It seems that the Memory on my ATI 1900 XTX is going bad. When playing BF2, I see columns coming from the ground all the way into the sky. Also, I see black triangles in the sky and sometimes in the water. I wasn't sure if a file had gotten corrumpted in my BF2 folder or something else, so I played HL2 deathmatch for a while. Sure enough I started seeing lines going from wall to wall and some from ground to sky. I checked my temps with ATI tray tool and all were fine. My framerate stayed excellent, but at one point maybe an hour or two into a gaming session (been home sick from work for 3 days) and I got an ATI VPU recovery error. Later on, the machine 'froze' and I had to reboot. After rebooting, I dropped my resolution and settings down and the defects got a lot less frequent.
Luckily, I had bought the Product Replacement Plan when I bought the card. I am pretty sure that I can walk right back into a CompUSA store and get a replacement card off the shelf. I didn't expect to have to replace this card anytime soon and I haven't followed Video cards since getting this one. I don't know what would be an equivelant replacement card if CompUSA no longer has any 1900 XTX's on hand (I doubt that they do).
I checked the CompUSA website and found no inventory of ANY items in my area. I called (figuring a computer/inventory problem) and wasn't able to get through for 2 days. Finally someone answered the phone and told me that ALL the CompUSA stores in my area will be closing (the closest one is about an hour-and-a-half away).
Here is my dilemma: What should I replace my card with?
I stopped in my local store tonight and found that they have a BFG 7950 512MB card in stock ($350) and a BFG 8800 320MB ($400) card in stock. They don't have any more high end ATI cards. If I choose to go into Manhattan (the closest store that isn't closing) I can get a BFG 8800 640MB ($500) card. Of course, I will 'only' have a $400 credit towards the new card (whichever it is), I have no problem paying another $100 towards a better card as long as it is a BFG or something with a similar warranty program.
Do I need 512MBs of memory? Will 320MBs suffice? Is 320 the 'new' 256, and 640 the 'new' 512 for marketing purposes only or will newer games really need the larger memory?
Please realize that I am NOT a fanboy. I have used ATI and Nvidia cards both of which have brought me hours of pleasure. My system hardware at the moment is: Samsung 20.1" LCD (1600x1200 (not widescreen), S754 3400+ CPU (overclocked to 2650Mhz), 2GBs of OCZ ram, Epox 8NPASLI motherboard, Antec TPII 380W PS (32A on the 12V rails), and 2 PATA HDs (no raid) + a SATA 36GB Raptor. I don't plan on upgrading any time soon. If anything I might upgrade to a S939 X2 mobo and CPU and perhaps Vista within a year or 18 months.
Any constructive input would be greatly apreciated.
I think that I can predict the responses, most of which will be to take the long trip and get a BFG 640MB 8800. Some might say just get the 7950GT since it still is better then the 1900 XTX I had and it is 512MB. Others still might say that the 8800 320MB blows away the 7950 even though it has less memory. I am ready to hear all sides.
Luckily, I had bought the Product Replacement Plan when I bought the card. I am pretty sure that I can walk right back into a CompUSA store and get a replacement card off the shelf. I didn't expect to have to replace this card anytime soon and I haven't followed Video cards since getting this one. I don't know what would be an equivelant replacement card if CompUSA no longer has any 1900 XTX's on hand (I doubt that they do).
I checked the CompUSA website and found no inventory of ANY items in my area. I called (figuring a computer/inventory problem) and wasn't able to get through for 2 days. Finally someone answered the phone and told me that ALL the CompUSA stores in my area will be closing (the closest one is about an hour-and-a-half away).
Here is my dilemma: What should I replace my card with?
I stopped in my local store tonight and found that they have a BFG 7950 512MB card in stock ($350) and a BFG 8800 320MB ($400) card in stock. They don't have any more high end ATI cards. If I choose to go into Manhattan (the closest store that isn't closing) I can get a BFG 8800 640MB ($500) card. Of course, I will 'only' have a $400 credit towards the new card (whichever it is), I have no problem paying another $100 towards a better card as long as it is a BFG or something with a similar warranty program.
Do I need 512MBs of memory? Will 320MBs suffice? Is 320 the 'new' 256, and 640 the 'new' 512 for marketing purposes only or will newer games really need the larger memory?
Please realize that I am NOT a fanboy. I have used ATI and Nvidia cards both of which have brought me hours of pleasure. My system hardware at the moment is: Samsung 20.1" LCD (1600x1200 (not widescreen), S754 3400+ CPU (overclocked to 2650Mhz), 2GBs of OCZ ram, Epox 8NPASLI motherboard, Antec TPII 380W PS (32A on the 12V rails), and 2 PATA HDs (no raid) + a SATA 36GB Raptor. I don't plan on upgrading any time soon. If anything I might upgrade to a S939 X2 mobo and CPU and perhaps Vista within a year or 18 months.
Any constructive input would be greatly apreciated.
I think that I can predict the responses, most of which will be to take the long trip and get a BFG 640MB 8800. Some might say just get the 7950GT since it still is better then the 1900 XTX I had and it is 512MB. Others still might say that the 8800 320MB blows away the 7950 even though it has less memory. I am ready to hear all sides.
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