Help me decide here guys

C

CC_Pirate

Limp Gawd
Joined
Aug 1, 2005
Messages
463
I am putting my 7800GTX card in a HTPC i built, so I need a new videocard for my desktop.

The choice is between the two following cards. Help me decide:

GeForce 7950GX2
Its the fastest card on the market, and I imagine that with a FPS monster like this I should be able to play the most demanding games for well over a year with decent settings.

I have heard of a few caveats though. The first is compatibility issues. My motherboard (Asus A8N SLI Premium) is on nVidias compatibility list, so I am not to worried. However I hate spending days trying to figure out compatibility issues. The second problem that bothers me is that I've heard that with any multi-GPU setup, there are issues when using multiple monitors. More specifically, multi-GPU has to be switched off in order to use multimonitors properly. I constantly use two monitors except when I play games. Can anyone tell me more about this issue? How do I disable multi-GPU? Is it a hassle?
Any other significant caveats I should know about?

Just an FYI, I watercool my videocard. I'm going to cool this card with this block: Danger Den - DD-GX2


Radeon X1950XTX
It's the fastest single GPU card on the market, and image quality supposedly surpasses nVidia's cards in certain games. It's also about $80 cheaper than the GX2.

It's a brand new card, so I'm a little worried there will be issues with drivers and some compatibility during its first months. However the X1xxx platform is tested and approved, so it might not be a big issues. Any thoughts on this? Other than that, the GX2 is superior at high resolutions in all games I've seen. So I'm thinking the GX2 will last me longer.

I'll cool this card with this block: Danger Den Tyee

I'm kinda leaning towards the GX2, but only if someone convinces me the compatibility issues aren't that big of a deal, and that using multiple monitors with this card is fine.


All input gladly appreciated (including info on overclocking and cooling as well)!

Thanks!
 
FWIW According to HARDOCP x1950xtx is faster than GX2

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTE0NCwxMSwsaGVudGh1c2lhc3Q=
"Overall Gameplay Evaluation

Overall, with very few exceptions, the ATI Radeon X1950 XTX provided a noticeable and tangible improvement in the gameplay experience over the Radeon X1900 XTX. Compared to the BFGTech GeForce 7950 GX2 it even performed better than that in some games, while in others they were even. Simply put, the ATI Radeon X1950 XTX won more games and scenarios than it lost them compared to the BFGTech GeForce 7950 GX2."



They are the only site saying so but they do reviews differntly as you know.

I'd prolly pick up the ATI card..it's cheaper and quieter even if it performs worse accroding to most sites..
 
CC_Pirate said:
I am putting my 7800GTX card in a HTPC i built, so I need a new videocard for my desktop.

The choice is between the two following cards. Help me decide:

GeForce 7950GX2
Its the fastest card on the market, and I imagine that with a FPS monster like this I should be able to play the most demanding games for well over a year with decent settings.

I have heard of a few caveats though. The first is compatibility issues. My motherboard (Asus A8N SLI Premium) is on nVidias compatibility list, so I am not to worried. However I hate spending days trying to figure out compatibility issues. The second problem that bothers me is that I've heard that with any multi-GPU setup, there are issues when using multiple monitors. More specifically, multi-GPU has to be switched off in order to use multimonitors properly. I constantly use two monitors except when I play games. Can anyone tell me more about this issue? How do I disable multi-GPU? Is it a hassle?
Any other significant caveats I should know about?

Just an FYI, I watercool my videocard. I'm going to cool this card with this block: Danger Den - DD-GX2


Radeon X1950XTX
It's the fastest single GPU card on the market, and image quality supposedly surpasses nVidia's cards in certain games. It's also about $80 cheaper than the GX2.

It's a brand new card, so I'm a little worried there will be issues with drivers and some compatibility during its first months. However the X1xxx platform is tested and approved, so it might not be a big issues. Any thoughts on this? Other than that, the GX2 is superior at high resolutions in all games I've seen. So I'm thinking the GX2 will last me longer.

I'll cool this card with this block: Danger Den Tyee

I'm kinda leaning towards the GX2, but only if someone convinces me the compatibility issues aren't that big of a deal, and that using multiple monitors with this card is fine.


All input gladly appreciated (including info on overclocking and cooling as well)!

Thanks!
Click to expand...

You can't go wrong with either card. The IQ thing is a mute issue and for that you can look around in other threads in this forum and in reviews, that both companies have their own advantages. ATI wins in AF, with its angle-independent filtering and NVIDIA wins in AA with TSAA. So I wouldn't use the IQ thing as something that would prevent you of getting a card, from either side.
IMHO, I would also lean towards the GX2. The only limiting factor here, might be the price difference. If those $80 are important, then by all means get the X1950 XTX, since it's a phenomenal card. If not, I say get the GX2.
 
Thanks guys..

I am very tempted to go with the GX2, the $80 extra isn't that big of a deal.
However, I would like some more info on the issues with the GX2 from those who have experienced it, ESPECIALLY the multi-display issues.

Thanks again.
 
OK I realized the GX2 won't physically fit in my system.

So now the situation has changed a little. I am now considering

(1x) X1950XTX or
(2x) 7900GS in SLI

Take a look at these roundups for comparisons:

TechReport and AnandTech.

According to TR, 7900GS SLI is way faster than the X1950XTX, but in AnandTech's tests, the differences arent that great.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Is running SLI worth the hassle? I've also read that the 7900GS is a great overclocker, and I will watercool, so maybe there is potential for some respectable performanve gains thru OCing.

??
Thanks!
 
Silus said:
You can't go wrong with either card. The IQ thing is a mute issue and for that you can look around in other threads in this forum and in reviews, that both companies have their own advantages. ATI wins in AF, with its angle-independent filtering and NVIDIA wins in AA with TSAA. So I wouldn't use the IQ thing as something that would prevent you of getting a card, from either side.
IMHO, I would also lean towards the GX2. The only limiting factor here, might be the price difference. If those $80 are important, then by all means get the X1950 XTX, since it's a phenomenal card. If not, I say get the GX2.
Click to expand...

IQ is probably the most important thing for me next to speed but I guess some people don't care if their picture looks washed out... What ever floats your boat I guess..
 
CC_Pirate said:
OK I realized the GX2 won't physically fit in my system.

So now the situation has changed a little. I am now considering

(1x) X1950XTX or
(2x) 7900GS in SLI

Take a look at these roundups for comparisons:

TechReport and AnandTech.

According to TR, 7900GS SLI is way faster than the X1950XTX, but in AnandTech's tests, the differences arent that great.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Is running SLI worth the hassle? I've also read that the 7900GS is a great overclocker, and I will watercool, so maybe there is potential for some respectable performanve gains thru OCing.

??
Thanks!
Click to expand...

I would just go with single card solution... As in dual GPU is not 100% compatible or some hacked patch you have to acquire to run... + you get 512meg frame buffer for future games that need textures...

Honestly you should go with 1900xtx and save yourself $100...
 
I'll agree with that. SLi and CrossFire should be avoided when possible. Buying two mid-range cards to equate a single high-end card, even if the high-end card is more expensive, could generally be a poor decision. If you're watercooling and overclocking? Tough call, but go with your gut. Odds are that having two GPU blocks will significantly affect performance of your cooling loop.

The XTX does not have a 512MB frame buffer, but rather 512MB of memory (which stores the frame buffer). The two terms are not interchangeable.
 
OK, looks like I'm going for the X1950 with a DD Tyee waterblock. If needed I can always run crossfire later on.
 
One thing you're going to loose with the SLI 7900GS is the multi monitor support, how ever it is NOT a pain to disable SLI and run them as single independant cards, its really quick and doesn't need to be rebooted

honestly i'd say stick with the single, right now the drivers for it aren't really out there, I'm sure the official support comes with the 6.10's and someone in the ATI subforum has some hacked drivers to support the 1950's if you need anything better then the beta drivers supplied by ATI in the box
 
Marvelous said:
Honestly you should go with 1900xtx and save yourself $100...
Click to expand...

Thats interesting, I never thought of that as an option, but when I look at those roundups, the X1900 and X1950 performs almost equal in every test, the 1950 wins by just a little.

God this is hard. I wish the Gx2 would fit. I might do some modifications to try to get it to fit.
 
dont let something as small as a small case distract you from the best.. ;)
 
Warrior said:
dont let something as small as a small case distract you from the best.. ;)
Click to expand...

Hehe I know. But both the waterblock in my nortbridge and my X-Fi soundcard are blocking, so I dont think it will work without getting rid one of those, which isnt happening.

I've been thinking about just getting a single 7900GS or 7950GT, and use those for a few months until the G80/R600 are released, which everybody's screaming about.

But, first of all, as usual it will take forever before they are on the shelf, and we will have to wait for games and drivers that fully take advantage of the new technology they offer. And in terms of raw FPS power on existing games, I find it hard to believe that one of the first G80 or R600 cards (single GPU I assume?) will totally crush the performance of for example two 7900GSs in SLI.


THATS why I think I've made up my mind. Despite the potential hassle with SLI (which I think I'll hack through eventually), I want to go for a 7900GS setup with a DD SLI waterblock setup, and clock the crap out of them. From what I've read theyre fantastic overclockers.

Any thoughts?

Thanks for all input BTW!
 
x1900 I'd say. You seem to be wanting to stay with NV tho as at first it was between the GX2 and x1950, now your talking about a single 7950GT... :confused:

Go for the x1900, save some cash, that will more than tide you over till DX10 cards, and perhaps more importantly DX10 coded games are mainstream.

SLi/xfire is only really worth it if you pair up 2 top end cards, as has been said earlier, pairing up 2 lower cards to equate a top end card is just for show really and is a lot of pissing about when you can have the simpler option of a single. (I HATE SLI GAME PROFILES!!! - total ballache and one thing I absolutely detest about SLi......anyways...i digress :mad: )

Oh and if you persist and go GS SLi you can have have multiple monitor support with with SLi enabled by using a PCI video card to run the other monitor(s). Saves pissing about disabling/enabling etc.... depends on what space you have tho obviously.
 
Marvelous said:
IQ is probably the most important thing for me next to speed but I guess some people don't care if their picture looks washed out... What ever floats your boat I guess..
Click to expand...

Are you trying to start another IQ thread ?
I hope not! I own a NVIDIA card and it does not produce any "washed out" picture. IQ is important, but not as some !!!!!!s try to put it. Both companies have their advantages and disadvantages.

Back on topic and to the OP.

Too bad you can't go with a GX2, but as I said, you can't go wrong with either card.
Get the most powerful card that you can afford and don't waste your money with SLI or Crossfire, since you'll probably only keep it, until DX10 compliant cards come around the corner.
 
Tigerblade said:
Oh and if you persist and go GS SLi you can have have multiple monitor support with with SLi enabled by using a PCI video card to run the other monitor(s). Saves pissing about disabling/enabling etc.... depends on what space you have tho obviously.
Click to expand...
im doubting he has that kind of room in his case... if he cant get a GX2 to fit, im sure 3 video cards wont fit eather...
:D

you have the premium board, i have just the generic SLI rev. But i have seen some really thin southbridge waterblocks
 
Hmm now I've realized that the hassle and issues with SLI isnt worth it, so I decided to go with a single card.

Now I have to decide between X1900XTX and X1950XTX. The $80 price difference isnt that big of a deal, but when I look at comparisons like the ones mentioned above, the 1950 is only slightly marginally better than the 1900.

What is the advantage of GDDR4 on the X1950? Which of the two has the best overclocking potential?

Thanks
 
not sure what psu u got there. Consider it with whatever purchase u do make, especially those ATI cards.
 
Oh, and one more thing. I read some reviews about the X1900XTX at NewEgg as well as some system requirements of the X1950XTX at Diamond, and I found that both cards require 30A on the 12V rail from the PSU (assuming a fully loaded system).

I have an Antec NeoPower 480W PSU. As you see in that review, it is only capable of 15A on one rail and 18A on the other.

Does this mean my system can't handle the ATI cards regardless then?
 
Pkirk618 said:
not sure what psu u got there. Consider it with whatever purchase u do make, especially those ATI cards.
Click to expand...

Exactly, sorry didnt see your post!
 
After doing some research I do believe that the 30A rating refers to the 12V rails combined. So in that case it shouldnt be an issue for me.

I would still like someone to tell me what advantages the GDDR4 gives the 1950. And also, what card is a better OCer, 1900 or 1950?

Thanks!
 
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