How much memory do I really need?

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: khenderson

----I've also read about how loud the 1900XT is and was a little concerned with that myself. I guess it depends on the case that you have.

You can get an Accelero X2 for $15 that will take care of the "loud" problem and cool the GPU better to boot.

 

[MadBadger]

Pabster - Thanks for the tip. :beer:

Ken - I found this deal for an EVGA GeForce 7900 GTO / 512MB GDDR3 / SLI / PCI Express / Dual DVI / HDTV / RoHS / Video Card

I don't know much about it, but from this thread it seems to be a pretty hot item and good for overclocking (I didn't read the whole thing, just bits and pieces). Apparently it's a "GTX in disguise". Assuming you can overclock it to a GTX, then performance should be similar to a 1900xt. The biggest difference is the 256 extra mb of memory.

I couldn't dig up a review, but I did find these:

1900xt vs 7900GTO
Newegg reviews
1900xt vs 1900GTX
super huge 23 page comparison of nVidia cards
GTX Benchmarks
More reviews related specifically to the eVGA 7900 GTX

Hmm, I might just buy this thing myself

Also, I believe that I read somewhere that eVGA has a trade in program. So when the new DX10 cards come out, you can trade this in and upgrade by paying the difference if you so choose.

One more thing. The dealnews posting lists the rebate as valid until 10/31/06, however I wasn't able to open the link. I don't know if the deal is dead or if it's just a technical problem. Worst case scenario is that it's apparently on sale tomorrow for $239 from chiefvalue.

hmmm, seriously considering this now.

 

[khenderson]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: khenderson

----I've also read about how loud the 1900XT is and was a little concerned with that myself. I guess it depends on the case that you have.

You can get an Accelero X2 for $15 that will take care of the "loud" problem and cool the GPU better to boot.

Thanks Pabster, but I'm not sure the Accelero fits:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=27&threadid=1942552&enterthread=y

 

[khenderson]

Originally posted by: MadBadger
Pabster - Thanks for the tip. :beer:

Ken - I found this deal for an EVGA GeForce 7900 GTO / 512MB GDDR3 / SLI / PCI Express / Dual DVI / HDTV / RoHS / Video Card

I don't know much about it, but from this thread it seems to be a pretty hot item and good for overclocking (I didn't read the whole thing, just bits and pieces). Apparently it's a "GTX in disguise". Assuming you can overclock it to a GTX, then performance should be similar to a 1900xt. The biggest difference is the 256 extra mb of memory.

I couldn't dig up a review, but I did find these:

1900xt vs 7900GTO
Newegg reviews
1900xt vs 1900GTX
super huge 23 page comparison of nVidia cards
GTX Benchmarks
More reviews related specifically to the eVGA 7900 GTX

Hmm, I might just buy this thing myself

Also, I believe that I read somewhere that eVGA has a trade in program. So when the new DX10 cards come out, you can trade this in and upgrade by paying the difference if you so choose.

One more thing. The dealnews posting lists the rebate as valid until 10/31/06, however I wasn't able to open the link. I don't know if the deal is dead or if it's just a technical problem. Worst case scenario is that it's apparently on sale tomorrow for $239 from chiefvalue.

hmmm, seriously considering this now.

MadBadger,

Oh man, now you've got me confused too.

I found some GTO vs. 1900xt reviews:
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/evga_e-geforce_7900_gto/default.asp

This one isn't in english and it seems to contradic the firindsquad data in favor of the GTO:
http://www.pcdiga.net/showthread.php?p=125367

I've since got the rebate to come up. $30 but only at tigerdirect.com or globalcomputer.com. TigerDirect has it for $261.98 shipped (assumign 11.99 ground) so that comes to $232.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications...etails.asp?EdpNo=2512219&sku=E145-7912

$240 at Chief Value, as you said, but no rebate:
******/product/productdetails.aspx?linkid=119&item=14-130-065

For me and most gamers, I still think that the 1900xt 256mb might be a better performer in some of the higher end games, but the 7900 GTO is comparable even without overclocking. However, it's the noise and heat that's pushing me to the 7900 GTO which I've read is quiet and cool. If I did go 1900xt, I'd really have to get the HIS version with the quieter fan so that puts me at $312 verses $232/$240. For $72+ I think I have to go with nvidia. (On a normal day the standard 1900xt 256mb card seems to go for around the same price as the 7900GTO ~ $250-$260.) I might just get that GTO! Thanks for the tip.

Ken

 

[MadBadger]

Ken - Glad to help. I'm still not sure which one I'm going to get. But, seeing as how I don't even have my motherboard yet, I'm not in that much of a hurry to make a decision

I didn't see that HIS, looks really nice. You're right though, $70 is a significant jump in price. Too close to call, they each have their advantages and disadvantages. I guess it depends on what's more important to you. Price or performance? Since I'm probably not going to have that much time to game, I'm leaning more towards the GTO. Then again it's only $20 more for an XT. But there's also the uncertainty with respect to noise levels. In the end, I might just say "to hell with it" and end up flipping a coin.

Thanks for the head up with the reviews. I've also seen some conflicting data with some of the benchmarks that I've seen. Not sure what's up with that.

Cheers. :beer: