Why should i not buy a new XFX 7900GT?

[Sonikku]

Originally posted by: pookguy88
In Canada the X1800XT 512meg is just as hard, if not hader, to find stock for compared to the 7900GT

In Mother Russia the X1800XT 512meg plays you.

 

[OatMan]

There seem to be like 5 different flavors of XFX 7900 GT.

Does it matter which one. There is one at 470 core, 500 core 520 core and 550 core.

Are they all pretty much the same just different factory OCs? Should I be able to get a pretty similar OC from any of them??? Can you get a decent OC WITHOUT a volt mod?

I like XFX and BFG for their lifetime warranties, and I don't want to VOID them. I know OCing technically voids it, but its impossible to prove. A volt mod is pretty obviouse. I was planning on getting an aftermarket cooler and keeping the stock if I need to RMA...

TIA for any advice
Thanks.

 

[soloz2]

Originally posted by: OatMan
There seem to be like 5 different flavors of XFX 7900 GT.

Does it matter which one. There is one at 470 core, 500 core 520 core and 550 core.

Are they all pretty much the same just different factory OCs? Should I be able to get a pretty similar OC from any of them??? Can you get a decent OC WITHOUT a volt mod?

I like XFX and BFG for their lifetime warranties, and I don't want to VOID them. I know OCing technically voids it, but its impossible to prove. A volt mod is pretty obviouse. I was planning on getting an aftermarket cooler and keeping the stock if I need to RMA...

TIA for any advice
Thanks.

your questions would probably be best suited to a new thread, but I'll try to answer them here.

as to the different models, the only difference is clock speed (some have better coolers like the Asus TOP and eVGA signature series) but every 7900GT is built on the Nvidia reference board and are basically the same. There is one exception, XFXdoes have a few models with VIVO, whereall the others just have video out. If you need VIVO then be sure to get an XFX with VIVO

Since all 7900GT's are basically the same just buy the cheapest one from the company you want. You are mainly buying the warranty. You should be able to get any 7900GT to do 550-600 on stock volts.

As far as warranty goes, the top three companies are typically considered to be eVGA, XFX, and BFG. eVGA actually has the best warranty (covers the most stuff) then XFX comes in 2nd.

Since you want to change your cooler, and are concerned about warranty issues, you should buy an eVGA card because they are the only company that covers changing your cooler under warranty. You will still need to keep the stock cooler to be able to RMA or step-up, but eVGA covers it while other companies do not.

Finally, if you really want to OC get a Zalman vf900 (or water) and do the volt mod. with 1.55v my core reaches over 700Mhz stable. The voltmod is easy to do, costs $13 (for a conductive pen from radio shack) and can be removed with finger nail polish remover.

 

[crazylegs]

from my personal experience buy the cheapest possible 7900GT that you can!

I managed to get a CLUB3D 1 in the UK... and have it running at 650 / 1700 @ 1.4v

- it could do about 560 / 1700 @ stock - 1.2v

Going to give 1.5v a try soon because my vf900 keeps the thing nice and cold!

 

[nullpointerus]

IMO eVGA is the best.

http://www.evga.com/support/faq/afmviewfaq.aspx?faqid=55

 

[OatMan]

Gentleman, thanks for the responses!