I was looking at upgrading my systems video card from a dual 6600 GT SLI setup to just a plain old single 7900 GT. I am tired of the flaky driver support and the instability I've experienced with SLI over the past couple years. And the single 7900 GT would give way better performance than 2 6600's I have now anyway. I see they can be had for right around $200 after rebates and that is less than what I paid for each of my 6600 GT's originally. So I'm ready to do it. But then I started reading forums and reviews and stuff and it seems like the 7900 GT's are lemons. Especially the factory pre-overclocked ones. I'm reading horrific things about them and how they work great for a few days or weeks but then start to artifact and corrupt images, and about people RMA'ing them 2 and 3 times with the same results. So does anybody have any brand of 7900 GT (pci express) that has been simply a dream so far to own? I know people only usually go on forums and complain when problems arise and are not as likely to go and sing praises when something works the way it is supposed to. But that's what I want to hear about if there is anybody who can honestly say it. And please don't bother replying unless you have owned a 7900 GT for more than a couple months. I suppose if anybody has more horror stories to share I'd like to hear those too though. Thanks!
Want a 7900 GT but I'm afraid of the horror stories
- Thread starter ahurtt
- Start date
I have had 7900GTs in SLI for months now.
I think many other people possibly have problems with artifacting and such because the cards don't come with ramsinks. It was never an issue for me, either because I installed better HSFs on them from day one, or my cards simply weren't bad. Both of mine were factory overclocked (eVGA) and even further overclocked by me, and I get no problems.
I'd highly recommend getting some nice HSFs with ramsinks, just to make you feel safe. I can push my video card memory pretty far with them, I'm sure I wouldn't do nearly as well without them. I'm using Zalman VF700-Cu on my video cards. It's quieter, cooler, but you may not want to pay for them. If you like Zalman, I believe the VF900s are cheaper now.
I think many other people possibly have problems with artifacting and such because the cards don't come with ramsinks. It was never an issue for me, either because I installed better HSFs on them from day one, or my cards simply weren't bad. Both of mine were factory overclocked (eVGA) and even further overclocked by me, and I get no problems.
I'd highly recommend getting some nice HSFs with ramsinks, just to make you feel safe. I can push my video card memory pretty far with them, I'm sure I wouldn't do nearly as well without them. I'm using Zalman VF700-Cu on my video cards. It's quieter, cooler, but you may not want to pay for them. If you like Zalman, I believe the VF900s are cheaper now.
I got an eVGA GeForce 7900GT KO OCed to 615/905 and have had it like that for about 4 months. Soon to get a secnd one when prices go down.
eVGA has FIXED the 7900GT problems. This was done back in August....OLD news.
Any eVGA purchase will be free of the infamous artifacting problem. Mine was perfect and I OC'd that crap out of it.
Any eVGA purchase will be free of the infamous artifacting problem. Mine was perfect and I OC'd that crap out of it.
Yeah, I had read some stuff about eVGA cards with possibly bad Samsung memory. What do you think the chances are of purchasing one from say. . Newegg or something, and getting one of the older ones that has not been fixed? Did eVGA recall the bad ones or anything to make sure no more would be sold or is there still the risk of getting one that's bad? Did any other companies suffer similar problems and did they ever recall/fix the bad ones? From what I read the problem was happening to more than just eVGA's cards. It was happening to almost all factory overclocked cards and even some that were not factory overclocked but shipped with stock reference clock speeds.
Have had a 7900 GT since early July and it runs great. eVGA model, 7900 GT KO. I ran it w/ stock HSF for a couple months then got a Zalman VF700-Cu, overclocks like whoa. I don't think you've got anything to worry about, although I've never used an XFX video card (that's the one on sale IIRC) before.
EVGA N584 7900GT
Update on 7900 Series Cards
http://www.evga.com/community/messageboard/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17364&whichpage=1
Update on 7900 Series Cards
http://www.evga.com/community/messageboard/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17364&whichpage=1
Captante
Lifer
- Oct 20, 2003
- 30,342
- 10,860
- 136
Even back when the cards with problem RAM were being produced, the vast majority of people who bought 7900GT's had no problems at all with their cards, so I'd say go for it if you want one... I suggest going with EVGA because they have the best support and allow you to upgrade your heatsink/fan to somthing better then stock and to overclock your card without voiding your warranty.
Had a Leadtek 7900GS (same core just cut down, and memory/PCB the same) fail within two weeks - just testing the replacement now...
I got a faulty 7900 GT KO card to start with when I bought mine, but I RMA'ed it with no problems, I got a N-584 series card, and have had no problems whatsoever since then.
I'm thinking about a 2nd 7900 GT KO too, ZipZoomFly has them for $219 - $20 rebate = $199... Is it worth it now, or should I wait until the 8800 comes out- but will the prices drop really that much really quick?
Link to ZZF:
LINKY LINKY
To the OP, it's pretty hard now to beat the 7900 for Price/Performance Ratio, it's pretty sweet.
I'm thinking about a 2nd 7900 GT KO too, ZipZoomFly has them for $219 - $20 rebate = $199... Is it worth it now, or should I wait until the 8800 comes out- but will the prices drop really that much really quick?
Link to ZZF:
LINKY LINKY
To the OP, it's pretty hard now to beat the 7900 for Price/Performance Ratio, it's pretty sweet.
Yep, that's what I was thinking too. With the 8 series around the corner and the new GS and 7950 models out, there are lots of rebates and discounts to be had on this high performance video card. Should run all my current games like I've never seen them played before and still handle tomorrows games for a while yet to come. Thanks to all who have posted for the info. Keep 'em coming
I am about "this close" to pulling the trigger and ordering one.By the way. . .
This at newegg
and
this at zipzoomfly
appear to be the exact same product, no? Why would newegg have a $50 higher price tag? Or did I miss something? Is newegg slipping? Zipzoomfly really has the same product for $50 cheaper AND FREE SHIPPING!?
Newegg, you better put a hot poker to the asses of the guys in your marketing research department.
This at newegg
and
this at zipzoomfly
appear to be the exact same product, no? Why would newegg have a $50 higher price tag? Or did I miss something? Is newegg slipping? Zipzoomfly really has the same product for $50 cheaper AND FREE SHIPPING!?
Newegg, you better put a hot poker to the asses of the guys in your marketing research department.
Have the Leadteck version and mine showed Artifacts and was messed up but I found out it was a combination of oc'ing, a specific set of drivers and lack of cooling -- at least for me. I got the Zalman cooler (heat sinks too), applied the latest driver and now I can run all day and night at major OC speeds with no issues. Again for me it was the drivers I was using along with oc'ing that almost killed it. I found it hard to believe but that was me.
vhx
Golden Member
- Jul 19, 2006
- 1,151
- 0
- 0
For eVGA the older 7900GT's have part numbers with N56x in them, while newer models use N58x. Newegg will only have the newer models unless you specifically purchase a refurbished old model. No 7900GT's were recalled as far as I know. As stated before, a majority of the cards still work fine. And yes, almost all other companies had the same problem, but as far as them changing memory and such, I am unsure.
If it helps, I don't get very many calls for 7900GT's anymore.
Originally posted by: vhx
For eVGA the older 7900GT's have part numbers with N56x in them, while newer models use N58x. Newegg will only have the newer models unless you specifically purchase a refurbished old model. No 7900GT's were recalled as far as I know. As stated before, a majority of the cards still work fine. And yes, almost all other companies had the same problem, but as far as them changing memory and such, I am unsure.
If it helps, I don't get very many calls for 7900GT's anymore.
Thanks, vhx. Just so you know I went ahead and ordered an eVGA 7900 GT KO from zipzoomfly (product link) yesterday. I am pretty sure it is a newer model one and not ond of the old ones since it says the SKU is 256-P2-N584-AR. If you can please confirm that'd be great. Here's hoping it all works out ok. I do not plan on overclocking it or modding it in any way beyond how it comes from the factory. And since you were nice enough to help me feel reassured I made an ok purchase, you get to be the lucky guy who gets the PM if it doesn't work
:laugh:but that's not gonna happen, right?
PS - the factors that led to my choosing eVGA were
1) The price at zipzoomfly and
2) The fact that it was easy to find information where eVGA had found the problem with these cards, publicly acknowledged it, and made it right again without trying to be all "cloak and dagger" about it. I like that kind of open honesty. It's refreshing.
I guess that red hot poker worked. Newegg's new price on this product today is down $44 from yesterday to $225.
I don't have a 7900GT, but close enough... I have a 7800 GTX clocked about the same... No problems here and essentially the same card.
vmodded 7900gt (see sig). No artifact after 30 minutes of atitool artifact scan (I stopped scanning at 30 minutes. needed to actually play a game with it!).
I think they fixed the problem way back.
Just get one that has the infineon memory (certain model #'s, I'm sure someone already said it)
Just get one that has the infineon memory (certain model #'s, I'm sure someone already said it)
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