Best Video Card Option For Me

F1N3ST · Sep 26, 2006, 12:46 AM

Ok, i have a dilema, i am deciding between 5 card(s) 2 of my options involve crossfire or SLI.

(2) Crossfire Overclocked X1600PRO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102019

(2) Crossfire X1600XT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102657

(2) SLI XFX 6800XT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150152

(1) XFX 7900GS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150184

(1) X1900GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102022

I dont want the future option for SLI or Crossfire if i get the 7900GS or X1900GT, so please dont use that in your reasoning of why i should get one of those cards.

**dj_stick** · Sep 26, 2006, 01:06 AM

thread moved

what's your budget? what sort of games will you play more?

F1N3ST · Sep 26, 2006, 01:16 AM

Ill mainly play Half Life 2, CS:S, and DoD:S, and a bit of BF2. My maximum monitor resolution is 1280X1024. One thing about the Radeons is the 6X AA. I want to run at least 4X AA, at at least 1024x768, and my max budget is like 230$ USD.

Tipstaff · Sep 26, 2006, 06:37 AM

Well, you are sort of cutting it close with the X1600 Pro to do a Crossfire setup. With the settings you are looking at running the Crossfire should run the setup fine.. but just. Same goes for the SLI 6800XT. Of note, the 6800XT is, for the most part, slower than the X1600 Pro. The X1600XT would run the setup just fine, however, the X1600XT is on par with a 7600GT in most cases except when you start turning on AA and AF. Why do I mention this? Because when you compare the 7600GT to a 7900GS the later card creams it. Take a look at this review HERE, and take note of the difference in performance of the 7600GT and 7900GS. Since you will never see 2x the performance of one card when run in a Crossfire setup you are essentially wasting space, and creating more heat and noise than you need to have to deal with to get close to, or less performance than going with the 7900GS, and especially not the X1900GT.

Now, even though the X1900GT is faster than the 7900GS I'd stay away from it as it is abnormally hot, and the fan noise can be a bit much (I've sent back 2 due to failed fans, btw). The performance difference can sometimes be wide, but grabbing a good 7900GS, and overclocking it, even a little, will get you the same performance as X1900GT with way less headache. So, my choice would be the 7900GS.

Yeah, yeah, I could have just said, "Get the 7900GS", but now you know why I'm saying it.

F1N3ST · Sep 26, 2006, 11:18 AM

Im getting the 7900GS

Tipstaff · Sep 27, 2006, 04:32 AM

Sweet. Let us know what you think of the card. Also, if you don't mind, let us know what settings you were able to run those games in too.

F1N3ST · Sep 27, 2006, 08:24 PM

Im ordering when my four wheeler sells :P, in the meantime, now i have 2 video cards, and nothing to do with them. A PCI 5500FX, and a PCI X1300.

Sep 26, 2006, 12:46 AM	#1
F1N3ST DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 123 Rep Power: 0	Best Video Card Option For Me Ok, i have a dilema, i am deciding between 5 card(s) 2 of my options involve crossfire or SLI. (2) Crossfire Overclocked X1600PRO http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102019 (2) Crossfire X1600XT http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102657 (2) SLI XFX 6800XT http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150152 (1) XFX 7900GS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150184 (1) X1900GT http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102022 I dont want the future option for SLI or Crossfire if i get the 7900GS or X1900GT, so please dont use that in your reasoning of why i should get one of those cards.

Sep 26, 2006, 06:37 AM	#4
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 190 System Specs	Well, you are sort of cutting it close with the X1600 Pro to do a Crossfire setup. With the settings you are looking at running the Crossfire should run the setup fine.. but just. Same goes for the SLI 6800XT. Of note, the 6800XT is, for the most part, slower than the X1600 Pro. The X1600XT would run the setup just fine, however, the X1600XT is on par with a 7600GT in most cases except when you start turning on AA and AF. Why do I mention this? Because when you compare the 7600GT to a 7900GS the later card creams it. Take a look at this review HERE, and take note of the difference in performance of the 7600GT and 7900GS. Since you will never see 2x the performance of one card when run in a Crossfire setup you are essentially wasting space, and creating more heat and noise than you need to have to deal with to get close to, or less performance than going with the 7900GS, and especially not the X1900GT. Now, even though the X1900GT is faster than the 7900GS I'd stay away from it as it is abnormally hot, and the fan noise can be a bit much (I've sent back 2 due to failed fans, btw). The performance difference can sometimes be wide, but grabbing a good 7900GS, and overclocking it, even a little, will get you the same performance as X1900GT with way less headache. So, my choice would be the 7900GS. Yeah, yeah, I could have just said, "Get the 7900GS", but now you know why I'm saying it. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Sep 27, 2006, 04:32 AM	#6
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 190 System Specs	Sweet. Let us know what you think of the card. Also, if you don't mind, let us know what settings you were able to run those games in too. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Sep 26, 2006, 01:16 AM	Thread Starter #3
F1N3ST DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 123 Rep Power: 0	Ill mainly play Half Life 2, CS:S, and DoD:S, and a bit of BF2. My maximum monitor resolution is 1280X1024. One thing about the Radeons is the 6X AA. I want to run at least 4X AA, at at least 1024x768, and my max budget is like 230$ USD.

Sep 26, 2006, 11:18 AM	Thread Starter #5
F1N3ST DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 123 Rep Power: 0	Im getting the 7900GS

Sep 27, 2006, 08:24 PM	Thread Starter #7
F1N3ST DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 123 Rep Power: 0	Im ordering when my four wheeler sells :P, in the meantime, now i have 2 video cards, and nothing to do with them. A PCI 5500FX, and a PCI X1300.