Crossfire vs XTX

[rallyhard]

Hi, I managed to get a $500 credit account at Best Buy and I'm going to use it to get a new video card. At bestbuy.com, they've got both the x1900xtx and the x1900 Crossfire Edition models. Any recommendations on which I should get?

System condsiderations:
I don't even have a PCI-E mobo yet, but I'm in the process of rebuilding/replacing my Socket A/9700AIW system right now and I'll have one soon....so far, I've replace the power supply with a 550W Ultra and I picked up 2 gigs of Mushkin 667 3-3-3 DDR2. When Core 2 Duo is on the streets, I'll pick up an E6600 and a motherboard. Initially, I'll probably go with an inexpensive single-PCI-E-slot mobo, but there's a fair chance I might want to go Crossfire down the road....

I am leaning toward the XTX for top performance NOW, especially since DX10 is just around the corner.....but, based on past pricing (I haven't kept track before), will the Crossfire card end up being very much more expensive down the road, when other people will be buying up the remaining inventory and they will be in demand because people like me are wanting to go Crossfire??

Opinions?

 

[josh6079]

If you are going for top performance "NOW" then you might want to go with a 7950GX2. I don't know if you could get that at bestbuy.com (chances are you probably shouldn't even if you could--bestbuy is a rip-off). However if you are wanting the best visuals and decent performance, then a single XT would do you great and cost around $300. I haven't heard of a single XT that couldn't do what an XTX can.

Crossfire is pretty nice though, minus the fact that you are considering going with a single PCI-E motherboard initially (that might be a just little problem). I would honestly tell you to just wait a little longer. G80, X1950XTX, GX2 price drops, more Conroe availability, etc. are many reasons why holding out just a little longer may prove to be worth the wait.

 

[Kromis]

Single card FOR THE WIN!

 

[athfbum]

Yeah, if you can get one at Best Buy, get a 7950 GX2. If you can't, get an X1900XTX

 

[nitromullet]

Dual card setups are not a good upgrade plan. Usually, by the time you would be ready to buy your second card there is another single card out that meets the performance of the proposed dual card setup. The only time you should get into dual cards is if you buy them together (or pretty close) because there is no single card that can meet the performance of the dual card setup. Personally, if I was buying a video card right now, I would get an eVGA card... It looks like the next generation cards from NVIDIA might be out in a month or two (based on rumor and speculation), and with eVGA you can step up to one of these new cards within the first 90 days and get credited your full purchase price. It really is a sweet deal if you can take advantage of it.

edit: you might be out of luck on this one with bb. It doesn't look like they carry any higher end eVGA cards.

 

[rallyhard]

Thanks for the replies, guys!
I might consider going with the GX2 (and would definately consider going with something more mid-range and reasonable on price), but, like I said, I'm limited to Best Buy's selection (because I don't have the money and they gave me $500 of same-as-cash credit), and their top-end video card variety is sorely lacking.

That's why this is just a x-fire vs xtx competition here....

I also don't know how long it takes Best Buy to start stocking the newest hardware (anyone know about that?), or I might just wait for the 1950xtx....that's some killer memory!

Yes, I would sure like to have a G80 or R600, but I can't bring myself to wait that long.....this current setup is getting waaaaaay too old. Oblivion and BF2 are suffering!

 

[tuteja1986]

don't bother with GX2 :! still has some driver issues and Quad SLI driver are doomed with bugs.

if you just want to enjoy your BF2 and oblivion , just get something like 7900GT or X1800XT/X1900XT.

Battlefield 2 2048x1536x32 4xAA/16xAF

X1800XT : 70.3FPS
7900GT : 31.7FPS

Quake 4 Ultra Quality 2048x1536x32 4xAA/16xAF

X1800XT : 49
7900GT : 40.1

Oblivion Mountains Area 2048x1536x32 0xAA 16xAF
X1800XT : 25.9
7900GT : 23.6

 

[MegaWorks]

Get the X1900XT don't waste your money.

 

[josh6079]

Originally posted by: rallyhard
Thanks for the replies, guys!
I might consider going with the GX2 (and would definately consider going with something more mid-range and reasonable on price), but, like I said, I'm limited to Best Buy's selection (because I don't have the money and they gave me $500 of same-as-cash credit), and their top-end video card variety is sorely lacking.

That's why this is just a x-fire vs xtx competition here....

I also don't know how long it takes Best Buy to start stocking the newest hardware (anyone know about that?), or I might just wait for the 1950xtx....that's some killer memory!

Yes, I would sure like to have a G80 or R600, but I can't bring myself to wait that long.....this current setup is getting waaaaaay too old. Oblivion and BF2 are suffering!

In that case, get a single XT. If they really only have an XTX or Crossfire edition cards, get the XTX since it is clocked higher and normally cheaper or around the same price. Also, if the motherboard you're getting only has one PCI-E slot, obviously you wouldn't be able to do crossfire until you got a different motherboard, and that is the last thing you want to change once you get a rig put together.

For me, single cards are great. Less hassels, great performance, better working vsync, dual monitor support, less power intake, etc. They are in every way better than two cards except for the sole performance boost in games (Crossfire sometimes can get up to 100% frames per second gains) I had SLI myself not too long ago, and going from two cards to one is the best thing I've done with my computer recently. It's kinda like women, (no offense to women here, I'm just joking). If you have two of them, and it is that time of the month when they start acting up, you're going to be in a headache of problems. However if it's late at night and they want to strut their stuff "playing a game", it is bliss.
One woman would give you less hassel during the dark days of the month, if not any. Yet when certain nights come around the "performance" may not be all the way up to par with two.

 

[LittleNemoNES]

Best buy is a ripoff...

So then, rip THEM off.
:evil:
Buy one of those 4 year warranties and then show up 3 1/2 yrs later with your card. Tell them it keeps giving you errors...

"Ok sir you have $500 credit"

You slowly but gleefully walk over to pick up a GeForce 9950 GTX
Rinse and repeat. I do it with my TVs. Haven't bought a new TV is 7 yrs -- always have the newest Sony Wega Model
Muahahaha

:evil:

 

[josh6079]

Originally posted by: gersson
Best buy is a ripoff...

So then, rip THEM off.
:evil:
Buy one of those 4 year warranties and then show up 3 1/2 yrs later with your card. Tell them it keeps giving you errors...

"Ok sir you have $500 credit"

You slowly but gleefully walk over to pick up a GeForce 9950 GTX
Rinse and repeat. I do it with my TVs. Haven't bought a new TV is 7 yrs -- always have the newest Sony Wega Model
Muahahaha

:evil:

That's really dirty......good idea though!!

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: athfbum
Yeah, if you can get one at Best Buy, get a 7950 GX2. If you can't, get an X1900XTX

I would agree with this, however they do have a sale going on.

You can get 15% off of a BFG card if you buy a video game for $29 or more.

LINK

So you could get a 7900GT OC for $329 - 15% = $280. Heck for $500 you could almost get 2. Looking at their site this is the best bet.

 

[josh6079]

That isn't a bad deal. But if he's getting a Crossfire motherboard how could he use two 7900GT's?

 

[rallyhard]

Originally posted by: josh6079
In that case, get a single XT. If they really only have an XTX or Crossfire edition cards, get the XTX since it is clocked higher and normally cheaper or around the same price. Also, if the motherboard you're getting only has one PCI-E slot, obviously you wouldn't be able to do crossfire until you got a different motherboard, and that is the last thing you want to change once you get a rig put together.

Yeah, they only have the XTX and the Crossfire, and they're both $500. Otherwise, I'd have to step down to the AIW1900 or 1900GT. While the AIW would be nice, I'd rather have the (much) higher clock of the top end models. As to the motherboard choice, I haven't chosed a motherboard yet, and I may end up with a Crossfire-capable board, I'm not sure yet. The budget will dictate that.... If I go cheapass right now, it's no problem for me to replace it down the road....I enjoy swapping out hardware and I'm always very careful of ESD.

Originally posted by: gersson

Buy one of those 4 year warranties and then show up 3 1/2 yrs later with your card. Tell them it keeps giving you errors...

"Ok sir you have $500 credit"

Now that is truely awsome. Thanks for the idea, man, will do! :beer:

Originally posted by: Wreckage
[You can get 15% off of a BFG card if you buy a video game for $29 or more.

So you could get a 7900GT OC for $329 - 15% = $280. Heck for $500 you could almost get 2. Looking at their site this is the best bet.

Meh, not the best bet for best performance....probably a better be for price/performance, though. But I'll take the horsepower of the top ATIs right now. Besides, you left the $29 for the game out of your math.... $329 - 15% = $280 + 29 = $309.... If I could actually get 2 for under my $500 credit limit, this might be the way to go....but I want POWER right now.

Thanks for all your thoughts, people. It's looking like I'll probably go with the XTX and hopefully the 4 year warranty!