Second guessing my 7800gtx purchase...

[hootpie]

So here's the situation...I have a BFG 7800GTX on order through Dell that hasn't shipped yet (probably wont ship until 7/22). For the meantime, I purchased an MSI X800XL VIVO. I'm able to run HL2 @ 1600*1200 with all the settings maxed (high details, 4x/16x). I'm more concerned with HL2 (CS:Source) than I am with BF2.

Dell has a pretty nice deal going on the X800XT AIW right now ($290 after tax and MIR) that I'm thinking about jumping on (1-2 week ship time). The 7800GTX is running me $520 after tax and all that stuff, so I'd save $230 by going with the X800XT. It would be nice if I was able to watch TV on my 2005fpw (I have a TV in my room, but it's poor quality), but I don't want to sacrifice too much performance.

Money is not an issue between the two cards (meaning: I'm just as fine spending $520 as I am spending $290), but I'm still stuck inbetween.

What would you do in my position (might seem like a no brainer, but I want to be sure)?

 

[SynthDude2001]

I would kind of advise against watching a whole lot of regular analog TV on the 2005FPW (or any other big LCD like it); it won't look very good at all. I :heart: my HDTV tuner, but I almost never watch analog TV anymore.

If you're already happy with the X800XL's performance at 1600x1200, you may just want to stick with that. By the time any games come out that would really stress the X800XL/6800GT+ range of cards, a 7800GTX (or R520, or whatever) would likely be a bit cheaper by that point anyway.

 

[hootpie]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
I would kind of advise against watching a whole lot of regular analog TV on the 2005FPW (or any other big LCD like it); it won't look very good at all. I :heart: my HDTV tuner, but I almost never watch analog TV anymore.

If you're already happy with the X800XL's performance at 1600x1200, you may just want to stick with that. By the time any games come out that would really stress the X800XL/6800GT+ range of cards, a 7800GTX (or R520, or whatever) would likely be a bit cheaper by that point anyway.

Here's the other thing, the X800XL I have cost me $300 after tax and shipping, so it's actually $10 more than the XT.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Well...if you can return the X800XL without being hit with restocking or other fees (that would still make the X800XT AIW either cheaper, or still around the same price), then yeah, I guess it would be the better choice, since it is a little bit faster, and the AIW stuff would just be kind of a "free bonus", even if it doesn't end up being that useful. Also make sure that the XT AIW's clock speeds are the same as the regular XT's; I think I remember reading back in the day that some of them (probably 8500's and possibly 9700's) were clocked a bit lower than just the card without the AIW.

But like I said, if you're happy with the performance you're getting right now (even at 1600x1200), then I guess you don't really need the 7800GTX, especially considering it's so much more expensive.

 

[jdogg707]

Stay with the 7800GTX, as the jump from X800XL to X800XT is small to say the least. If you want TV capabilities, buy a separate card, like the WinTV-PVR150, that wya you can upgrade your video card w/o losing the TV card.

 

[Lorn]

Why would you do it if you don't even need it? If anything wait until the 7800GTX becomes old news and get it then.

 

[p3r2y]

7800 gtx no question

 

[BillyBobJoel71]

x800xl -> x800xt = no no. not a big performance gain, wait till the 7800gtx.

 

[pulsedrive]

You know, not EVERYONE wants the biggest and best thing out there folks. Especially if it going to cost them about 300 more. Some of us can't spend that much on a bleeding video card. If he was happy with the X800XL and the XT is CHEAPER, then yes he SHOULD get it, because while the performance gain isn't much it is free, in fact for him he would be getting PAID to get better performance. I swear you bloody hardware junkies don't listen half the time, and actually look at what the user is asking. They don't always NEED the biggest baddest thing out there.

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: pulsedrive
You know, not EVERYONE wants the biggest and best thing out there folks. Especially if it going to cost them about 300 more. Some of us can't spend that much on a bleeding video card. If he was happy with the X800XL and the XT is CHEAPER, then yes he SHOULD get it, because while the performance gain isn't much it is free, in fact for him he would be getting PAID to get better performance. I swear you bloody hardware junkies don't listen half the time, and actually look at what the user is asking. They don't always NEED the biggest baddest thing out there.

He said money isn't an issue... He is the one who ordered it in the first place so obviously he wants it, not us. He will need to upgrade at some point anyways and even if he thinks his performance is fine with his XL in CSS it will be even better with the GTX. I think he should atleast get the XT, but if he can afford a GTX and has gotten a nice price on the GTX why not?

 

[spazo]

I'd hold back because its just not worth the money. If you're happy with the performance of the X800XL, why spend more money? I read about plenty of ex Formula 1 drivers who drove the fastest cars in the world yet they drive diesels as their daily driver. I'm pretty sure they can afford just about any car they would want and no one is more qualified than a Forumula 1 driver in being able to extract the most performance from their cars.

 

[vision33r]

The BFG 7800GTX from Dell is now $463

 

[magnumty]

keep the x800xl, and get a tv card, there pretty cheap, and work well, wait for ati's new cards, that should drive prices down on the gtx ....

 

[Munky]

I'd wait for the 7800. It may seem like overkill for now, but it does have some new features like TAA that will give you even better IQ, plus it can actually run all those hyped-up sm3 effects and HDR and what not at high resolutions with decent fps. If the rest of your system is good, and you said money is not an issue, go for the 7800, it will last you at least a few years or so.