Good match for a 2.5g a64?

[Midwayman]

I have a venice 3000+ at 2.5g as a cpu and want to upgrade my video card. Currently a x800xl. What performance level of GPU can my cpu resonably support? I dont want to overbuy on my video card.

 

[Corporate Thug]

the cpu is fast enough where it is not a bottleneck. A x1900xt would be a good choice. whats the budget?

 

[MDE]

X1900XT sounds like a good choice if you're running 1600x1200 with some eye candy. It all depends on your budget and what resolution you play at.

 

[luigionlsd]

X1900XT is a great card, although in the $200 budget, you can't go wrong with a 7900 GT. Warning - with G80 coming in a couple weeks, don't be upset if the price drops suddenly.

 

[Midwayman]

I was thinking of maybe doing a set of 7900GS in SLi. I just didnt want to get so much card that I was wasting money.

 

[Midwayman]

Id like to spend under $400 on video Closer to $300 if possible, but Im flexible if its good power for the $$$. And Im planning on 1600x1200 with 4xAA as a baseline.

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: luigionlsd
X1900XT is a great card, although in the $200 budget, you can't go wrong with a 7900 GT. Warning - with G80 coming in a couple weeks, don't be upset if the price drops suddenly.

I honestly don't think that the top tier 8800GTX and 8800GTS will have much affect on sub-$250 cards like the 7900GT. I'd imagine that the 7900GT will still be around for quite a few months hovering around the $200 mark until the high-mid range 8-series cards come out, which IIRC isn't supposed to happen until after the holidays.

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: Midwayman
Id like to spend under $400 on video Closer to $300 if possible, but Im flexible if its good power for the $$$. And Im planning on 1600x1200 with 4xAA as a baseline.

IMO, if you can get a single card that meets the performance of a dual card setup at roughly the same price, always go with the single card. While SLI has matured considerably, it still has all of the eccentricites of a high performance single card plus those that go along with a dual card setup. The only clear advantage for SLI is 16xSLI AA, which is still only usabe in a select few games. For the $400 that you would drop on 7900GS SLI, I'd go for an X1950XT for $420 instead. Keep in mind though, that the top ATI card will most likely drop in price when (or shortly after) the 8800's launch next week.

 

[Midwayman]

Well, thats just it. 2x 7900gs can be had for $320 AR + shipping right now. The most comparable single card is the x1950xtx thats $407 shipped right now.
Of course it most likely will take a hit soon with the 8800's coming out. If the price difference was smaller, it would be an easier choice to go with a single card.

 

[nullpointerus]

Originally posted by: nitromullet

Originally posted by: Midwayman
Id like to spend under $400 on video Closer to $300 if possible, but Im flexible if its good power for the $$$. And Im planning on 1600x1200 with 4xAA as a baseline.

IMO, if you can get a single card that meets the performance of a dual card setup at roughly the same price, always go with the single card. While SLI has matured considerably, it still has all of the eccentricites of a high performance single card plus those that go along with a dual card setup. The only clear advantage for SLI is 16xSLI AA, which is still only usabe in a select few games. For the $400 that you would drop on 7900GS SLI, I'd go for an X1950XT for $420 instead. Keep in mind though, that the top ATI card will most likely drop in price when (or shortly after) the 8800's launch next week.

Doesn't SLI have higher minimum frame rates?