Decisions, Decisions...

[Capt Caveman]

Sorry to create another thread folks but I'm having a hard time making a decision. A 1920x1200 LCD will be used and I also currently use 2 PCI slots w/ a X-Fi soundcard and half-height tv-tuner card.

Choices:
1. HIS X1900XT at monarch - $460AR plus shipping and aftermarket cooler($50)
2. HIS X1900XTX at monarch - $540AR plus shipping and aftermarket cooler($50)
3. EVGA 7900GTX EGS at ZZF - $499 plus tax($45)
4. EVGA 7900GT CO at ZZF - $299x2 plus tax($55)

Thoughts:
1. ATI provides a better IQ experience
2. ATI - more power and heat
3. 7900GTs - 256mb won't take advantage of newer games that may use >256mb

Anything I've missed? Any thoughts?

Thx

 

[BenSkywalker]

The 7900GT SLI setup would have the most shader power by quite a bit, but as you mentioned it would lack the RAM that the others offer and that is already starting to become a factor in current games- that will likely be more important moving forward.

 

[aggressor]

The EVGA 7900GT CO at ZZF is out of stock, plus they raised the price to $349 :\ I was going to order one

 

[Wreckage]

3. EVGA 7900GTX EGS at ZZF - $499 plus tax($45)

You save on money and you get 512MB of memory. That seems to fit your description of what you want.

You can always add another GTX down the road.

 

[gi0rgi0]

I have the his x1900xtx which i got that same deal a few weeks back but damn 2 7900gts in sli would be kick ass. Only thing is like ben skywalker mentioned it only has 256mb of ram.

 

[RobertR1]

You can get the sapphire x1900xtx oem from newegg for $499. I received mine yesterday and it came with all the cables, if that is a concern.

If you have a sound card and TV tuner, can you even run Sli on an existing board???

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: gi0rgi0
I have the his x1900xtx which i got that same deal a few weeks back but damn 2 7900gts in sli would be kick ass. Only thing is like ben skywalker mentioned it only has 256mb of ram.

What kind of warranty does HIS provide?

 

[5150Joker]

X1900 XTX:

better features like HDR+AA
better IQ with angle independent AF
still the fastest in D3D

It's a no brainer.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: RobertR1
You can get the sapphire x1900xtx oem from newegg for $499. I received mine yesterday and it came with all the cables, if that is a concern.

If you have a sound card and TV tuner, can you even run Sli on an existing board???

That's a good question. I'm pretty I can run SLI but I'm not sure how much air circulation will be impaired. I could sell my current pci tv-tuner card for a pci-e one to provide plenty of air circulation but then that adds even more to the SLI equation/cost.

 

[RussianSensation]

At $499 price level I'd choose X1900XT/XTX for slightly better AF. But 7900GTX should overclock well too with that massive cooler and be better at OpenGL games.

If you intend to spend above that I think this is unbeatable once it becomes available:

2x XFX 7900GT Extreme - $330 x 2

The clock speeds are 24x 550 = 7800GTX 512mb and memory is clocked at 1630 which is almost as fast as 7800GTX 512mb. So essentially you'll get way more performance than 1 7800GTX 512mb which cost $750 last week.

 

[Jules]

Does the 7900gtx support HDR?

 

[MBrown]

You should have kept your old card and waited 6 months the the 8800gtx or what ever its going to be called.

 

[Topweasel]

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
X1900 XTX:

better features like HDR+AA
better IQ with angle independent AF
still the fastest in D3D

It's a no brainer.

IQ depends on the person. your right about HDR+AA but if everyone goes the HL2 route this might not make a difference since there has been alot more cards that don't suppport it sold then do. Fastest in D3d is debatable specailly when talking abou retail cards since their are quite a few OC models that havn't been reviewed available.

 

[nib95]

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
X1900 XTX:

better features like HDR+AA
better IQ with angle independent AF
still the fastest in D3D

It's a no brainer.

Though your right about these things, you have to remember the two most popular games this year (or 3) will be Prey and Quake wars, both OpenGL. Maybe even UT2K07 later in the year. Again the same, so Nvidia would be the better choice in this instance. HL2:Aftermath will also be very popular, but HL2 games always run so well anyway, I doubt a few fps here and there when your already at 80+ fps doesnt really matter.

Eldar scrolls, well, we'll just have to wait and see how that performs on both cards.

 

[gi0rgi0]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: gi0rgi0
I have the his x1900xtx which i got that same deal a few weeks back but damn 2 7900gts in sli would be kick ass. Only thing is like ben skywalker mentioned it only has 256mb of ram.

What kind of warranty does HIS provide?

Pretty sure its just 1 year. Ill have to check though.