GPU upgrade - Please help on choices.

[nib95]

Hi there guys.

Basically, I am currently using two 7900 GT's OC'd.

I am thinking about a swap in GPU's. Firstly because I havent been especially happy with the image quality of my 7900 GT's. I am pretty sure my monitor banding issues are relative to my GPU and not my monitor. Also, when my cards overheat they do tend to get troublesome.

Anyway here are my choices.

I could buy a 7950 GX2.

More ram, probably lower speeds, but at least it's a more unified solution, as appose to two actual seperate GPU's. This would cost me roughly about the same as my 7900 GT's.
In other words, no profit no loss.

Or, I could buy an X1950 XTX.

Better cooler (I sold my X1900 XTX as it was too hot and loud), better IQ and AA on games that I previously couldnt use it (Oblivion). Then again performance wise it is'nt quite as good. Especially at OpenGL games. And one of the main games I'll be playing very soon is Quake Wars. (better on Nvidia?) However, going with an X1950 would save me around £40. Which is nice.

So which should I do?

One other thing...

I'll be upgrading to a DX10 card as soon as ones out, so this GPU only has to last me until thye DX10 cards come out. SO dont factor in games like Crysis in to the performance equation.

Thanks!

 

[Paratus]

Well supposedly the Cat 6.8s improved OPGL /Quake performance. The X1950XT is the fastest single GPU card around. I'm guessing you don't want to give up your mobo and get a crossfire compatable mobo.

 

[nib95]

Originally posted by: Paratus
Well supposedly the Cat 6.8s improved OPGL /Quake performance. The X1950XT is the fastest single GPU card around. I'm guessing you don't want to give up your mobo and get a crossfire compatable mobo.

I'm not interested in Crossfire.

Not yet anyway. I might look in to it when I buy my new DX10 GPU, Core 2 Duo Vista PC around January next year. But till then it's just a single X1950 XTX or 7950 GX2.

 

[CelSnip]

I would go with the X1950XTX. You can also use it for physics if you upgrade to a R600, so it's not worthless when DX10 comes out.

 

[TheRyuu]

If you can wait...get a X1950XT(X).

 

[Kromis]

How are you going to swap the card? Sell'em, return'em, or put in another comp?

 

[nib95]

Originally posted by: Kromis
How are you going to swap the card? Sell'em, return'em, or put in another comp?

Sell em, or swap them with my mates GX2.

 

[Kromis]

Originally posted by: nib95

Originally posted by: Kromis
How are you going to swap the card? Sell'em, return'em, or put in another comp?

Sell em, or swap them with my mates GX2.

Hmm...

My first decision as soon as I saw the choices was to swap'em for the GX2.

If you sell'em, you might have to take a little loss so I don't think its worth losing $20-$40 bucks for another card.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Although cat 6.8 does improve performance somewhat, its not as high as ATi claims according to neoseeker who tested the new drivers.

I would get the 7950GX2. As you mentioned the X1950XTX cannot match 7950GX2 in performance overall.

Link
I like this review, because similiar to hardocp, it shows how far the card can go between different 3d apps.

quoting:

Quake 4 has been a game that ATI has typically suffered with ever since it was released and the same could be said for Doom 3 too, as the former uses the Doom 3 engine. The Radeon X1950XTX delivered a similar gaming experience to the BFGTech GeForce 7900 GTX OC, but game play wasn't quite as smooth on ATI's latest flagship part. We encountered some really choppy frame rates through portions of the game, especially when firing the grenade launcher for the first time in a while.

We encountered the same problems on the Radeon X1900XTX too, albeit slightly worse than on the Radeon X1950XTX - the memory bandwidth advantage helped the latter here. Meanwhile, the BFGTech GeForce 7950 GX2 delivered the best gaming experience by some distance. We were able to play the game with 4x transparency supersampling enabled, with the frame rate never dropping below 20 fps.

If your going to play quake wars like me, i suggest an NV card.

I heard it kicked ass as well!! cant wait. Looks like its going to be much better and stabler than BF2 not to mention the GFX.

 

[Nightmare225]

Definetly the 7950GX2, I love mine.

 

[hmorphone]

If you're not happy with the IQ on your current rig I wouldn't get the 7950GX2. Sounds like time to try the 1950XTX.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: hmorphone
If you're not happy with the IQ on your current rig I wouldn't get the 7950GX2. Sounds like time to try the 1950XTX.

TRY your friend's GX2 in your rig . .. if you like the IQ, the X2 is for you. . ..if not, it's time to see red.

 

[nib95]

Ok, well guys thanks for all your comments.

I bagged a steal of a buy from eBay!
A eBayer with a shop and great feedback etc

Just got a BFG 7950 GX2 brand new and retail sealed for £325 inc postage!
Considering they retail and e-tail for £380+ Id say I got a great deal.

My 7900 GTs are both XFX Xtreme versions pre-OCd so I should get around £190 for em each.
So all in all I did ok.

If the IQ doesnt hold out, I'll sell it and get a X1950 XTX instead.
But thats not to be released till some time yet, so till then the GX2 will do me fine.

 

[apoppin]

325 pounds is really cheap . .. if i understand the exchange rate it's a steal!

. . . you are almost making money

good luck with it

 

[nib95]

Originally posted by: apoppin
325 pounds is really cheap . .. if i understand the exchange rate it's a steal!

. . . you are almost making money

good luck with it

Indeed I will be!
I should make about £60.
Which is not half bad at all!

I'm well chuffed

I'm also buying a new mobile phone tomorrow aswell. Nokia N93. But thats going off topic lol.

 

[hmorphone]

Congrats!

 

[nib95]

Just a quick question.
What kind of overclocks have people been getting with the 7950's?