X1950PRO/GT or 7950GT For Midrange Video Card

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Commex

Weaksauce
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Jan 10, 2007
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I was swayed from buying a Geforce 8xxx series and Im just getting a midrange card for now.

I was looking at the ATi X1950 PRO in 256/512mb, or the ATi X1950GT, and the Nvidia 7950GT.

I mainly play BF2 and CS:S at 1280x1024. Id like to play the games on max graphics (CS:S w/o HDR). Which card would be best for the choice?

I can get the X1950GT 256MB for $114.99, the X1950PRO 256MB for $125.99 (Both Sapphire), and the 512MB X1950PRO for $146.99. Would the difference in memory justify me paying $21 more? Or should I just get the 256mb version, would their be a preformance difference? And finally, PRO or GT?

I can also get the 7950GT 256MB from BFG OC'd for $149.99

What would be my best choice? Thanks!
 
I would go with the X1950GT since it's the cheapest and all of these choices are more than enough for those games at that res. Hell, a 7600GT or overclocked GS would be fine. Regarding memory size, for these games and res, 512Megs is overkill.
 
I've got a pair of X1950Pro's in one of my PCs and I've been really happy with them. Even one was a decent card for gaming. (Depending on monitor size.)
 
For a resolution of 1280x1024 256mb of ram should be fine. I would say that the X1950pro or X1900GT(same performance) is a good choice, but wouldn't get the X1950GT(slower than the other 2). The 7950GT is fastest card on your list and if price isn't your main concern I'd get it over the others.
 
The 7950GT rocks. It's basically the performance of the 7900GTX which is still a powerful freaking card even today.
 
7950GT, its faster than the x1950pro stock v stock, it overclocks a hell of a lot better, and the x1950pro is more trouble than its worth.
 
Simpson5774 said:
7950GT, its faster than the x1950pro stock v stock, it overclocks a hell of a lot better, and the x1950pro is more trouble than its worth.
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As I posted earlier I too think the 7950GT is the better card, but why would you say that "the x1950pro is more trouble than its worth"? It's a nice card too, just not as fast as a 7950GT.
 
Simpson5774 said:
7950GT, its faster than the x1950pro stock v stock, it overclocks a hell of a lot better, and the x1950pro is more trouble than its worth.
Click to expand...

Ok, it's faster than the X1950 Pro, fine. It overclocks better, fine. What the hell gives you the impression it's more trouble than it works? I've had no trouble out of my X1950Pro Crossfire setup. Tell me how you reached this conclusion?
 
I'd go with a 7900GS myself. After owning the one I do for a while, the card is great. And they all seem to be OCing beasts. Mine can go higher in speed, but I can play all the games I play on high settings and most with the AF cranked and some SSAA on as well.

For the $ I don't think you can really beat em if you will OC them. Though the priceing on that x1950 Pro is rather nice and would be a great second choice. The egg has a 7900GS for $130 AR currently. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130056

Though any of those cards should max out and give you AA / AF in the games you listed at your resolution with no problems.
 
I went with the BFG 256MB OC'd 7950GT. $149 after rebate w/free shipping.

Thanks for all the help! Should go great w/my E4300 :)
 
Commex said:
I went with the BFG 256MB OC'd 7950GT. $149 after rebate w/free shipping.

Thanks for all the help! Should go great w/my E4300 :)
Click to expand...

Nice buy. I don't think you can beat that for the price currently.
 
BFG 7950GT is a nice card... Picked up one with the 512mb from Frys not to long ago for 139.99... Over all very happy with the card... a step up from the 7600gt I had...
 
trugbilddrachen said:
BFG 7950GT is a nice card... Picked up one with the 512mb from Frys not to long ago for 139.99... Over all very happy with the card... a step up from the 7600gt I had...
Click to expand...

I'll give you $120 for it so you can get a 8800 :D

Anyways, I would go for the 7950gt... faster and don't cost that much more.
 
GwarGor said:
As I posted earlier I too think the 7950GT is the better card, but why would you say that "the x1950pro is more trouble than its worth"? It's a nice card too, just not as fast as a 7950GT.
Click to expand...

I have to reinstall drivers every week, I gain back 3/400 3d06marks by doing so. Stalker has problems with the x1950pro (and ati in general), I have multimonitor problems which I cant seem to fix, Its shitty for overclocking due to its digital VRM (reference cards), the RV570 chip in general has been buggy. Ive seen instances where manufacturers have to recall (early sapphire boards), or make a new version of the card because it cant handle stock speeds (mine wont do 580/800, i have to keep the ram at about 775 for no artifacts). Most of the overclocked versions have the same problems.

I have good temps, but if I run 3dmark06 or rthdribl for more than two hours I get a vpu error or a blank unresponsive screen, or just quit to desktop, many others have experienced the same problems, which are absent from R580 based boards.

On paper the X1950pro is a good card, and it does crossfire better than all the other ones, but it was a buggy pos from day 1.

Also forgot to add, the 7950GT is going to use less power, have lower power requirements, and be less touchy in terms of stable power.

That wouldn't stop me from recommending an x1900/50 XT however. But between the two, choices, pick the 7950GT, its faster and it overclocks better. HDR+AA and IQ aside .
 
I have to agree with Simpson simply because I have had a bad experience with my x1950pro (Sapphire).

I cannot game for more than an hour or so before I get errors which are apparently due to overheating VRM's. This is Sapphire's fault, and some of the other versions run fine, but I have still read about various problems with this card. None of them can overclock much, as stated above.

It is a good card, and runs my games (NWN2, Oblivion, Dark Messiah) fine for an hour, but I would definitely steer clear of the Sapphire versions.

(I realize the OP made his choice, but I decided to give my 2 Cents for others who view this :cool: )
 
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