Advice on new video card

[Zuddud]

Putting together a new build. I think I have most of the components locked down:

GIGABYTE GA-M61P-S3 Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100
Athlon 64 X2 4200+(65W) Windsor 2.2GHz
Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN 450W

For video I was leaning towards this one:

BFG GeForce 7950GT 256MB OC

However, I'm seeing a lot of benchmarks that lead me to believe I'd be better off with a X1950XT or a X1950Pro for about the same price. The Oblivion benchmarks look great on ATI, but rumors of driver and heat issues make me hesitant. What do you guys think?

I'm not concerned about DX-10 support, SLI/Crossfire, or OC ability. Primary games are Oblivion, BF2142, and NFS:MW. I doubt I'll run much above 1024x768 on a 17" LCD.

$200 absolute max.

Oh, and will that PSU be sufficient? (450w 2 18amp 12v rails)

 

[Matt2]

I would get the X1959XT for sure. Especially considering the low resolution you are playing at. Nothing you're going to get in that price range is going to be able to touch the XT.

Is the native res of your LCD 1024x768 or 1280x1024?

 

[tuteja1986]

X1950XT 256MB = Powerful but consume alot of power... make sure you have a 6pin PCIE connector... 500W PSU
7950GT 256MB = Consume less power , produce less heat
They both have same level noise cooler.

Battlefield 2 1600x1200x32 4xAA 8xAF
X1900XT 256MB : 80.1
7900GTO : 77.3
X1950PRO : 64.2
7900GT : 59.7

Halflife 2 Lost Coast 1600x1200x32 4xAA 8xAF
X1900XT 256MB : 57.2
7900GTO : 51.9
X1950PRO : 43.5
7900GT : 40.9

Fear 1600x1200 0xAA 8xAF
X1900XT 256MB : 47
7900GTO : 41
X1950PRO : 35
7900GT : 34

Quake 4 1600x1200x32 4xAA 8xAF
X1900XT 256MB : 55.1
7900GTO : 55.5
X1950PRO : 40.1
7900GT : 45.4

Call of Duty 2 1600x1200 4xAA 8xAF
X1900XT 256MB : 40.5
7900GTO : 34.9
X1950PRO : 32
7900GT : 30.7

Farcry HDR 1600x1200 0xAA 8xAF
X1900XT 256MB : 54.1
7900GTO : 50
X1950PRO : 44.1
7900GT : 39.5


Oblivion HDR Mountain Area 1600x1200 0xAA 8xAF
X1900XT 256MB : 39.1
7900GTO : 32.5
X1950PRO : 31.3
7900GT : 24.1

Oblivion HDR Foliage Area 1600x1200 0xAA 8xAF
X1900XT 256MB : 26.8
7900GTO : 16.9
X1950PRO : 21.3
7900GT : 12

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ati_radeon_x1950_pro/


X1900XT = 256MB , 625Mhz , 1450Mhz , 16(48 Pixel shader processor)
X1950XT = 256MB , 625Mhz , 1800Mhz , 16(48 Pixel shader processor)


In conclusion the X1900XT 256MB beats all and X1950XT 256MB beats up X1900XT 256MB.

Winner is X1950XT 256MB

 

[Zuddud]

Native res is 1280x1024 so I imagine I should bump up the in-game res a notch.

Thanks for the benchmarks, though I really wish they had the 7950 included. Even so, when I look at the benches at TH, the 1950xt even blows away the 7950GT 512mb. So it looks like the 1950XT is definitely the way to go. Especially at $169 after rebate.

Power though...500w? The 450w unit upthread has 2 12v rails at 18amps each and a 6-pin pci-e. Wouldn't that do the job just fine?

 

[Zuddud]

Research and ye shall find.

Looks like the one I originally selected ain't gonna cut it. Gotta get 30amps on the 12v.