Why get the 7800GT for $400

[xTYBALTx]

*Edit 8/13/05*

There are essentially two questions raised in this thread:

1. Why get the 7800GT over X850XTPE?
-This was resolved soundly in favor of the 7800GT - and even more resoundly after the 7800GT was actually released and outperformed what many expected.

2. Why has the 6xxx, specifically 6800GT & Ultra flagships, been at the forefront of our recommendations, when it's clear that ATI's flagships were better performers?
-Also resolved: the PE stood for "Phantom Edition," prices were rediculous, SM3 was a bit of a help, and SLi was probably a major factor for top-end buyers as well.

/Edit


X850XTPE performs at or near 7800GTX in some instances. text

Even when it's not neck-and-neck with 7800GTX, X850XTPE still places solidly between 6800Ultra & 7800GTX. text

So, granted,the 7800GT hasn't even been released yet, and we don't know the price point for sure nor the specs let alone how it will perform - but it seems safe to say it will be somewhere between the 6800Ultra and 7800GTX, and a street price of $400 sounds about right given the recent drop in GTX prices.

And why hasn't the X850XTPE/X800XTPE been the choice for high-end gamers, over the 6800Ultra for the past six months before 7800GTX? Is it just because of SLI? Giving the benchmarks a good look, it simply looks obvious that the ATI cards smash nVidia's offerings - look at this benchie for 3dMark05 @ 1600x1200 4xaa 8xaf. The X800XL performs better than the 6800Ultra for heaven's sakes! Of course, all of this is reversed for OpenGL, but IMO OpenGL doesn't have the hot games right now.

X850XTPE performs at or near 7800GTX in some instances. text

UT2004: X850XT > 6800UT

 

[Keysplayr]

What are you thinking man.....

Number 1. Of course you linked to a benchmark that favors ATI.
Number 2. That bench is only for 1600x1200. The 7800GTX goes WAAAYY beyond that.
Number 3. Rebates? and to only get the X850XTPE for the same price?
Number 4. Older technology card and should be priced a lot lower. Without rebates
Number 5. We do not yet know how the 7800GT will perform.

Number 6. For emphasis, What we're you thinking?

P.S. A 7800GTX (single) can almost reach and sometimes equal Crossfired X850XTPE's at high res. Observe

 

[Keysplayr]

I know your on. Any comments? Or were you just looking to start a war.

 

[xTYBALTx]

The links you posted supports my point in asking why the 6800Ultra has been the high-end'ers choice over ATI's offerings.

To summarize, the link you posted shows

1600x1200, 0xAA

7800GTX 136.5fps
X850XTPE 123fps
6800Ultra 105fps

1600x1200, 4xAA

7800GTX 119fps
X850XTPE 100fps
6800Ultra 70.4fps

It sure seems like ATI had nVidia beat for the six months before the 7800GTX was released. In fact, the X850XTPE performs closer to the 7800GTX than the 6800Ultra. And with even the X800XL outperforming the 6800Ultra in some DX9 games, and the X800XTPE besting the 6800Ultra in everything but OpenGL, how did the 6800 series maintain dominance? I got a 6800GT over the similarly priced but better performing X800XL - was it because of marketing or something? I just don't get it.

 

[bjc112]

Get the 7800 and forget about it.

Don't buy a last gen card at this point, especially when looking high end.

 

[Cheesetogo]

Don't trust tom's hardware.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx
The links you posted supports my point in asking why the 6800Ultra has been the high-end'ers choice over ATI's offerings.

To summarize, the link you posted shows

1600x1200, 0xAA

7800GTX 136.5fps
X850XTPE 123fps
6800Ultra 105fps

1600x1200, 4xAA

7800GTX 119fps
X850XTPE 100fps
6800Ultra 70.4fps

It sure seems like ATI had nVidia beat for the six months before the 7800GTX was released. In fact, the X850XTPE performs closer to the 7800GTX than the 6800Ultra. And with even the X800XL outperforming the 6800Ultra in some DX9 games, and the X800XTPE besting the 6800Ultra in everything but OpenGL, how did the 6800 series maintain dominance? I got a 6800GT over the similarly priced but better performing X800XL - was it because of marketing or something? I just don't get it.

I think you should go and get yer X850XTPE. You deserve it. You know better.

 

[rise]

belated buyers remorse?

like keys said, then get the 850xtpe. makes sense to me :roll:

 

[Drayvn]

Not another one.

Ok im a great fan of ATi and i have the X850XT-PE but i know its faults and i know whats better.... the 7800GTX for feck sake!

And its just as good as the 6800U without SM3.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx
The links you posted supports my point in asking why the 6800Ultra has been the high-end'ers choice over ATI's offerings.

To summarize, the link you posted shows

1600x1200, 0xAA

7800GTX 136.5fps
X850XTPE 123fps
6800Ultra 105fps

1600x1200, 4xAA

7800GTX 119fps
X850XTPE 100fps
6800Ultra 70.4fps

It sure seems like ATI had nVidia beat for the six months before the 7800GTX was released. In fact, the X850XTPE performs closer to the 7800GTX than the 6800Ultra. And with even the X800XL outperforming the 6800Ultra in some DX9 games, and the X800XTPE besting the 6800Ultra in everything but OpenGL, how did the 6800 series maintain dominance? I got a 6800GT over the similarly priced but better performing X800XL - was it because of marketing or something? I just don't get it.

Get the XT-PE . . .

. . . THEN you will figure it out.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I wouldn't put $400+ into a SM2 card@this point. Wait for ATI's next gen or just go nV.

 

[Acanthus]

GT is 400mhz, 20 pipes, 1.0ghz 256 bit mem, not sure about VS but im banking on 5.

And there will be "Factory OC" versions of the card, its likely to be an overclocking monster.

 

[solofly]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx
The links you posted supports my point in asking why the 6800Ultra has been the high-end'ers choice over ATI's offerings.

To summarize, the link you posted shows

1600x1200, 0xAA

7800GTX 136.5fps
X850XTPE 123fps
6800Ultra 105fps

1600x1200, 4xAA

7800GTX 119fps
X850XTPE 100fps
6800Ultra 70.4fps

It sure seems like ATI had nVidia beat for the six months before the 7800GTX was released. In fact, the X850XTPE performs closer to the 7800GTX than the 6800Ultra. And with even the X800XL outperforming the 6800Ultra in some DX9 games, and the X800XTPE besting the 6800Ultra in everything but OpenGL, how did the 6800 series maintain dominance? I got a 6800GT over the similarly priced but better performing X800XL - was it because of marketing or something? I just don't get it.

I think you should go and get yer X850XTPE. You deserve it. You know better.

QFT

What a waste of time this thread was.

 

[xTYBALTx]

I didn't know this was such a touchy subject!

So you think it was because of SM3 that nV was so much more popular these past 7 months?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx
I didn't know this was such a touchy subject!

So you think it was because of SM3 that nV was so much more popular these past 7 months?

SLI and a functional PVP on the non-nv40&45 based cards couldn't have hurt either. Throw in catching up to ATI on quite cooling solutions being available, the fact that some dual slot ATI solutions emerged *a big knock previously*, and ATI being late to the dance with their next gen part, and you have a formula for Nv's success

 

[Hard Ball]

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
Don't trust tom's hardware.

Indeed, one of the empirical facts of this universe. Tom's is deeply in the backpocket of Intel, and they would say whatever Paul Otellini wanted.

 

[thegimp03]

All of these fancy cards are bottlenecked by lower resolutions. Jack it up to max resolution and I guarantee the 7800gtx will outperform everything. Heh, it wouldn't even be close. I own an x850xt right now, btw. Happy with it, got it for a decent price.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Hard Ball

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
Don't trust tom's hardware.

Indeed, one of the empirical facts of this universe. Tom's is deeply in the backpocket of Intel, and they would say whatever Paul Otellini wanted.

I don't like Tom's much either because of their methods. But you need to have proof if your gonna sling an accusation like that. I'm not talking observations. But hard facts. Like, do you have access to the Tom's Hardware books. And what might Paul Otellini have to do with and X850XTPE or 7800GT? Ok, back on topic.

 

[Ackmed]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx
The links you posted supports my point in asking why the 6800Ultra has been the high-end'ers choice over ATI's offerings.

To summarize, the link you posted shows

1600x1200, 0xAA

7800GTX 136.5fps
X850XTPE 123fps
6800Ultra 105fps

1600x1200, 4xAA

7800GTX 119fps
X850XTPE 100fps
6800Ultra 70.4fps

It sure seems like ATI had nVidia beat for the six months before the 7800GTX was released. In fact, the X850XTPE performs closer to the 7800GTX than the 6800Ultra. And with even the X800XL outperforming the 6800Ultra in some DX9 games, and the X800XTPE besting the 6800Ultra in everything but OpenGL, how did the 6800 series maintain dominance? I got a 6800GT over the similarly priced but better performing X800XL - was it because of marketing or something? I just don't get it.

Get the XT-PE . . .

. . . THEN you will figure it out.

In this post, he wasnt comparing the XT/PE to the 7800GTX, but to the 6800 Ultra. When comparing those two, the XT/PE certainly isnt a bad choice. In most games, its the faster card.

Comparing it to the GTX is however, especially since its dropped down to sub $500.

 

[JBT]

I think alot of the reason why more people got 6800's instead of x800's is the 6800 series highier end cards were out in alot more force than ATI's cards. Think of PE as Phantom Edition.... esspecially for the first few months.

 

[xtknight]

This just makes me laugh.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: JBT
I think alot of the reason why more people got 6800's instead of x800's is the 6800 series highier end cards were out in alot more force than ATI's cards. Think of PE as Phantom Edition.... esspecially for the first few months.

youre right, availability was a huge problem for quite a while.

 

[Hacp]

Here is a link where the 7800GTX performs about 25% faster than the 850XT... I imagine the 7800GT will perform at least 10% faster than the 850XT.

Ow ya, its a Half life 2 benchmark too.

 

[Hard Ball]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: Hard Ball

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
Don't trust tom's hardware.

Indeed, one of the empirical facts of this universe. Tom's is deeply in the backpocket of Intel, and they would say whatever Paul Otellini wanted.

I don't like Tom's much either because of their methods. But you need to have proof if your gonna sling an accusation like that. I'm not talking observations. But hard facts. Like, do you have access to the Tom's Hardware books. And what might Paul Otellini have to do with and X850XTPE or 7800GT? Ok, back on topic.

Access to their books? I don't have, All I have to go on is the amount of reviews in the last couple of years that were out of line with the majority of reviews, almost always in P4 or PM's favor. Anyway, I don't really care what they do; I posted this for the most part as a comical relief. Who knows what Otellini want with 7800GTX anyway. Maybe Dell's selling more NV products than Intel?

 

[CP5670]

Originally posted by: JBT
I think alot of the reason why more people got 6800's instead of x800's is the 6800 series highier end cards were out in alot more force than ATI's cards. Think of PE as Phantom Edition.... esspecially for the first few months.

yeah, this is why I got a 6800 GT a year ago. I would probably have paid a bit more for an X800 XT or XTPE despite having a slight preference for nvidia cards but they were basically nonexistant at normal MSRP prices.