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Upgrade Time - Advice Needed - X1900 to?

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Whats up guys,

Been a while since i hung around here, then again, it's been a while since I've been experiencing any darn-right awful PC problems. How are ya'll?

Anyway, i figure its time to upgrade the ol' faithful, my Sapphire Radeon X1900XT. It has been the BEST served card i have ever owned and i've beaten this thing around seven-ways from Sunday. Overclocked, under-clocked, removed its heat-sink multiple times, changed its fan multiple times, ran it around 95*C in many occasions, ran it on multiple systems, dropped it, bashed it, had sex with it. It's just held out surprisingly well and beats my usual GFX card lifetime track-record of about 6 months.

So why upgrade you may ask? Well, to put it bluntly, i think its on its way out. I'm getting strange-stuttering in various games these days and i just get that feeling i should be getting more 'umph' out of games. With that said, I'm beginning to suspect one of the main culprits for this lack-luster gameplay in the past few months may be down to my old hard-drive, which is of equal age and usage. Hence why I've ordered a new HD, which should be arriving sometime this week. Thats why i've come here seeking advice, if my gaming performance does not increase as much as i'd like (If much at all) with this new hard-drive, i'd like some new graphics-card recommendations, since i believe this to be the next thing to upgrade. I've also come here to possibly get some form of justification for shelling out a lot of money on a PC upgrade so close to Christmas! :D

So here's the deal, i am more in favor of getting another ATi card, since i've had such a good experience with this one. However, I'm not a ridiculous fan-boy who is blinded by corporate logo's. If it's a good card, it's a good card, and if it serves me well - brand is irrelevant.

I'll list my specs below - I'm not looking for anything TOO pricey now, the most I'm willing to spend on a new card is something like £200-230 (About 480$). What are your thoughts, my fellow tech-guru's?

As always, i appreciate all your help and will be sure to give thanks where thanks'a due! Will also keep you all updated on progress. Cheers, i look forward to your replies.

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Namslas90

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Hey Hux, with that single PCI-E slot mobo I'd go for a 8800. Either that or upgrade the mobo and the card.

:toast:
 
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or pick up a great His x1950 pro vivo with artic # from someone for cheap $
LOL
pm me if interested
 

ktr

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get an 8800gt 512mb, and with the spare money perhaps go for a quad core (or a sandwich )
 
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Hey Hux, with that single PCI-E slot mobo I'd go for a 8800. Either that or upgrade the mobo and the card.

:toast:

Heh! Hey Nams! :)

I've just been reading this thread and i am really beginning to think the 3870 would be a very good investment over an 8800, surely? The price difference is fantastic for what you get.

Whats your thoughts on ATI's new card(s) guys? I'm really tempted by them.
 
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really? Not in my book, you may save a little money but the performance edge goes to the 8800 hands down.
 

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really? Not in my book, you may save a little money but the performance edge goes to the 8800 hands down.

Quoted for truth. :rockout:
 

Namslas90

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Heh! Hey Nams! :)

I've just been reading this thread and i am really beginning to think the 3870 would be a very good investment over an 8800, surely? The price difference is fantastic for what you get.

Whats your thoughts on ATI's new card(s) guys? I'm really tempted by them.

It's kind of a "toss-up", but overall for single card performance the 8800 still gets better results in most tests. If you ever plan on going Crossfire then get a 3800.

:toast:
 
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really? Not in my book, you may save a little money but the performance edge goes to the 8800 hands down.

agreed, the 3870 is a nice try by ATI but once again its not as good as the 8800

get the 8800gt unless you rather buy the name and get less performance from your card.
 
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Spunky dude TWO monitors 24s at that, not to hj the thread but WOW u d man!
 

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really? Not in my book, you may save a little money but the performance edge goes to the 8800 hands down.

No drivers have been released for the HD3000 AT ALL yet so that does not really count for anything, when the 2900XT was released it couldnt compete with a 320MB 8800GTS, within 3 catalyst releases it was competing with the 8800GTX!

@ keakar also :)
 
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get a 2900 pro its cheap and its the same as an 2900 xt just a different clock speed the 8800 is a great card to its just that the 2900 out preforms it at the moment
 

Tatty_Two

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get a 2900 pro its cheap and its the same as an 2900 xt just a different clock speed the 8800 is a great card to its just that the 2900 out preforms it at the moment

What you reading? they are talking about the 8800GT and it does not get bested by a 2900XT let alone the 2900pro.
 
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I'm torn, as Tatty said, no proper driver's have been released for the 3870, it still needs time to grow.

As for the 8800's, there's so many variants of the 8800, i barely know which one your all talking about. If you could include links with your recommendations, so i can see what kinda specs your talking about, that would be really appreciated. :)

All in all, i'm looking for a card that's gonna provide the best single-GPU performance. I feel like the 8800 series is the best Nvidia's gonna get at the moment, while it seems the new 38xx series could be a little golden-nugget and come very close to the performance of the 8800 for a cheaper price. Then again, gotta keep in mind what would be best for the long-term.

Think im going to look into the 8800's a little more, there's just so many variants i don't know which to get - which ones stand out most? I've been out the old GFX card loop for a while.
 
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sorry should have specified it is true that the 2900 does loose slightly to the gtx but it does beat the other lower 8800's performance wise, it is about 20% cheaper than the gtx and in my opinion that makes the 2900 more appealing cheap high end card
 
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you cant go wrong with an ATi 2900 or Nvidia 8800 they are both great cards
 

it_is_me

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get a 2900 pro its cheap and its the same as an 2900 xt just a different clock speed the 8800 is a great card to its just that the 2900 out preforms it at the moment
Tis is my forst post in this forum.
I've read the thread and just had to register because of the crap like the one cited above.
wake up people - ATi nowadays looses to nvidia. 2900XT/Pro sucks - it is so power hungry, it is so hot - one can make omlet on it, and besides, it never competed with 8800GTX, it was competition to 8800GTS 640MB only.... until 8800Gt arrived...

Now on topic, answering the thread author's q.:
on Dec. 4 nVidia releases renewed 8800GTS 128SP 512MB 65nm (current GTS has only 96SPs and is i think 95nm ? correct me if i'm wrong). If we consider what 8800GT has offered with 112SPs, the new 8800GTS with recommended clocks higher than those of the GT (600/1500/1800) and more SPs (128 vs 112), will outperform current 8800GTX or at least be equal to it (the only problem may be resolutions higher than 1900x1200 i think). what's most important ...... are you ready?? . .its recommended price is only 299$!!!!
so if you want upgrade now and you play in resolutions like 1200x1024 - go for 8800GT, if you can wait a few weeks - go for new 8800GTS 56nm 512MB.

regarding Radeon HD 6870 - its cheaper about 15-20%, but also 15-20% slower than 8800GT (at least with current drivers)

P.S. some benchmarks to support my arguments
TechPowerUp! review
here
here
here
and here
and many many more, just google '8800GT review'
 

Tatty_Two

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sorry should have specified it is true that the 2900 does loose slightly to the gtx but it does beat the other lower 8800's performance wise, it is about 20% cheaper than the gtx and in my opinion that makes the 2900 more appealing cheap high end card

But the 3870 without any drivers is already matching the 2900XT for performance plus it's a lot cheaper and consumes half the power......need I say more?
 
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Namslas90

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But the 3870 without any drivers is already matching the 2900XT for performance plus it's a lot cheaper and consumes less than half the power......need I say more?

This is TRUE. Furthermore the first set of released drivers probably won't realy work that well(never do), so we realy won't know the true abilities of the card untill the 2nd or 3rd drivers are released. This also takes time, which Is why I said for now just go for a 8800, unless he plans on going with crossfire in the near future.
Currently the best "BANG FOR THE BUCK"!! IMHO
:toast:
 

Tatty_Two

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Tis is my forst post in this forum.
I've read the thread and just had to register because of the crap like the one cited above.
wake up people - ATi nowadays looses to nvidia. 2900XT/Pro sucks - it is so power hungry, it is so hot - one can make omlet on it, and besides, it never competed with 8800GTX, it was competition to 8800GTS 640MB only.... until 8800Gt arrived...

Now on topic, answering the thread author's q.:
on Dec. 4 nVidia releases renewed 8800GTS 128SP 512MB 65nm (current GTS has only 96SPs and is i think 95nm ? correct me if i'm wrong). If we consider what 8800GT has offered with 112SPs, the new 8800GTS with recommended clocks higher than those of the GT (600/1500/1800) and more SPs (128 vs 112), will outperform current 8800GTX or at least be equal to it (the only problem may be resolutions higher than 1900x1200 i think). what's most important ...... are you ready?? . .its recommended price is only 299$!!!!
so if you want upgrade now and you play in resolutions like 1200x1024 - go for 8800GT, if you can wait a few weeks - go for new 8800GTS 56nm 512MB.

regarding Radeon HD 6870 - its cheaper about 15-20%, but also 15-20% slower than 8800GT (at least with current drivers)

P.S. some benchmarks to support my arguments
TechPowerUp! review
here
here
here
and here
and many many more, just google '8800GT review'

You have a lot of good points there, but anyone can post selective reviews/articles....for example, you say that the 2900XT cannot match the 8800GTX??? I say in most things your right but in almost all the syntetic benchmarks it beats the 8800GTX but more importantly, in some games, even at high res with AA enabled (it's supposed weak point) it STILL can beat the GTX in a few, and as for power consumption/heat.....are you aware that the GTX consumes more power? Kind of destroys your theory......take a look at these "selectives"...............
 

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imperialreign

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I'd have to recommend the 3870 also - and not from a fanboi stand point. If it were a month ago, I'd defi recommend the 8800, simply on the basis of performance - 2900 on basis of image quality - it's a toss up, either way. The 2900s are still maturing driver-wise, but even still, it's starting to become hit-or miss with driver releases.

At least, from what we're seeing so far, the 3870 is surpasing what everyone had initially expected of it, and as ATI tends to go, performance of their cards dramatically improves with each new driver release. I think we've seen as far as nVidia can take the 8800 series, and ATI is quickly catching up to that performance level. The 3870 is defi a piece of hardware that will continue to get better as more frosting is applied to the cake, 'yknow what I mean?

Plus, on off chance that anyone really cares, it's DX10.1 compliant, too.
 

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HD2900XT was a totally new architecture, R670 is not. Don't expect new drivers to deliver great performance inprovements on HD3000 series, at least not even close to what was achieved before.
 

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You have a lot of good points there, but anyone can post selective reviews/articles....for example, you say that the 2900XT cannot match the 8800GTX??? I say in most things your right but in almost all the syntetic benchmarks it beats the 8800GTX but more importantly, in some games, even at high res with AA enabled (it's supposed weak point) it STILL can beat the GTX in a few, and as for power consumption/heat.....are you aware that the GTX consumes more power? Kind of destroys your theory......take a look at these "selectives"...............

Tatty, Tatty, Tatty... Acusing him of posting selective reviews and then you make that. :shadedshu Besides that, you know very well the HD2900XT can't touch the GTX, even with new drivers, and that it consumes a lot more power. About it being faster in syntetic benchmarks... It's true, but who cares? Do you spend your time benchmarking or gaming? Because in 99% of games/resolutions GTX is faster. It's also more expensive, so on their price point both are good pieces. I won't start a link war, I won't even post a single link (yeah I'm lazy), but you know that for every benchmark that you would post where the HD2900 is above GTX, I could provide 10 where GTX is well above.

Edit: I just remembered this one. Makes the 2900xt look like crap. :D Selective info to the fullest.

http://techreport.com/articles.x/13479/1
 
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Tatty, Tatty, Tatty... Acusing him of posting selective reviews and then you make that. :shadedshu Besides that, you know very well the HD2900XT can't touch the GTX, even with new drivers, and that it consumes a lot more power. About it being faster in syntetic benchmarks... It's true, but who cares? Do you spend your time benchmarking or gaming? Because in 99% of games/resolutions GTX is faster. It's also more expensive, so on their price point both are good pieces. I won't start a link war, I won't even post a single link (yeah I'm lazy), but you know that for every benchmark that you would post where the HD2900 is above GTX, I could provide 10 where GTX is well above.

Edit: I just remembered this one. Makes the 2900xt look like crap. :D Selective info to the fullest.

http://techreport.com/articles.x/13479/1

their both great cards ones a bit cheaper for us broke people and ones performs a bit better either ones a good choice
 
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Tis is my forst post in this forum.
I've read the thread and just had to register because of the crap like the one cited above.
wake up people - ATi nowadays looses to nvidia. 2900XT/Pro sucks - it is so power hungry, it is so hot - one can make omlet on it, and besides, it never competed with 8800GTX, it was competition to 8800GTS 640MB only.... until 8800Gt arrived...

Now on topic, answering the thread author's q.:
on Dec. 4 nVidia releases renewed 8800GTS 128SP 512MB 65nm (current GTS has only 96SPs and is i think 95nm ? correct me if i'm wrong). If we consider what 8800GT has offered with 112SPs, the new 8800GTS with recommended clocks higher than those of the GT (600/1500/1800) and more SPs (128 vs 112), will outperform current 8800GTX or at least be equal to it (the only problem may be resolutions higher than 1900x1200 i think). what's most important ...... are you ready?? . .its recommended price is only 299$!!!!
so if you want upgrade now and you play in resolutions like 1200x1024 - go for 8800GT, if you can wait a few weeks - go for new 8800GTS 56nm 512MB.

regarding Radeon HD 6870 - its cheaper about 15-20%, but also 15-20% slower than 8800GT (at least with current drivers)

P.S. some benchmarks to support my arguments
TechPowerUp! review
here
here
here
and here
and many many more, just google '8800GT review'

im running a oc pro off of 450 wt of power it is not as power hungry as some people think (btw im not a fan boy if either Nvidia or ATI i just go with whatever works) and as for the heat, it is not a problem if you have a decent fan in your case, and being that the 2900pro 512 starts at $260 it is a much more cost effective alternative to the 8800gts 640 which are $370 average and the 320 starts at $300 the gtx starts at $500 and the ultra getting up to about $800 although the gtx and ultra can out perform the pro thats a pretty big difference in price, and i would never pay over $320 for a graphics card also the 8800 is also a power hog and it also gets pretty hot because it is after all a pretty high end card (it is also a great card) both are good choices
 
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