In House HD2900XT vs. 8800GTS 640

Page 5 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: hans030390
The systems don't look too comparable...They're similar, but one is on XP, the other on Vista. I don't think the results will be extremely fair...(based off the "test" website)

Then again, maybe this was mentioned already...sorry if it was!

well, i am going to install XP

or it looks like Keys is upgrading

or we will do both

time is the enemy
 

Keysplayr

Elite Member
Jan 16, 2003
21,209
50
91
Originally posted by: apoppin
Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
What flavor of Vista should I get? Home, Business, Basic, Ultimate. ?? They all game the same, right?
I can get Vista Home Premium OEM for 119.00. Still looking around for pricing on the others. So which one?

I play games, web, video capture, work. Basically, I'm looking to find out what I can't do if I get Home premium instead of Ultimate.

Thanks.

what i got - Vista Home Premium .. i think i paid $111 at NewEgg for OEM
--then you get to decide "32" or 64-bit ... i went for 32 ...

it is SO weird coming from Win2K ... XP users will feel at home
-windows "classic" is now soooo fUgly ... yeah, i am running Aero

so what are we gonna do ... run Vista ... or shall i install XP also?

you KNOW this is gonna take some time for me to setup over dialup - i hope

I'd say, lets give our members the benefit of having a choice, unlike review sites.
Vista or XP folks? What'll it be? I can get Vista relatively cheaply, but I know there are still a ton of XP users. So up to everyone here.
 

ND40oz

Golden Member
Jul 31, 2004
1,264
0
86
I say Vista, thats my primary OS of choice. Remember you can install it for 30 days without activating it if you're just going to use it to test.

Also, with the HD2900XT, don't forget to do this if you want 3DMark06 to run.

Another thing I've noticed is the Windows Experience Index Score doesn't work right with the 2900 either. I get a nice whopping 1.0 in graphics and gaming graphics.
 

BFG10K

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
22,709
2,995
126
I HAVE hd2900XT running on Vista ... it has reached FULL-LOAD ... the noise is not a big deal ...
I also remember when a certain individual used to tell us the 5800U had a "tiny hairdryer sound" and wasn't a big deal either so you'll forgive me if I take hard numbers over subjective opinion.

never mind what our noise princess says ...
Noise princess has nothing to do with it, Haiku Queen. But dB readings from the web taken from a controlled testing environments have everything to do with it because they prove you wrong.

if you can "handle" x1950p/7800GS oC'd/x850xt, the VisionTek HD2900xt is less annoying.
Again this has absolutely nothing to do with my claim that the G80 is quieter than the 2900. Are you honestly even attempting to dispute this fact?

and thank-you for AGREEING that IS it IRRESPONSIBLE to say the r600 is "quieter" [OR that the GTS is faster]
Where did I agree to that?

when you are using the AMD reference cooler and trying to compare it to VisionTek's implementation
Sorry, you have absolutely no evidence of this mysterious cooler existing that is quieter than reference. Furthermore we have people with reference coolers claiming they're as quiet as what you're saying so go figure.

Now, if you like, i CAN stick a microphone 1'foot from the case and you can hear it with only the OCZ PS running together with it in as quiet a room as i can make it
Again what will this little test prove when we have dB readings taken from proper test conditions? Specifically how will this disprove my claim that the G80 is quieter?

Honestly, do you not understand the significance of the tests I linked to? Do you not understand that unless you do exactly what they did your "tests" are quite subjective?
 

Keysplayr

Elite Member
Jan 16, 2003
21,209
50
91
Originally posted by: apoppin
Originally posted by: hans030390
The systems don't look too comparable...They're similar, but one is on XP, the other on Vista. I don't think the results will be extremely fair...(based off the "test" website)

Then again, maybe this was mentioned already...sorry if it was!

well, i am going to install XP

or it looks like Keys is upgrading

or we will do both

time is the enemy

Do XP if you can. It'll give me time to get my friends rig here to install Vista on. So I'll have two rigs here, identical. One with XP and the other with Vista. But do XP for now so we can get some bench time logged. Run PCMark05 at stock speeds and lemme know what you get.
I got 6458 completely stock at 2.13GHz.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: BFG10K
Have you got one? I mean..in your hands right now?
No, that's the point of reading reviews; to find potential flaws in the product before dropping down cash for it.

But you know..it's like apoppin said.. you hear it spin up when the card starts to do something, but when it's actually running you can't really hear it
So you're saying it's quiet when idle but noisy when gaming?

I think the whole noise thing has been blown out of proportion....sure it's not silent...but it's not really obstrusive... so who cares??
Multiple reviewers have said otherwise and I tend to believe them over someone with an emotional attachment to hardware, especially since they've provided hard numbers to back their claims while none of the end users have.

your "beliefs" are immaterial and 2nd hand .. i actually have a HD2900xt by VisionTek in my case and it is a relatively quiet card

"emotional attachment"? you are starting to sound like Gstanfor ... what a load of crap .... IF my card was as loud as my x1950p, i'd let you ALL know .... AMD doesn't pay me to say their product is quiet ... and i seem to be well-supported by other HD2900xt owners.

i CAN *prove* this to you if you like ... the simplest way is to set up my rig in a quiet room with qa microphone 1 foot from the front of the case ... i will stop my HD2900xt's fan so you can hear's the rig's ambient noise ... and then the "added" noise of the fan ... dead silent on low - you *won't hear it* and then on High - BARELY over the case's ambient noise

of course our intolerant princess of noise will hear an pin drop and claim it is an explosion

 

Lord Banshee

Golden Member
Sep 8, 2004
1,495
0
0
I vote vista also, it is the future and i use it for everything but CAD work.

But if apoppin can get a 30-day XP and keysplayr can get a 30-day vista, if you guys have time do benchmarks on both OS see if there is really no difference in the two OS for games, i see very little personally.

On another note: Another test to get CPU speeds equal for single and dual core, cinebench : http://www.maxon.net/pages/download/cinebench_e.html

I don't think PCMARK will be good as it test GPU, internet, harddrive, and many other little things.

I say if you can equal out 3dMark06 CPU scores and Cinebench CPU scores you have a great playing field.

 

BFG10K

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
22,709
2,995
126
your "beliefs" are immaterial and 2nd hand .. i actually have a HD2900xt by VisionTek in my case and it is a relatively quiet card
Classic denial. Are you going to actually address the three independent sets of figures I provided or are you going to keep burying your head in the sand?

IF my card was as loud as my x1950p, i'd let you ALL know
Again how is this relevant to my claim that the G80 is quieter than the 2900? You have absolutely no basis to deny that claim like you did. Absolutely none.

i CAN *prove* this to you if you like ... the simplest way is to set up my rig in a quiet room with qa microphone 1 foot from the front of the case ... i will stop my HD2900xt's fan so you can hear's the rig's ambient noise
Again that has been done here at distance of 5cm and 1m.

What part of the results are you having difficulty understanding? Would you like me to explain them to you?

As for your "test", are you really proposing you get your card hot enough so it requires the fan on full bore and then you're going to stop the fan while continuing to run the application responsible for getting it that hot?

If so I hope you don't melt your GPU.
 

ND40oz

Golden Member
Jul 31, 2004
1,264
0
86
My vote for the Visiontek HD2900XT noise level is loud as hell...two of them during 3d tests and games overcome the noise of my Precision 690 running at full bore with F@H. Definitely louder then the X1950XTXs they replaced.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: BFG10K
your "beliefs" are immaterial and 2nd hand .. i actually have a HD2900xt by VisionTek in my case and it is a relatively quiet card
Classic denial. Are you going to actually address the three independent sets of figures I provided or are you going to keep burying your head in the sand?
why should i ... i know who you are and your preoccupation with "noise" ... i HAVE a G-D card ... i trust my OWN earss ... wanna show me HardOCP BS again?

IF my card was as loud as my x1950p, i'd let you ALL know
Again how is this relevant to my claim that the G80 is quieter than the 2900? You have absolutely no basis to deny that claim like you did. Absolutely none.[/quote]i IGNORED your claim just as you ignore mine ... fair is fair ... i don't have a GTS to compare [ my case is approximately 1 foot from my face on the TOP of my desk ... that is where i will measure it

i CAN *prove* this to you if you like ... the simplest way is to set up my rig in a quiet room with qa microphone 1 foot from the front of the case ... i will stop my HD2900xt's fan so you can hear's the rig's ambient noise
Again that has been done here at distance of 5cm and 1m.

What part of the results are you having difficulty understanding? Would you like me to explain them to you?

As for your "test", are you really proposing you get your card hot enough so it requires the fan on full bore and then you're going to stop the fan while continuing to run the application responsible for getting it that hot?

If so I hope you don't melt your GPU.[/quote]i don't give a crap what xbit or any other reviewer got ... i am Doing my OWN tests and giving my own impressions

i am not going to be chained to what another reviewer claimed his ears heard or did not hear as you are obviously are

and i am a little smarter than you give me credit for ... you will hear my rig at idle ... with NO hd2900xt fan running ... that will NOT damage it for a couple of seconds ... then you will hear it get hot and come up to full throttle --at which point i WON'T stop my card because you already heard my case without the HD2900xt's noise at all

what is it that you dont' get that i need to explain simpler for you ?



 

nullpointerus

Golden Member
Apr 17, 2003
1,326
0
0
Originally posted by: ND40oz
Another thing I've noticed is the Windows Experience Index Score doesn't work right with the 2900 either. I get a nice whopping 1.0 in graphics and gaming graphics.

Retest. Now that you have working drivers, your score should be higher.
 

ND40oz

Golden Member
Jul 31, 2004
1,264
0
86
Originally posted by: nullpointerus
Originally posted by: ND40oz
Another thing I've noticed is the Windows Experience Index Score doesn't work right with the 2900 either. I get a nice whopping 1.0 in graphics and gaming graphics.

Retest. Now that you have working drivers, your score should be higher.

I tested it with working drivers, haven't rebooted, just tested it again, seems to be working now, 5.8 on gaming graphics though...only thing different is I stopped F@H.
 

Keysplayr

Elite Member
Jan 16, 2003
21,209
50
91
Originally posted by: Lord Banshee
I vote vista also, it is the future and i use it for everything but CAD work.

But if apoppin can get a 30-day XP and keysplayr can get a 30-day vista, if you guys have time do benchmarks on both OS see if there is really no difference in the two OS for games, i see very little personally.

On another note: Another test to get CPU speeds equal for single and dual core, cinebench : http://www.maxon.net/pages/download/cinebench_e.html

I don't think PCMARK will be good as it test GPU, internet, harddrive, and many other little things.

I say if you can equal out 3dMark06 CPU scores and Cinebench CPU scores you have a great playing field.

Thank you. That sounds like a good idea. Downloading Cinebench right now.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: ND40oz
Originally posted by: nullpointerus
Originally posted by: ND40oz
Another thing I've noticed is the Windows Experience Index Score doesn't work right with the 2900 either. I get a nice whopping 1.0 in graphics and gaming graphics.

Retest. Now that you have working drivers, your score should be higher.

I tested it with working drivers, haven't rebooted, just tested it again, seems to be working now, 5.8 on gaming graphics though...only thing different is I stopped F@H.

5.8 ... that is what i get ... of course i haven't OC'd it over 2.43Ghz and no OC on the XT yet ... gotta see which pins to gound.

seriously ... i am beginning to like Vista ... at least is is more "responsive" than Win2K ... and it looks like they almost got IE right

damn microsoft

edit:
Damn ... i better get busy ... lots of overnight D/L'ing

Keys, please PM me the links to all the stuff i need to D/L


OMG, TAT is really working in Vista ... very low 40s


Honestly, do you not understand the significance of the tests I linked to? Do you not understand that unless you do exactly what they did your "tests" are quite subjective?
Much better than you do ... i am quite certain ... i have set up these tests before - professionally ... i got paod to do them
 

Keysplayr

Elite Member
Jan 16, 2003
21,209
50
91
Originally posted by: apoppin
Originally posted by: ND40oz
Originally posted by: nullpointerus
Originally posted by: ND40oz
Another thing I've noticed is the Windows Experience Index Score doesn't work right with the 2900 either. I get a nice whopping 1.0 in graphics and gaming graphics.

Retest. Now that you have working drivers, your score should be higher.

I tested it with working drivers, haven't rebooted, just tested it again, seems to be working now, 5.8 on gaming graphics though...only thing different is I stopped F@H.

5.8 ... that is what i get ... of course i haven't OC'd it over 2.43Ghz and no OC on the XT yet ... gotta see which pins to gound.

seriously ... i am beginning to like Vista ... at least is is more "responsive" than Win2K ... and it looks like they almost got IE right

damn microsoft

edit:
Damn ... i better get busy ... lots of overnight D/L'ing

Keys, please PM me the links to all the stuff i need to D/K

NP.
 

BFG10K

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
22,709
2,995
126
wanna show me HardOCP again?
I have absolutely no affiliation with that site and I don't even recall linking to it within the last six months, if not more.

i IGNORED your claim just as you ignotre mine ... fair is fair
Your claim was ignored because it's subjective, vague, and easily debunked by hard numbers.

I don't give a crap what xbit or any other reviewer got
I see, so you will continue to bury you head in the sand then?

i am not going to be chained to what another reviewer claimed his ears heard or did not hear as you are obviously are
The readings were taking with digital sound meters, not with ears. That's why they're a tad more accurate than your "it is quiet" claims.

you will hear my rig at idle ... with NO hd2900xt fan running ... that will NOY damage it for a couple of seconds ... then you will hear it get hot and come up to full throttle [at which point i WON'T stop my card because you already heard my case without the HD2900xt's noise at all
Again how will any of this disprove my claim of the G80 being quieter?

Furthermore how are you going to account for normalization? If I play your sound clip at level '1' on my speakers it might have a totally different volume level to someone else who plays it at '1' on their speakers.

Like I said before, you need to give these sound "tests" a rest. It's clear your methods are woefully inadequate.
 

MegaWorks

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2004
3,819
1
0
I appreciate that you guys are taking some of your time to do this for the community.

:thumbsup: for Keys
:thumbsup: for apoppin
 

ND40oz

Golden Member
Jul 31, 2004
1,264
0
86
Originally posted by: apoppin
Originally posted by: ND40oz
Originally posted by: nullpointerus
Originally posted by: ND40oz
Another thing I've noticed is the Windows Experience Index Score doesn't work right with the 2900 either. I get a nice whopping 1.0 in graphics and gaming graphics.

Retest. Now that you have working drivers, your score should be higher.

I tested it with working drivers, haven't rebooted, just tested it again, seems to be working now, 5.8 on gaming graphics though...only thing different is I stopped F@H.

5.8 ... that is what i get ... of course i haven't OC'd it over 2.43Ghz and no OC on the XT yet ... gotta see which pins to gound.

seriously ... i am beginning to like Vista ... at least is is more "responsive" than Win2K ... and it looks like they almost got IE right

damn microsoft

edit:
Damn ... i better get busy ... lots of overnight D/L'ing

Keys, please PM me the links to all the stuff i need to D/L


OMG, TAT is really working in Vista ... very low 40s

Yeah, I got a 5.8 but I have two of them and my E6600 is at 3.0...is it even possible to get a 5.9?

 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: BFG10K
wanna show me HardOCP again?
I have absolutely no affiliation with that site and I don't even recall linking to it within the last six months, if not more.

i IGNORED your claim just as you ignotre mine ... fair is fair
Your claim was ignored because it's subjective, vague, and easily debunked by hard numbers.

I don't give a crap what xbit or any other reviewer got
I see, so you will continue to bury you head in the sand then?

i am not going to be chained to what another reviewer claimed his ears heard or did not hear as you are obviously are
The readings were taking with digital sound meters, not with ears. That's why they're a tad more accurate than your "it is quiet" claims.

you will hear my rig at idle ... with NO hd2900xt fan running ... that will NOY damage it for a couple of seconds ... then you will hear it get hot and come up to full throttle [at which point i WON'T stop my card because you already heard my case without the HD2900xt's noise at all
Again how will any of this disprove my claim of the G80 being quieter?

Furthermore how are you going to account for normalization? If I play your sound clip at level '1' on my speakers it might have a totally different volume level to someone else who plays it at '1' on their speakers.

Like I said before, you need to give these sound "tests" a rest. It's clear your methods are woefully inadequate.
quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Honestly, do you not understand the significance of the tests I linked to? Do you not understand that unless you do exactly what they did your "tests" are quite subjective?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Much better than you do ... i am quite certain ... i have set up these tests before - professionally ... i got paid to do them in high-end audio

how do i "normalize' ... pretty Obviously ... everything is relative ... you hear the "ambient" noise of my rig and then you ADD the HD2900xt to it and note the RELATIVE increase

i think you are pretty lost in your awe of these reviewer's testing methods
Again how will any of this disprove my claim of the G80 being quieter?
i DON'T KNOW ... i have no issue with it as i have no G80 to compare with ... i DO have a VisionTek HD2900xt and it is relatively quiet compared with the cards i DID mention
[that's all]

and i CAN prove it ... to normal open-minded people



 

Keysplayr

Elite Member
Jan 16, 2003
21,209
50
91
Originally posted by: BFG10K
wanna show me HardOCP again?
I have absolutely no affiliation with that site and I don't even recall linking to it within the last six months, if not more.

i IGNORED your claim just as you ignotre mine ... fair is fair
Your claim was ignored because it's subjective, vague, and easily debunked by hard numbers.

I don't give a crap what xbit or any other reviewer got
I see, so you will continue to bury you head in the sand then?

i am not going to be chained to what another reviewer claimed his ears heard or did not hear as you are obviously are
The readings were taking with digital sound meters, not with ears. That's why they're a tad more accurate than your "it is quiet" claims.

you will hear my rig at idle ... with NO hd2900xt fan running ... that will NOY damage it for a couple of seconds ... then you will hear it get hot and come up to full throttle [at which point i WON'T stop my card because you already heard my case without the HD2900xt's noise at all
Again how will any of this disprove my claim of the G80 being quieter?

Furthermore how are you going to account for normalization? If I play your sound clip at level '1' on my speakers it might have a totally different volume level to someone else who plays it at '1' on their speakers.

Like I said before, you need to give these sound "tests" a rest. It's clear your methods are woefully inadequate.

Did anyone notice that I mentioned there will be no sound tests for obvious reasons? Over 3000 reasons. As in "miles apart".

Anyways, chill a bit BFG. This review is as much for you as it is for everyone else. If you would contribute a bit, and refrain from battle mode, it would be excellent.

keys
 

Borealis7

Platinum Member
Oct 19, 2006
2,901
205
106
XBitLabs beat you to it. No offence, i trust them more :D

XBitLabs delivers the goods once again

if you dont fel like going through 20 or so games being tested, i can tell you that they show fairly incosistent performence which places the 2900XT (on average) right there with a GTS, but sometimes even besting a GTX.

to sum it up, the 2900's biggest problem is incosistent performce, which makes a GTS a much better buy IMO.
 

kreacher

Member
May 15, 2007
64
0
0
Another review with no clear winner. The 2900 beats the GTS easily in BF2142, Splinter Cell, CoH and X3 but loses out in STALKER, Neverwinter Nights, Hitman and Supreme Commander.
If this is still due to drivers then I hope they're planning to release some drivers that work before the next generation of cards comes out.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
were the forums down for awhile or was my rig messed up?

anyway, i couldn't sleep and made some great progress .... Vista is updated, AntiVir installed, most of my programs and cinebench 1/2 d/led ... then i need to migrate all my Win2K files and install XP [and update it ... that is gonna take awhile over dialup]

and i am working on my OC ... 2.475Ghz, inched up bit by bit .... i still have to really figure out the Gigabyte "intellegent tweaker" in BIOS

... i am not so sure about my thermalright cooler ... it is tightened down as far as it can go ... but i can still twist it on the CPU die ... need to be lapped? it is only about 10C cooler with the Scythe fan

Vista does have a few issues ... mostly minor ... like with FireFox ... but i am beginning to get used to it and won't go back to Win2K for any reason [except at gunpoint]
 

mruffin75

Senior member
May 19, 2007
343
0
0
Originally posted by: ND40oz
I say Vista, thats my primary OS of choice. Remember you can install it for 30 days without activating it if you're just going to use it to test.

Also, with the HD2900XT, don't forget to do this if you want 3DMark06 to run.

Another thing I've noticed is the Windows Experience Index Score doesn't work right with the 2900 either. I get a nice whopping 1.0 in graphics and gaming graphics.

Mine gave a score of 1.0 as well......until I actually installed the ATI driver.. (it was running as a VGA driver)..

Now it gives 5.8 and 5.9...