GDDR4 VS DX10???

C

cu2cool

Limp Gawd
Joined
Aug 20, 2005
Messages
141
I'm trying to decide on which video card to upgrade to. On one hand the NVidia 8800GTX offers DX10 support, and 768MB of memory. On the other hand the ATi 1950XTX offers GDDR4, and only 512MB of memory. I know there's a pretty large price difference between the two cards and that they both support the new HDCP technology. They're both upgradable to handle CF or SLi. I'm debating whether it's worth the cost to choose the 8800 GTX over the 1950XTX. I'm not even sure what the difference will make between GDDR3 and GDDR4, and not too many programs out there are running on DX10 yet. It would make it a whole lot easier if both companies just offered the same options with their video cards. Any suggestions?
 
If benchmarks are any indication, the 8800GTX will eat the X1950XTX for lunch and in many cases two of them in Crossfire. If it's in your budget and you want it now, you won't be disappointed. If you can wait, it might be worthwhile seeing how the R600 drama unfolds.
 
...I am going to give you the benifit of that doubt. I am going to assume this is not a joke topic.

The 8800GTX is a better card.

it will not just play DX9 game a lot better than the 1950 (or any other video card out there, for that matter) it will crush any competition.

And of course, it can play games at DX10 level, which, by the way improves both Image quality, general graphics AND performance.

On the other had its more expensive. The 8800GTX is about 590$ on avg and the 1950XTX is about 370$ on avg. Thats a $220 difference. But if you are going to buy a High End card now, its be a little stupid not to buy the 8800GTX. Even with CF the 8800GTX beats (or is a little behind on most games) the 1950XTX. The other way round, the 1950 becomes insignificant.

An 8800GTX will play DX9 games for YEARS to come. Even if you never bought a DX10 game, that card will last you until DX9s death (Like how the GF4 could play every DX 8.1 game well, but better.)

In short.

Get the 8800GTX, you niny (oh and the 8800GTS will also be good for DX9 games, but again, no one knows how DX10 games will fare.)
 
It doesn't make sense to spend hundreds of dollars on a previous generation GPU which cannot play the upcoming DX10 codepath in games and is a lot slower in current DX9 games, unless it is only a stop-gap solution.

Of course this assumes you are also making the move to Vista.
 
First question is always; how much you want to spend. Don't buy a fast lookin Ford car and except Ferrai acceleration!

If I were you, I would wait and see what is coming out, becz were on the verge of a refresh in generation, again by Ati and Nvidia, yes Nvidia, will combat the R600 in someway.
 
I see...thx for all the info. I'm not planning to buy within the immediate future, but I will most likely wait until the 8800GTX price drops some more.
 
-=Antimatter=- said:
I find it hilarious that an nVidia card owner is bashing an ATI card for having a loud cooler.

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NDIx
Click to expand...
Har. Har.

The last high-end HSF that you could remotely hear from NV was the 6800 GT cooler and that was pretty damn quiet. All of NVs recent cards have been whisper quiet. Meanwhile, ATI is still using those ridiculously loud heatsink / fans in their newer products so what exactly is your point?

As for this topic: GDDR4 on an inferior product or GDDR3 on one that blows the ATI one out of the water by a factor of 100% hmm... what sort of tangible benefit does GDDR4 give you if the card using it is much, much slower?

lol @ everyone.
 
I was referring to the high end cards... but I should have been more specific.
 
-=Antimatter=- said:
I find it hilarious that an nVidia card owner is bashing an ATI card for having a loud cooler.

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NDIx

To the OP, just wait and see what the 8600 generation brings, and be on the lookout for r600 and its derivatives, as well as some sort of 8800gs series.
Click to expand...

LOL, if you had actually been here for long enough you would know for 1, I've owned way more ATI cards then I have Nvidia cards, and my sig is outdated, I actually have an X1950PRO atm, waiting on R600. the X1900 cards fan is LOUD, I had an X1800, X1900XTX, X1950XTX(quiet one!) X1950 pro, the quitest are 1950 but the 1900 fan is LOUD period.

not to mention that he pointed to a 256m version vs the 512m xtx which comes with a quieter cooler
 
aZn_plyR said:
Wow calm down guys, stuff in zalman in it.
Click to expand...


Not sure on the newer zalman model but im 100% sure taht the VF700 is not enough for a 1900 or 1950, its not even enough for an 1800 =p I had it on my X1800XT and temps were higher then with stock, I reseated it several times. even on WC. my 1900xtx hit 50-60deg Under load
 
just wait until the price drops on the dx10 cards. There arn't DX10 games on the market currently.
 
wait for more DX10 graphic cards. this turns into another one of those tech comparisons, much like the X800 series cards and the 6/7 series nvidia cards with sm2.0 and 3.0. In the end, even if you end up with a slower 6 or 7 series card, you will be able to run more in the future than with an x800 series card which has more raw power than the 6 or 7 series counterparts. for example, Rainbow Six: Vegas will refuse to run on any graphics card which does not support SM3.0, so if you bought an X850XT (which is the equivalent X800 series card for the 7600GT), the program will refuse to run.

So... to apply this to you. if you want a graphics card now, i'd recommend the 8800GTX. Yeah, the X1950XTX might have GDDR4, but it will eventually be tech that will hold you back and not power. but if I were you, i'd pocket that 600 dollars and wait for new DX10 graphic cards to be released.
 
Digital Viper-X- said:
Not sure on the newer zalman model but im 100% sure taht the VF700 is not enough for a 1900 or 1950, its not even enough for an 1800 =p I had it on my X1800XT and temps were higher then with stock, I reseated it several times. even on WC. my 1900xtx hit 50-60deg Under load
Click to expand...

VF-900...

The 700s dont even really handle a 6800 ultra.

And yeah, people in the Video Card forum are worse than people in an Apple vs PC debate...
 
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