is it true the 7900GS is the last AGP from nvidia?

[Auric]

Originally posted by: Fox5
AGP will likely end up like PCI. It will see new cards, but they won't get any faster. PCI never really saw anything much faster than a geforce 2 level of performance, agp won't see anything much faster than a 6800gt level of performance.

The 7600 GT already dominates the 6800 GT and, like the 6600, has a functional PVP. Indeed, one of the reasons the 7600 was sure to come along was it's a simple GPU replacement for the 6600 on the same board design.

That may be the stumbling block to widespread adoption of the 7900 however I wouldn't bet against selective manufacturers seeing the profit in it. The question for the end-user will remain bang for the rupee versus a system overhaul, especially with availability of lower-end Core 2 Duo and a glut of affordable PCIe models to choose from.

The transition from PCI to AGP is not directly comparable to that from AGP to PCIe because there was an immediate and tangible benefit to the former but not the latter. Add to that the fact that there are plenty of fast CPU's for AGP systems and the impetus to side grade to PCIe would be nil had it not been for lack of comparable AGP cards.

Also, even if all AGP production halted, PCI would still have a place next to PCIe but true there's no need for anything beyond the basic.

The Radeon 8500/9100 was a bit faster than the best Geforce 2.

 

[mobutu]

I doubt that we would see anything higher than 7600GT on AGP.
Until now, the best solution in AGP market is 7600GT, and here's the first review of the first AGP 7600GT card from Leadtek:
Leadtek WinFast A7600 GT TDH (GeForce 7600 GT 256MB, AGP)
http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/view.php?cid=3&id=2031

 

[Auric]

Cool... maybe the first English review but 4gamer and clubic were decidedly earlier.

hardwarezone's justification of the decision to include VGA for expected use in older systems is a bit off the mark though since DVD-I can be adapted to VGA but obviously not the reverse. I would happily pay the extra couple dollars for simultaneous digitial output to PC and TV.

clubic managed twice the o'erclock such that it was worthwhile. Apart from chip variation there is always that in HS/TIM assembly too. Perhaps re-doing it and/or installing an aftermarket cooler would help -or more cheaply slapping a larger fan over top and optionally disabling the original.

 

[aldamon]

Originally posted by: Fox5
PCI never really saw anything much faster than a geforce 2 level of performance

I disagree. My wife's computer has a 3D Fuzion GeForce 6200 PCI.

http://www.3dfuzion.com/cards_6200_pci_128.asp

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: aldamon

Originally posted by: Fox5
PCI never really saw anything much faster than a geforce 2 level of performance

I disagree. My wife's computer has a 3D Fuzion GeForce 6200 PCI.

http://www.3dfuzion.com/cards_6200_pci_128.asp

Does it actually perform significantly better than a Geforce 2 Ultra/Geforce 4MX though? Anyhow, I wasn't definite with my answer (never really) because I knew the 6200 was available for pci in limited quantity, it's not easy to find though so I count it along the 7800GT Bliss that was released for AGP in limited quantities.

 

[Bobthelost]

Gainwards made a 7800GS that was in reality a 7900GT chip.

 

[aldamon]

Originally posted by: Fox5

Does it actually perform significantly better than a Geforce 2 Ultra/Geforce 4MX though?

Yes, and it runs DX8 and DX9 content fine at lower resolutions, which is something a GeForce2-series card definitely can't even attempt.

 

[PingSpike]

The trouble with AGP/PCIe isn't that there is anything wrong with AGP as an interface right now...there isn't. Its just that because of the way the market is playing out, you're going to pay a premium for AGP parts. I don't forsee that premium going away any time soon. So from my perspective, you should just swallow your medicine now and get a motherboard that has PCIe. You'll save in the longrun IMO.

The manufactorers don't like keeping two interfaces going, it makes production more expensive and splits their product line. Additionally, I'd heard PCIe was cheaper to produce. I don't know if that last part is true or not. Either way, they can't afford to abandone the AGP market just yet, but they still want that market to go away. The result? They charge a premium to the holdouts. There have been some deals for AGP users, but you have to wait for them...and your options are limited. From a buying perspective, you're in a much stronger position with PCIe.

 

[Skott]

Well, I'm thinking if they dont make any new AGP (by new I mean newer models) cards this year then thats its for AGP. Yes, ATI and nVidia will continue to make existing AGP cards for a while. How long? I dont know its anyone's guess but eventually they'll want to move on and get people to upgrade to PCIe. Why? To make more money naturally. Yes, they do make some money off of supporting AGP but as time goes on that profit will shrink. The bigger profit for them is in newer cards where they can command premium prices. Once they do officially stop supporting AGP then the consumer will have to rely on used market AGP cards. Places like ebay will provide that. Like I said above, my feelings is that 2006 is the last hurrah for AGP. My prediction is they wont make newer AGP models in 2007. Its just a gut feeling on my part. No inside info or anything.

 

[Netopia]

Originally posted by: Fox5
AGP will likely end up like PCI. It will see new cards, but they won't get any faster. PCI never really saw anything much faster than a geforce 2 level of performance, agp won't see anything much faster than a 6800gt level of performance.

They make PCI 5200s, 5500s and 6200s!

Joe

 

[yyrkoon]

What I'd do, is hold out, and upgrade to PCIE, period. Spending money on a system with AGP is a waste of money as this point in time. Sure AGP may not even be bottlenecked by current games, but technology has been moving away from AGP for a while now, and you're going to have to make the jump sooner or later.

I say cut your losses now, and move to PCIE, leaving current system as it is, and if you're lucky, you can sell your current system to help make up for the cost of the new one.

As for the best performing, low cost GPU right now, I like the eVGA 7600GT KO, (PCIE) which is what I bought, and am more than happy with it. PLays Oblivion @ 1440x900 high settings at around 60FPS, 35 (ish) FPS during heavy combat. Game plays a hell of alot smoother than on my old system which was a AMD 3200+ XP system with 1GB DDR 400, and a leadtek 6600GT. This system is a AM2 3800+ (OC'd to 2.76GHZ, 11x mult, 250 HT), 2x 1 GB DDR2 6400, and a eVGA 7600GT.

Anyhow, the upgrade ran me around $800 (including a Lian Li case) Migrated HDDs, and PSU, mouse, keyboard, and monitor. You could probably do it cheaper since I payed $148 for my CPU, before the CPU prices hit rock bottom, and the memory I bought is high quality (Cosair XMS).

Do yourself a favor, and leave current system as is, and go with modern technology, someday

[EDIT]

Ah, forgot to mention, if I had it to do over again, knowing what I know now, I'd have waited for a Core 2 Duo system. It could have made my upgrade a little cheaper in the short term, and let me upgrade a few components later as I saw parts I like comming out.
For instance the Asrock 775Dual-VSTA would let you get a cutting edge Conroe, use existing AGP graphics, until you could afford PCIE, and use your existing DDR memory, until you could afford DDR2, and it will even let you use your existing 20+4PSU. Whats does this mean? this means you could upgrade to a E6300 RIGHT NOW for as little as $260 (ish), and then upgrade to PCIE when you see fit. I consider this a pretty attractive alternative.

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: Netopia

Originally posted by: Fox5
AGP will likely end up like PCI. It will see new cards, but they won't get any faster. PCI never really saw anything much faster than a geforce 2 level of performance, agp won't see anything much faster than a 6800gt level of performance.

They make PCI 5200s, 5500s and 6200s!

Joe

The PCI 5500 is a 5200 Ultra I believe, and those are all low end cards what would struggle to outperform a geforce 2 ultra. (maybe the 6200 could outdo them)

 

[Netopia]

And, as of today, there is an x1300, 256MB PCI card!

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4041

Joe