7900GTX or 1900XTX

[clue69less]

OK, now you're confusing me. It sounded like you were prefering XF's outside wires to SLI's inside bridge because of eddies?

Yes, airflow period. I like less in my case, my desktops were cabled off, spent extra money to buy single ATA cables instead of longer than I need, exverything it about airflow, and the inch thick 2 inch long piece of additional hardware creates eddies. Is it enough to care much about, not more than a jumble of cables at the back of a PC, and that's my point. BOTH are negigeable issues for the form factor itself, it's the OTHER concerns that are more of a true limitation to the design itself than the BS esthetics of dongle versus bridge.

Now what are you talking about regarding "different base"?

Not every SLi solution is the same, some require longer bridges than others. That why the universal ones are flexible ones.

I mean, really, the SLI bridge eddy is not going to be a significant factor in case airflow.

And really a dongle matters what once it's tucked in the back with the 7 other cablesI have? That's my point exactly. However you'd be surprised at what can and can't mess with your airflow, not that it likely matters to the true enthusiasts since they should be watercooling anyways, and then once again have a bucnh of other cables/pipes to worry about.

Well, I have not spoken out against dongles unless I've been posting in my sleep again. TTTT, neither form has entered my computing world just yet. However, I am a big-time believer in paying attention to airflow restrictions and like you, have forked over extra bucks to get the best possible cables with regards to airflow. Part of it is the aesthetics of clean cable lines and part is that I like to see low temps and no hot pockets.

My rigs are all air-cooled so far and they all have too many fans for most people's taste. I'm even underway on a project to totally rewire my PS cables. I picked up a bunch of really cool teflon-insulated aircraft grade wire and am making cables to power my opticals and HDs first. Since my PS has modular cabling, this is pretty straightforward, but I'm working within the constraints of my case (TT Armor) which actually is a nice design for custom cables. When I finish, I'll put up a link to some photos. It's all standard pedestrian modding, but it will further reduce additional footage of wire and eliminate unused molex connectors hanging around in there. I also plan to replace the hard-wired (24pin ATX) PS cabling, even though I know it will void the warranty. The stock cable is about 6" longer than it needs to be and it sort of sticks out like a sore thumb when surrounded by power cables, SATA cables and IDE cables that are JUST the right length. I'm sure you know what I mean.

Regardless of all that, if I ever go SLI, I won't worry about the bridge. I have an Asus mobo and the bridge would be nearly invisible to airflow in my case. And this ramble has now lead me back to the original topic of this thread. Even though I got two DOA 7900GTX's, I'm still drawn towards their lower heat and power loads. Maybe part of my problem is that the only ATI board I've had was a total pain in the butt and this is the first time I've ever had trouble with eVGA. What to do...

 

[Heyyou27]

Even though I got two DOA 7900GTX's

Some luck you have; what are the chances of both cards being DOA. :? Are you sure it isn't the evga motherboard? I'm not trying to insult your knowledge of computers, I just find it strange that both cards were DOA.

 

[ak47is1337]

When you pay $1000+ for two graphics cards, you damn well better be able to do high resolution if you please.

You can, but if you buy a $200 add on part, it's up to the add-on people to get the support for their feature. Ati can support the exact same gaming resolutions @ 3D fullscreen, despite what that Guru3D review says, what they are limited with is the driver support for that competitor's part. The same argument could be made for I bought $1000 worth of nV/Ati graphics cards why can I SLi/XFire on a VIA mobo?

It's still not a limitation of the primary solution, it's a limitation in the case you give of the 3rd party product not working as advertised for it's $200 cost.

You want to change your FOV and your WS resolution you can do that on it's own, you want to use Matrox's part then you'll need to wait for Matrox and ATi to play nice. It's such a minor issue, just like Sli being unable to currently use different class cards (no mixing GS with GT). Doesn't need to be the same bios anymore, but must be same pipes. But for anyone wanting that solution, if you must buy today, maybe buy nV, and if you can wait 'til there's a tweak for Xfire, then visit it again. Once again, using THAT 3rd party issue is going to the extreme left-field to say the least.
yep that's another important point: nvidia refuses to have sli play with any other chipset than the Nforce4. People have resorted to driver hacks to get it to work on i975X's and Ultra's as well as some ULi chipsets. Same goes for ATi, as long as it supports 2 PCI-e slots ATi has no problem writing a driver. People have gone so far as to make AGP > PCI-e Crossfire though, in extreme cases.

 

[clue69less]

Even though I got two DOA 7900GTX's

Some luck you have; what are the chances of both cards being DOA. :? Are you sure it isn't the evga motherboard? I'm not trying to insult your knowledge of computers, I just find it strange that both cards were DOA.

It's not the mobo. I did a fair bit of troubleshooting, even going as far as trying the cards on 4 different computers. DOA, period. Bad memory to be specific. Gunshy now. what to do...

 

[Heyyou27]

That's too bad.

 

[clue69less]

That's too bad.

Yea, well fortunately, it's just computer problems - nothing serious like having a leg fall off. I'll get past it like always. Was it much of a hassle setting up your SLI? Did you perceive much of a performance increase witht he second board?

 

[dmantech]

If you want dual cards go with 7900GTX, if you want speed and image quality
go for X1900XTX.

 

[Jaffee]

Do you guys really own a 7900 gtx or 1900xtx....? I have a 7800evga ko and I can make it crawl on oblivion..These cards can slow down too to unlikeable levels.. Im fetup paying 500 bones for a card and then a game comes out a month later that taxes the **** out of it.. I liked playing games at 100fps or more..but when ya turn up the eye candy on the newst games its just sad that 500 bucks aint ****

I have an eVGA 7800GT CO (470/1100, factory), 2x 1gb Corsair XMS, and an AMD X2 3800+ and I run Oblivion maxed out just dandy at about 35+ fps. I upgraded from a 6600GT. DEFINITELY worth it.

I have a friend with the same setup, except he has some OCZ memory and an XFX 7800GTX, and he plays it around 39+ fps. He upgraded from a 6800 Ultra and thinks it was worth it.

My buddy with the 7900GTX, OCZ 2x1gb, and AMD X2 3800+ doesn't have it installed, but there is a noticeable difference in his performance and mine and the guy's with the 7800GTX. HOWEVER, somehow, the 7900GTX rig liked to crash on SWG and BF2 for a long while. It was really weird. Somehow I think it was drivers, we did a reinstall and he hasn't said anything to me about it (I built it, he comes to me for all his problems, despite my fear of touching his $540 video card LOLZ). Still some stability issues with the 7900's to my understanding, but that's not to be totally unexpected. Driver updates for the win.

Are the cards worth the money? Sure. ESPECIALLY if you can sell your old cards off (as we all have done).

 

[pauldh]

I have an eVGA 7800GT CO (470/1100, factory), 2x 1gb Corsair XMS, and an AMD X2 3800+ and I run Oblivion maxed out just dandy at about 35+ fps.

Maxed out at what? 640x480?

I have the same card, A64 4000+, 2GB OCZ platinum dual channel 2-3-2-5 1T and it can't come close to staying above 35 fps at 10x7 with HDR and less than max settings.

The 7800GT averaged 18 fps at 10x7 max in FS's review. Even the 7900GTX averaged less than what you claim your 7800GT stays above as a minimum. You either are yet to go outside , play at a lower res, don't use max details as you stated, or drop well below 35 fps, and in some spots probably 15 fps.

 

[Jaffee]

Hmm. Maybe that wasn't maxed. Let me look when I get home. I had thought I had maxed, and I was actually really surprised by that high of a number. I must have been wrong 😛 (Res is 1280x1024 on a Dell LCD)

 

[pauldh]

Ouch 12x10! Yeah, I figured it was a lower detail level and not low res you were using. For sure it can't be near max at 12x10 and remain with the framerates you have. A 7900GTX averaged 25 fps at those settings. If grass and shadows get turned down that helps. Check your settings, but more important...just enjoy the game.

12x10 max would be so nice though; Oblivion makes me wish wish I had waited a month and bought a $300 X1800XT instead. I wonder how ATI and NV's next cards will be at Oblivion compared to say a X1900XTX.

 

[Jaffee]

DX10 ftw.

At any rate, I haven't played the game since I got it, I don't like it. But I do get 40+ frames on COD2 maxed

 

[mdd1963]

I haven't lied or exaggerated....like you have....but it's obvious you're a Nvidia fannyboy.

WTH are you talking about?

Was I exaggerating when I started off the post with "The 1900XT is a great single card solution"??

Punk...!

 

[pauldh]

I quit playing BF2 & NFSWM, and have ignored Fear and Riddick because my little gaming time ALL goes to Oblivion now. And I never played ES 1-3 even. :? I think it would take farcry 2 to pull me away from Oblivion.

 

[Heyyou27]

Was it much of a hassle setting up your SLI? Did you perceive much of a performance increase witht he second board?

Just put both cards, attached the SLI bridge and I was ready to go; very easy installation.

 

[chuckshissle]

They are exacly the same.
Go with your feeling.

Yeah, use the force Luke!

But as for me I would get the 7900GTX for the ATI I heard has a stupid driver. But I agree and I'm convice that the X1900XTX is a bit faster judging from the reviews that I have read.

 

[Heyyou27]

I'd take the X1900 XTX over the 7900GTX; not because the X1900 XTX is faster than the 7900GTX, but because OpenEXR HDR+AA and AVIVO features.