Futureproofing: X1950XT or 7900GTO

[termac50]

Since these 2 cards have similar performance, with the ATI getting a very slight edge, which would be the better buy if I plan to get 2nd card in the future for an SLI or Xfire setup?

Both cards are $250, but the xfire version of the x1950xt is $300. Which would you go for?

 

[Cooler]

Originally posted by: termac50
Since these 2 cards have similar performance, with the ATI getting a very slight edge, which would be the better buy if I plan to get 2nd card in the future for an SLI or Xfire setup?

Both cards are $250, but the xfire version of the x1950xt is $300. Which would you go for?

x1950xt because of HDR+AA and will be better in games that use heavy shaders.

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Originally posted by: Cooler

Originally posted by: termac50
Since these 2 cards have similar performance, with the ATI getting a very slight edge, which would be the better buy if I plan to get 2nd card in the future for an SLI or Xfire setup?

Both cards are $250, but the xfire version of the x1950xt is $300. Which would you go for?

x1950xt because of HDR+AA, HQ AF, faster overall and will be better in games that use heavy shaders.

Fixed and QFT

 

[LittleNemoNES]

8800 GTS?

 

[acegazda]

No such thing as future proofing. You can however keep up with technology for another 2 years.
X1950XT b/c of above statements and the 7900gto is impossible to find.

 

[josh6079]

Originally posted by: gersson
8800 GTS?

QFT. If you're thinking about an X1950XTX the 8800GTS is about the same price with higher IQ and performance. The only thing that the X1950XTX has over the 8800GTS at the moment is driver support and that will change.

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Originally posted by: josh6079

Originally posted by: gersson
8800 GTS?

QFT. If you're thinking about an X1950XTX the 8800GTS is about the same price with higher IQ and performance. The only thing that the X1950XTX has over the 8800GTS at the moment is driver support and that will change.

Heh, he did say X1950XT at 250$, not the 450$ XTX!!

 

[TheRyuu]

Still, if you want to future proof (which I think is not worth it IMO) then get a 8800 card. 8800GTS can be had for $380 on Dell with their 15% off.

Future Proofing is not worth it. There will always be bigger and better things. Buying for the here and now is the best one can hope for. I bought 2x7900GT's in February/March in hopes of "future proofing". I now find myself buying a 8800GTS.

I think it's more worth it to buy a mid to high end card now and then just upgrade to another mid to high end card when the time is right.

 

[CurseTheSky]

The only ways I can think of future proofing:

Buy the cheapest card that will get the job done for now. If a 7600GT or 7900GS will do it, buy that for now and use the saved money next year.

- OR -

Buy an eVGA 7900GTO (nice card for the money), and use their step-up program to trade it in for a better card within three months. In three months, you should be able to get a 7900GTX, 7950GX2, or maybe even an 8800GTS for a decent amount less than they go for now. Keep in mind, the total amount you paid for the 7900GTO will be counted toward your trade-in. You probably won't NEED a new card in three months, but it's a way to have something now, and get something better later for less than you would have paid for it now.

 

[Munky]

Get whatever is faster now and forget about adding a second card later. Many people already planned to do the "buy one now, buy a second one later" upgrade path ever since SLI was introduced, and in the end a single newer high end card was a better choice than 2 older cards.

 

[n7]

SLI/Crossfire have been a waste of money since their introduction, except for very rare circumstances.

I wouldn't suggest that kind of planning for the future, especially with the 8800s already doubling the performance of the two cards you are looking at.

The X1900 XT 256 MB is faster than the 7900 GTO on average, nevermind the X1950 XT.

In every way the X1950 XT is a better deal than the 7900 GTO, aside from the cooler, which is annoyingly loud.

Adding the Accelero X2 cooler is cheap though, & it'll turn the X1950 XT into a quieter & faster card.

 

[Kromis]

Originally posted by: ShadowOfMyself

Originally posted by: josh6079

Originally posted by: gersson
8800 GTS?

QFT. If you're thinking about an X1950XTX the 8800GTS is about the same price with higher IQ and performance. The only thing that the X1950XTX has over the 8800GTS at the moment is driver support and that will change.

Heh, he did say X1950XT at $250, not the $450 XTX!!

LOLZOR! And fixed!

 

[Whirlwind]

I have the x1900xt 512 mb card. it runs graw 1280 X 1024 most settings on high....the game looks awsome and it runs smooth as butter...i was very impressed and I am going to buy another one for a 2nd build, I will get a 2nd generation direct x 10 card, when things are more ironed out and there are more drivers.

I think the X1900XT is one sweet card....just my opinion.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

$250 for the X1950XT. 256MB, 48 Pixel Shaders, 625MHz Core, 1800 MHz GDDR3 Memory -> What's not to like? The next good step-up would be a $400+ 8800GTS.

I don't know where you are getting a 7900GTO because the 7950GT has replaced the 7900GTX/7900GTO. I say go the the X1950XT.

 

[josh6079]

Heh, he did say X1950XT at 250$, not the 450$ XTX!!

Ah thank you, I overlooked that.

In that case $250 X1950XTX is a steal and performs better than a 7900GTO. It will be able to handle higher IQ at higher resolutions better.

 

[VooDooAddict]

For most people a 7900GS or better (or a 1900GT or better) is plenty for the time being until DX10 cards come down in price.

The exception to that is people running higher then 1600x1200 or people who need MAX AA/AF all the time .... if you fall in that category, get the best you can afford.

 

[Aries64]

Originally posted by: munky
Get whatever is faster now and forget about adding a second card later. Many people already planned to do the "buy one now, buy a second one later" upgrade path ever since SLI was introduced, and in the end a single newer high end card was a better choice than 2 older cards.

Right on the money. SLI and CrossFire are for Ultra high-end systems that are being built NOW. Why? Because as Munky alluded to, by the time most people can afford to buy their second card Nvidia and/or ATI have released a newer card(s) that are as fast or faster then the previous generation's flagship cards in SLI or CrossFire.

Best advice: Buy for now for the games that you play most, and upgrade again when you feel the need, selling your "old" hardware to help pay for the new hardware.

Edited for typo.

 

[Farmer]

DX10 is coming in a few months, and you're talking about future-proofing with DX9 cards?

There is no future-proofing, really.

 

[evolucion8]

Just get a decent DX9 card like 7600GT, or Radeon X1950 PRO and save for a DX10 card once they are settled, and also wait for the R600 to debut and 1 or 2 DX10 games to see how they performs. Because who knows that may be once of those cards will become a looser in DX10 like the FX 5800 Ultra was on DX9. Pretty ugly case people buying a high end FX 5800 for futureproofing and not able to run DX9 decently, even worse that the FX5900 was released 3 months later lol!