot. But I get your point.

resistor + superglue/epoxy > resistor + soldering in my opinion

 

[Hacp]

Nvidia= Better if you want Ultra super duper spending 800+ dollars High end
ATI is a better value for its single card high end.

Crossfire is just too buggy. Look at the performance vs SLI. SLI beats crossfire in terms of % improvement comparing single and dual cards.

All in all, If I were buying a 500 dollar card today, I would buy ATI. If I only had 300 dollars, I would go with the 7900GT.

 

[nib95]

Originally posted by: Hacp
Nvidia= Better if you want Ultra super duper spending 800+ dollars High end
ATI is a better value for its single card high end.

Crossfire is just too buggy. Look at the performance vs SLI. SLI beats crossfire in terms of % improvement comparing single and dual cards.

All in all, If I were buying a 500 dollar card today, I would buy ATI. If I only had 300 dollars, I would go with the 7900GT.

And if you had $600-$700?

 

[BFG10K]

I'd give the nod to the 7900GTX this round. Its thermal characateristics are just excellent and that cooling solution is great. :thumbsup:

 

[nib95]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
I'd give the nod to the 7900GTX this round. Its thermal characateristics are just excellent and that cooling solution is great. :thumbsup:

Lol, I knew youd say that even before the G71 was released.
Your a cooling, silence, safe temps fan

 

[axemanrio]

I've got a 6800GT that I run at 405/1150 and play games like Quake 4, FEAR, COD2, HL2... I need a bit of help deciding between a 7900GTX and waiting for a nextgen DX10 compatible card, if nVidia launches one this year. The thought of a complete upgrade also crossed my mind after I saw what Intel is bringing us through their Conroe lineup. $500 is a big investment and I want to ensure I don't have to upgrade my graphics card for another 2 years.

 

[moonboy403]

that depends on what resolution you game at and how easily you get satisfied

the gtx would probably be okay at 1024 x 768 by the end of 2nd year but i recommend getting the xtx if you're goin for single card configuration

 

[axemanrio]

Thanks moonboy, I game at 1024x768 4xAA... but would it make sense waiting for a dx10 compatible card since most FPS games in 2007 will be dx10?

 

[moonboy403]

that's what you should be worrying about, 2 years is a long time

by looking back, far cry was really one of the first game taking advantage of dx9 and the cards at that time were already able to do dx9 for over a year i think

so the transition from dx9 to 10 wouldn't be immediate
we should begin to see developers using dx10 in their games in a year or so

 

[schtuga]

Originally posted by: 5150Joker

Originally posted by: Ronin

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
I was banned from there for calling out Rollo's b.s. Like I said, they welcome AEG trolls with open arms.

Get over yourself, and this issue. It's over and done with, and yet you continually find stupid ways to bring it up. Same with your fanboism. Jesus, man, give it a rest.

WTF are you blabbing about Ronin? It's not over and done with at Hard forums and that's what I was addressing. Facts are they DO embrace AEG trolls like Rollo and ban anyone that criticizes the b.s. he posts there, just because he got banned from here doesn't mean the AEG issue is magically gone.[/q


I didn't need to read past here to reply.You constantly post of Rollo's where abouts,but funny how everytime there is a circle jerk starting at rage3d,you are the first one with your pants down.You are the biggest hypocrite around.You use your blues brother(I'm on a mission from god)attitude to justify it.The AEG excuse is old and tired.get off your high horse.

Are the X1900's a better featured card. Yes fact . They have far more features this round and when it comes to high end IQ/aa, af they make the difference, without near as great a penalty(I feel personally) I think they went a way that worked out better than Nvidia expected/anticipated.

7900's; Smaller chip less tranies means,no new tech,so they were simply looking for cheaper way to do what they already had.

This clearly gives ATI the high end.(AFAIC)I also feel the high end adds up to more than the small percent everyone else feels.(I'll get to this later)There are more to just margins invovled.


The people wanting the best will take the X1900 series.
But seeing the 7900gt (most oc'ed and most expensive)is cheaper than the
cheapest X1800XL (oem included) on the regular price list(didn't scan sales)at NCIX as a Canadian example means they should sell a ton.So it would come down to who produces the cheapest chip/sells the most combo.

Me and a buddy bought a monogramming, embroidery, promotional items(key chains golf balls,coffee mugs etc) store as a side gig.

If we are cheaper,we go broke faster.

If we have the best quality,we take more time/cost and guarantee repeat customers.

If we convince people to pay more for an equal product, we make the most cash.(People knowing you have the top card means you reap trickle sales all the way down through your line up)This is where you make your money because you bring in the unimformed/undecided.

Marketing rules!.


I think ATI has the best high end card and will reap from this,but the price of 7900gt's will have their sales equalling the sales of x1900 cards.(marketing -who has the best/ margin,who makes the most on cost/sale)

Also,remember,every nvidia card sold is a sli master card.

Should be a close horse race.

Things haven't been this great consumer wise in a long time.

 

[moonboy403]

i still feel the pricing is too high

but may the price war continue!

 

[ronnn]

Originally posted by: DeathReborn

Originally posted by: ronnn
Nice consolodation. Thanks. No clear winner here at this point. Will have to see how the heat, and power usage work out for ati. I am hoping that another die shrink may help ati on this front and the g80 may be quite close, which hopefully will improve the current iq deficits. Interesting how both companies have awesome cards with very obvious negatives. So I suggest pick your poison and enjoy gaming.

QFT.

What a way to celebrate 2,000 posts, a sensible post. gz

ronnn
Platinum Member

Posts: 2000
Joined: 05/22/2003

Thanks :beer:

(maybe I have to get a life)

 

[ronnn]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
I'd give the nod to the 7900GTX this round. Its thermal characateristics are just excellent and that cooling solution is great. :thumbsup:

Hope you are not disapointed with reduced iq. I am holding out for a couple of months in the hope that I can get a card with both improved features, Iq and not loud and hot.

 

[ronnn]

Originally posted by: moonboy403
i still feel the pricing is too high

but may the price war continue!

I also think that, but I am cheap. :beer:

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: ronnn

Originally posted by: BFG10K
I'd give the nod to the 7900GTX this round. Its thermal characateristics are just excellent and that cooling solution is great. :thumbsup:

Hope you are not disapointed with reduced iq. I am holding out for a couple of months in the hope that I can get a card with both improved features, Iq and not loud and hot.

increased LOD banding for transparency AA sounds fair to me

Although id pay a fortune for a card that doesnt shimmer AT ALL and perform and a reasonable level. (so i cant go back to my trusty GF3 Ti500)

 

[RussianSensation]

CaiNaM I understand where you are coming from. I suppose we would have to segregate gamers into those who use high resolutions (beyond 1600x1200) and are content with 4AA/16AF and those who prefer to stay at 1600x1200 and instead increase AA quality. In the former, I would give NV the edge. In the latter I would give ATI the edge. So I should have been more clear about this. In my eyes I only have a monitor that can do 75hz at 1600x1200 and thus I quickly thought of cranking AA if I had those cards. So my bad for being sidetracked by not recognizing others would prefer 1920x1200 4AA over 1600x1200 14AA since for their LCD 1600x1200 is not native.

 

[tuteja1986]

Originally posted by: Crusader
Theres a lot of intangibles in favor of the 7900s as well.
But say we call the performance a wash.. just to avoid nitpicking over 5% again and again.

• The Geforce 7900 has these qualities over the competing solution:
  Lower power consumption, run cooler, run quieter, have SLI capability (scales better than Crossfire which requires special master cards and special motherboards), as well as cheaper pricing.

• The X1900 has this advantage:
  HDR+AA

The rest.. Purevideo vs AVIVO.. while nice, I dont think too many truley care about. Ive had PVP since my Geforce6.. and with my soon-to-be 7900GT I still wont be using it. But that might be a concern for some here.

Best SFF PC pick (by far)- 7900GT
Best High End pick (close one)- 7900GTX
High End Alternative (if you just cant stand using Nvidia)- X1900XTX

Thank you MR WANIBE ROLLO OR ROLLO in another Alias

 

[yacoub]

Originally posted by: carma
If the results are that close, I opt for ATI since the IQ is better.

Now if only there would be more quietly cooled X1900XT/XTXs released... :[

The stuff now is all reference design or close to it, which is like a jet engine.

I need an X1900XT or 7900GT or 7900GTX with a larger heatsink design and a quieter fan that can also be dynamically controlled by ATI Tool or similar software.