Video options

[ruffilb]

Unfortunately, I haven't been keeping on top of the latest slate of video options, but I'll likely set up a build soon based on an nF4 chipset, and the biggest thing I'm having a problem deciding about right now is the video card; the options seem numerous and almost overwhelming.

Anyway, if anyone has any video card recommendations or tips for an ~$2k build, please share them.

Thanks for your recommendations,

Ruff_ilb

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

What all is 2k supposed to cover?

 

[R3LIC]

If you are spending ~$2k, get a SLI motherboard and a 7900GT (or 2) or a Xpress 3200 Crossfire with a X1900XT (& a X1900CF if u wish)

As for mobos I would recommend a Epox 9NPA+SLI, or if u want the SLI X16 the Asus A8N32-SLI seems to be everyone's top choice.
However if u overclock, the DFI RDX3200 (ATI Crossfire) has more OC options than any other mobo out there.

Also if u are not in a big rush to get a system built, Intel's Conroe (Core 2 Duo) CPU is coming out very soon and is supposed to perform quite a bit better and run cooler than current 939 AMD CPUs.

 

[buzzsaw13]

I say wait for conroe and am2, most likely you'll be going for conroe if it turns out to be as good as everyone says it is. As for video, I'd say get a 7900GT and overclock it if you wish since it should be able to handle new games for fairly decent amount of time.

 

[ruffilb]

I know there's no real release date yet on the AM2 systems, but when is the conroe coming out?

Originally posted by: PhatoseAlpha
What all is 2k supposed to cover?

See my thread here

Also, how does the Asus A8N32-SLI compare to the DFI nF4 SLI-_____ series?

 

[ruffilb]

dp

 

[buzzsaw13]

Intel is currently hoping for a July release, so its safe to say you only have to wait 2-3 months for it.

 

[TecHNooB]

What buzzsaw said: Wait for conroe.

Current high-end videocards like the 7900 and X1900 are getting bottle-necked by the cpu. If you want more out of your card wait for conroe.

 

[ruffilb]

Regardless; won't these video cards still be the same ones in use two months from now?

The question still stands - What video card(s) would you guys recommend? If there are going to be any key advances in the technology in the next couple of months, I'd like to know that too.

Thanks for the information - at this point, it seems very likely that I'll wait for Conroe.

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: ruffilb
Regardless; won't these video cards still be the same ones in use two months from now?

The question still stands - What video card(s) would you guys recommend? If there are going to be any key advances in the technology in the next couple of months, I'd like to know that too.

Thanks for the information - at this point, it seems very likely that I'll wait for Conroe.

Well the G80 is due out "this summer" although that could mean September.

 

[Howard]

Depends on the games you'll play.

 

[soloz2]

Originally posted by: Wreckage


Well the G80 is due out "this summer" although that could mean September.

no it's not. G80 will not be out until Vista comes out because G80 will be dx10. ATI will not have new cards out either until dx10 either. Yes, originally dx10 cards were going to be out sooner, but then again so was vista. But, unless vista is out there is no reason to have dx10 cards, especially months early. So, look for new cards coming out late 2006/early 2007 it'll be somewhere around the release of vista.

since you want a NF4 chipset mobo you should go with Nvidia cards. (you posted in your mobo thread that you wanted sli or crossfire capabilities) and with the nf4 chipset you cannot run crossfire, but the nf4 sli can run sli... so stick with Nvidia.

the best cards out right now are the 7900Gt and the 7900GTX. both cards are the same, except the 7900GT has lower clock settings and the gtx has an extra 256mb of memory.

if you are willing to do a simple pencil mod to give the 7900GT extra voltage (the gtx runs on 1.4v while the gt only gets 1.2) you can easily overclock the gt's to gtx or faster speeds. I'm currently running my 7900GT at 675/1650 and it benchs higher.

 

[v8envy]

My suggestion: get the $80 Fry's sempron3100+ECS PCIe motherboard. Borrow or recycle some old ram, even PC2100 stuff. Get a X1900XT, good case, potent PSU, fans or water cooling setup. Depending on quality of your ram, crank the clock on your CPU to around 2.4 ghz.

That'll kick minor ass for 3 months at the cost of a wasted $80. Who khows, you may even find a home for the sempron+mboard as well.

Once Conroe is out (2-3 months) you can decide between AM2 and Conroe, and pick an upgrade up at your leisure. At that point get a mature, reviewed Crossfire mboard for AMD2 or Conroe, a master X1900XT, CPU, fast DDR2 ram.

That's what I'd do if I had to build a box this very instant.

edit: Just wanted to make the point that a high end CPU today is just a huge waste of money. It'll be outperformed by CPUs costing 1/2 to 1/5 as much in just a few more weeks. Try to hold out!

 

[nitromullet]

Just wanted to make the point that a high end CPU today is just a huge waste of money. It'll be outperformed by CPUs costing 1/2 to 1/5 as much in just a few more weeks. Try to hold out![/a]

The only segment of the market this is true for is the super high end, like FX-60... If the rig is $2k total, I doubt he's planning on putting half his money into the proc. I don't think you'll be able to get a proc that outperforms an X2 4400+ for $200 anytime soon.

 

[soloz2]

no, but you can OC an x2 or a dual core opty to get fx60+ speeds so you can spend $300 on a cpu and OC it like mad

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: soloz2
no it's not. G80 will not be out until Vista comes out because G80 will be dx10. ATI will not have new cards out either until dx10 either. Yes, originally dx10 cards were going to be out sooner, but then again so was vista. But, unless vista is out there is no reason to have dx10 cards, especially months early. So, look for new cards coming out late 2006/early 2007 it'll be somewhere around the release of vista.

You want to bet? If they have the cards designed and ready to produce then they'll ship em and sell them as "futureproof". Also if they make them HDCP compliant then there's another little extra to tack on. Add in that it's going to be a newer design it may well be faster than the current line up etc...

The X1900XT(X) is more powerful than the 7900GTX in oblivion, which is the most graphically demanding game around at the moment. Both are great cards, but for the high end my vote goes to ATI.

 

[soloz2]

except for the fact that dx10 is not backwards compatable... so vista will have to use software emulation to play dx9 games... which implies that the g80 won't be able to render dx9 titles... which would make it pointless to launch before vista.

 

[ruffilb]

Originally posted by: Howard
Depends on the games you'll play.

I've been playing a lot of oblivion, but I probably won't be playing it then.

I consistently play Source engine games, however, so they're a fairly good criterion.

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: soloz2
except for the fact that dx10 is not backwards compatable... so vista will have to use software emulation to play dx9 games... which implies that the g80 won't be able to render dx9 titles... which would make it pointless to launch before vista.

Where do you make up this crap?

G80/R600 will be able to play DirectX 9 games just fine.

Neither NVIDIA nor ATI need to wait for microsoft to release their cards.

Vista could be delayed until 2020, do you think the cards are going to wait :roll:

 

[imported_Crusader]

Originally posted by: Wreckage

Originally posted by: soloz2
except for the fact that dx10 is not backwards compatable... so vista will have to use software emulation to play dx9 games... which implies that the g80 won't be able to render dx9 titles... which would make it pointless to launch before vista.

Where do you make up this crap?

G80/R600 will be able to play DirectX 9 games just fine.

Neither NVIDIA nor ATI need to wait for microsoft to release their cards.

Vista could be delayed until 2020, do you think the cards are going to wait :roll:

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: soloz2
so vista will have to use software emulation to play dx9 games... which implies that the g80 won't be able to render dx9 titles... which would make it pointless to launch before vista.

No. Vista will ship with both DX10 and DX9L.

Also DX9 isn't "backwards compatible" with DX8 either. Yet DX9 cards have no trouble running DX8 . . . hmmm . . .

 

[soloz2]

haven't you read anything about dx10? it is common knowledge that dx10 will not be backwards compatable and vista will have to use software immulation to play older games.


yes, vista will be able to run with dx9 also, but you will not be able to have all the cool 'glassy'effects. And, new games like Halo 2 for PC will be dx10.

Currenty video cards that are dx9 are able to render dx8, but microsoft wants to make dx10 very different from dx9 (almost wasn't called dx10 because it is so different) Microsoft is scrapping everything dx and starting over, that is why software emulation is necessary

 

[ruffilb]

Regardless - does anyone know when these cards are coming out?

I'm not going to wait until next year to make this build... july is longer than I'd like to wait anyway.

I can say fairly certainly that I'm going to be using the current generation of cards... I'll burn the dx10 bridge when I come to it.

 

[soloz2]

as people have already said... both ATI and Nvidia shouldn't have problems getting cards completed by mid summer... and probably launch mid to late summer... however, I don't think they will actually be released until the vista release or a few months before.

You can always get a card now and upgrade shortly after g80 comes out. the 7900 series is vista compatable

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: ruffilb

Originally posted by: Howard
Depends on the games you'll play.

I've been playing a lot of oblivion, but I probably won't be playing it then.

I consistently play Source engine games, however, so they're a fairly good criterion.

I suggest one X1900XT unless you play at resolutions > 1600x1200. Save the rest.