You have $250-ish to spend on a new video card...

[SirFelixCat]

Back in December, I built a pretty good rig (AMD 3800+ San Diego, 2 Gig Ram, plenty of HDD's and 2 DVD RW's etc).


I am building/just built a new AM2 rig for a "friend", but her Vid Card (Sapphire x1800xt) was DOA and she leaves tomorrow. So...I'm giving her my 7800GT video card and am going to RMA the x1800xt.

Now, that baby is HUGE...and if I were to put it (when I get a new one) into my rig, it happens to cover one of my IDE slots on my mobo. And it doesn't want to go into my case easily (Thermaltake Tsunami...hey, I like the case and it's been good to me thus far).


So, knowing all that, when I send the DOA x1800xt back, what should I get? Ideas/thoughts/input?


TIA!

 

[BassBomb]

you didnt need a new thread, but get another x1800xt i think... if your worried about another DOA get a 7900GT

hardcore female gamer eh

 

[SirFelixCat]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
you didnt need a new thread, but get another x1800xt i think... if your worried about another DOA get a 7900GT

hardcore female gamer eh

Wasn't sure as that was a T/S thread and all, but I digress.

And yes, she's a fairly serious gamer, mostly WoW, but wants to "diversify"


As far as the X1800XT goes, what should I do as far as the 'it covers an IDE slot" issue? I mean, granted, the only need for that slot is for my 3rd HDD, but still.

Also, that thing is a mother-bear to get into my Tsunami case...is that normal? And by difficult, I mean that it doesn't want to slide smoothly into the card slots on the back of the case, which makes it not want to line up smoothly with the PCI x16 slot...

My 7800GT slides in smooth-as-silk and seats w/o issues. Anyone else have any issues similar with the X1800XT?

 

[BassBomb]

nowadays up your hd's to sata and you say your 3rd hd? i thoguht its her pc

 

[SirFelixCat]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
nowadays up your hd's to sata and you say your 3rd hd? i thoguht its her pc

2 of the 3 HDD's in my comp are SATA..this is an older one. ANd for her rig, I'm giving her my 7800GT since she's leaving tomorrow, so that she'll have a computer up and running and I'm going to RMA the DOA x1800xt and replace it with......??? for my computer.

 

[Wreckage]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130032

 

[hans030390]

I'm gonna have to say 7900gt.

 

[sandorski]

"Covers" it? There's usually enough space between cards and IDE ports to still plug a cable in. If that's not the case in your situation and you have SATA ports, get and IDE/SATA convertor plug.

 

[thilanliyan]

If you get a 7900GT make sure you get one of the newer revision 7900GTs...there have been several threads about bad 7900GTs and you might wanna read those.

 

[JBT]

I would go 7900GT as well..

 

[coldpower27]

7900 GT is the only option all R520/R580 have long PCB, it's no contest. the same problem will occur with a 7900 GTX though.

 

[Mavrick007]

Is there no way you can put your cable in and then wrap it under and then put the vid card in your PCI-Ex slot?
I've had tight fits before but an PATA cable is just not that high that it should get in the way.

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: SirFelixCat

Originally posted by: BassBomb
you didnt need a new thread, but get another x1800xt i think... if your worried about another DOA get a 7900GT

hardcore female gamer eh

Wasn't sure as that was a T/S thread and all, but I digress.

And yes, she's a fairly serious gamer, mostly WoW, but wants to "diversify"


As far as the X1800XT goes, what should I do as far as the 'it covers an IDE slot" issue? I mean, granted, the only need for that slot is for my 3rd HDD, but still.

Also, that thing is a mother-bear to get into my Tsunami case...is that normal? And by difficult, I mean that it doesn't want to slide smoothly into the card slots on the back of the case, which makes it not want to line up smoothly with the PCI x16 slot...

My 7800GT slides in smooth-as-silk and seats w/o issues. Anyone else have any issues similar with the X1800XT?

I've had "tightness" issues with a lot of cards. The current card I have now was really a bitch to get into the case, as a matter of fact. I imagine that this is a margin of error for both cases and component fit, and if you get two that error on the far side of each other, it can be tight. That being said, I've never had anything not fit that was supposed to, nor has anything ever gotten damaged during install. You just have to be patient with it and it will go in.

 

[SirFelixCat]

Originally posted by: sandorski
"Covers" it? There's usually enough space between cards and IDE ports to still plug a cable in. If that's not the case in your situation and you have SATA ports, get and IDE/SATA convertor plug.

Good call. Worse comes to worse, I'll do it this way...it seems the majority are saying 7900GT though eh?

Also, although I figured it was implied...this WILL be used for gaming...

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: SirFelixCat

Originally posted by: sandorski
"Covers" it? There's usually enough space between cards and IDE ports to still plug a cable in. If that's not the case in your situation and you have SATA ports, get and IDE/SATA convertor plug.

Good call. Worse comes to worse, I'll do it this way...it seems the majority are saying 7900GT though eh?

Also, although I figured it was implied...this WILL be used for gaming...

Look at the 256mb X1800XT as well, as they can be had for cheap. Look at reviews that include both cards. Click for an Xbitlabs review that includes both cards. Look for other reviews and prices also then decide which card.

 

[sisq0kidd]

I'd go for a 7900gt. Small card compared to the x1800xt. Slightly less noisy, although I say both are too noisy for me.

 

[sisq0kidd]

Originally posted by: thilan29

Originally posted by: SirFelixCat

Originally posted by: sandorski
"Covers" it? There's usually enough space between cards and IDE ports to still plug a cable in. If that's not the case in your situation and you have SATA ports, get and IDE/SATA convertor plug.

Good call. Worse comes to worse, I'll do it this way...it seems the majority are saying 7900GT though eh?

Also, although I figured it was implied...this WILL be used for gaming...

Look at the 256mb X1800XT as well, as they can be had for cheap. Look at reviews that include both cards. Click for an Xbitlabs review that includes both cards.

They used a 512mb model for the x1800xt, not the 256 one.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: sisq0kidd

Originally posted by: thilan29

Originally posted by: SirFelixCat

Originally posted by: sandorski
"Covers" it? There's usually enough space between cards and IDE ports to still plug a cable in. If that's not the case in your situation and you have SATA ports, get and IDE/SATA convertor plug.

Good call. Worse comes to worse, I'll do it this way...it seems the majority are saying 7900GT though eh?

Also, although I figured it was implied...this WILL be used for gaming...

Look at the 256mb X1800XT as well, as they can be had for cheap. Look at reviews that include both cards. Click for an Xbitlabs review that includes both cards.

They used a 512mb model for the x1800xt, not the 256 one.

You're right, are there any reviews that has the 256mb version instead?? Are there also any links comparing 256mb vs. 512mb?? I presume 512mb is the way to go if you game at high resolutions(ie. higher than 1280x1024)??

 

[soydios]

$270 - X1900GT or 7900GT
$210 - X1800GTO
$180 - 7600GT

My best price/performance picks are:
$270 - X1900GT
$180 - 7600GT

 

[fierydemise]

The X1800XT is a big card but it is faster (very slightly) overall and will give you better IQ (HDR+AA, HQAF), although it really comes down to what will be faster in games you play. So what games do you play primarily?

 

[SirFelixCat]

Originally posted by: fierydemise
The X1800XT is a big card but it is faster (very slightly) overall and will give you better IQ (HDR+AA, HQAF), although it really comes down to what will be faster in games you play. So what games do you play primarily?

As of right now, Oblivion, WoW, and going to be Crysis and a few of the new ones...


I know that the X1800XT is considerably faster on Oblivion, but the fact that it did NOT want to line up correctly with my board and the sheer size of it, has me leaning towards the 7900GT. My mobo is not SLI-capable (I know, I know), so that limits that option.


Also, wtf happened to the 7800GT's? Phased out already?

 

[soydios]

7800GT is about the same price as the 7900GT, but gives you less performance. I would take a look at the X1900GT.