Nvidia card at this price point?

[MooseMuffin]

I'm looking to buy a new pcie card to replace a burned out vanilla 6800. I was looking for something in the 220-250 range, but it doesnt look like Nvidia has much there. The 7600gts look to be around 180-190 and the 7900gts are up at 280. Is there something in between these cards? Would the 7600gt be a significant upgrade from the 6800?

I would like to stick with Nvida since I use linux fairly often and my ati experiences with linux have been awful.

Thanks for the help

 

[compgeek89]

There is supposed to be a 7900GS releasing soon, other than that, I'd strongly reccomend a 7900GT, maybe buy off someone in the FS/T section. Even besides performing so well for $280, they OC insanely far beyond that.

 

[Keysplayr]

Waitaminute. AGP or PCI-e?

 

[Praxis1452]

X1800XT if you don't mind but if you want nvidia... there really isn't much between $220-$280 cept for the X1800XT which is already better than the 7900gt imo and since you obviously aren't set on volt modding I suggest the X1800xt

 

[compgeek89]

79GT is better w/o volt modding.

 

[Praxis1452]

no it isn't. ATI has the better IQ ATI has AVIVO. ATI can do HDR+AA. ATI takes a far smaller hit with AA enabled and it also has HQ AF. I'm so sick of arguing about this. Ugh 7900gt is not better without volt modding and certainly worse at stock. Has less features and the cooler is not that much quieter than the X1900XT's even moreso for the X1800XT.

 

[compgeek89]

The IQ argument is bull

Who cares about AVIVO

HDR+AA works in whopping 2 games

It needs to take less of a hit to keep up

HQ AF looks no better than NVs AF enhancer.

GIVE ME A BREAK.

 

[Praxis1452]

Originally posted by: compgeek89
The IQ argument is bull

Who cares about AVIVO

HDR+AA works in whopping 2 games

It needs to take less of a hit to keep up

HQ AF looks no better than NVs AF enhancer.

GIVE ME A BREAK.

AVIVO does matter to some people. maybe not to you but to many others

Two games that Nvidia can't run it in. Plus it is useful until the Geforce 8 comes out. Oblivion is one of the most popular games right now.

The X1900's can still run oblivion with AA and have playable framerates. Something nvidia can't do and is impossible to implement.

It takes less of a hit... Do you even comprehend that!?

HQ AF no better than NV's AF enhancer where's the screenshots?

Why don't you keep your ego to yourself? Just because you don't see the difference or don't care doesn't mean it doesn't matter to someone else.

 

[morgash]

nvidia's AA does look better than ATI's i will give em that. ATI's AF is better but then, sinc when did people start caring about AF? 😉

Morgash

 

[akugami]

X1800xt supports more features and offers slightly better performance in directx games while the 7900gt offers slightly better performance in opengl games. Overall I'd say the x1800xt is a bit better at stock and does have decent overclocking options. The 7900gt is the better overclocker but requires a replacement heatsink and a volt mod. You can usually find clearance sales for x1800xt's 512mb's for about 250'ish which is a great deal.

 

[imported_ST]

Originally posted by: akugami
X1800xt supports more features and offers slightly better performance in directx games while the 7900gt offers slightly better performance in opengl games. Overall I'd say the x1800xt is a bit better at stock and does have decent overclocking options. The 7900gt is the better overclocker but requires a replacement heatsink and a volt mod. You can usually find clearance sales for x1800xt's 512mb's for about 250'ish which is a great deal.

why do you say that the 7900gt *requires* an aftermarket heatsink? interesting how this turned to a nvidia vs. ati discussion when the op asked for nvidia cards...

 

[DeathReborn]

Originally posted by: ST

Originally posted by: akugami
X1800xt supports more features and offers slightly better performance in directx games while the 7900gt offers slightly better performance in opengl games. Overall I'd say the x1800xt is a bit better at stock and does have decent overclocking options. The 7900gt is the better overclocker but requires a replacement heatsink and a volt mod. You can usually find clearance sales for x1800xt's 512mb's for about 250'ish which is a great deal.

why do you say that the 7900gt *requires* an aftermarket heatsink? interesting how this turned to a nvidia vs. ati discussion when the op asked for nvidia cards...

Especially considering his Linux use which does make ATI a non-contender really. I'm unable to get my work done in Linux now that i'm using X1800XT's.

OP, your choices are fairly limited right now. If your old 6800 was a 8 pipe verasion the 7600GT would be a good (if not great) upgrade. The 7900GT is probably what you should get if you can afford the price or wait for the 20 pipe 7900GS which should cost under $250 & be considerably faster than a 6800.