DH Review: Connect3D Radeon X1900GT / Foxconn GeForce 7900GS

Zardon · Oct 20, 2006, 01:35 PM

Read the review here
___________________________

SLI and Crossfire powered gaming systems are something most of us can only dream about. The same thing is true for cards like the dual-GPU GeForce 7950GX2. The majority of us have to look at single-card solutions, and even then the pricier models can be rather expensive. For that reason both ATI and nVidia offer several cards that can still be considered high-end, but with their price being set at a far more reasonable level. Today we look at offerings from both ATI and nVidia, namely the Radeon X1900GT HDCP by Connect3D and the GeForce 7900GS by Foxconn. To spice things up we will compare the results from both cards with a representative of the last generation of nVidias 7x00 series – the 7800GT. The card is getting rather difficult to buy, since it is no longer being manufactured, but its price is similar to that of both the other cards. Cards in this price range are likely to be partnered with a midrange TFT screen running at around 1280x1024, so we will be running tests at this resolution with as much eye candy enabled as possible.

bug77 · Oct 20, 2006, 01:55 PM

Good stuff. Just yesterday I got my 7900GS and I'm happy to see I didn't miss a thing not getting the X1900GT (way harder to spot on the market then the X1900GT).
For what it's worth, I wouldn't incude PureVideo at all in a review, because you don't get that with your video card.

Zardon · Oct 20, 2006, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bug77

For what it's worth, I wouldn't incude PureVideo at all in a review, because you don't get that with your video card.

Interesting to see performance results with video though......

bug77 · Oct 20, 2006, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zardon

Interesting to see performance results with video though......

Not really.

I know I only watch a movie or so every year on my PC. Plus, all newbies will think that both ATI and nVidia do it. While nVidia requires extra cash for that feat. You can always do it, but post a note on the page saying you don't get that with nVidia.

It's like I'm selling iron and boast about the cars that you can do with it...

PS: I still got me a great card. Readily overclocked and all...

Zardon · Oct 20, 2006, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bug77

Not really.

I know I only watch a movie or so every year on my PC. Plus, all newbies will think that both ATI and nVidia do it. While nVidia requires extra cash for that feat. You can always do it, but post a note on the page saying you don't get that with nVidia...

Why do we need to post a note saying you dont get purevideo with the card? everyone knows this. you dont get any of the games with the card either.

I find it interesting to see video playback performance with different cards, especially when doing other tasks in the background. im constantly watching divx and other codec powered movie on my pc, plenty of others do as well.

you made your point as you do in every review, move on.

SFOSOK · Oct 20, 2006, 05:01 PM

Man, Ruby is so ugly in the face (and a wannabe Joanna Dark) and Nvidias chick look like she is depressed (probably because of her fro).

Great review though, these are more the cards I was lookin at if I were to upgrade this next time around but after seing the only slight performance between the 7800gt and 7900gs/1900gt I'll keep my 7800GTX.

niceguyrichy · Oct 20, 2006, 05:03 PM

excellent review as ever guys

timely too, I've been eyeing up a 7900GS (albeit a golden sample @ 500 core), but I'm rather interested by those video perfomances. I was put off the 1900 by the number of people who complain about the noise / the subsequent extra cost of a decent third party cooler (< which puts it out of my price range) , and noise level is very important to me which is why I was leaning toward a GS. BUT , I hardly game, but I do watch a lot of flims & tv on my comp, so now I'm just plain confuddled

just how noisy is the 1900 Peter??

my comp is virtually silent almost all of the time, would the 1900 with the stock cooler be intrusive do you think?

WhO_KnOwS · Oct 20, 2006, 09:07 PM

The X1900 I reviewed was very silent. The noise levels are comparable to those of the Zalman cooler I had on my 7800GT - aka almost inaudible. A definite improvement over the old (X1800) ATI coolers.

To be more precise: if you use a fan-powered cpu cooler you won't be able to hear the card. If on the other hand you use a passive cpu cooler you will be able to hear it from a few inches away. As I've said, the card is very quiet (and that fan looks great if you ask me).

ronnn · Oct 21, 2006, 01:10 AM

Great review! I like the min/max fps being shown, with discussion of how the games play. I have version 1 of the x1900gt and has been working great, and the new cooler appears to be a nice addition. Guess the x1950 pro will soon be filling this spot. DH rocks!

niceguyrichy · Oct 21, 2006, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhO_KnOwS

The X1900 I reviewed was very silent. The noise levels are comparable to those of the Zalman cooler I had on my 7800GT - aka almost inaudible. A definite improvement over the old (X1800) ATI coolers.

To be more precise: if you use a fan-powered cpu cooler you won't be able to hear the card. If on the other hand you use a passive cpu cooler you will be able to hear it from a few inches away. As I've said, the card is very quiet (and that fan looks great if you ask me).

cool. thanks.
I might have to have a re-think and start looking around for a 1900 at a decent price (I was gonna order this, but deep down the ATi fanboy inside me was rebelling

) , < you think the extra 50mhz on the core would make that much difference just btw?

WhO_KnOwS · Oct 21, 2006, 11:05 AM

If you are not in a rush wait for a few days. I have had the pleasure of testing an overclocked GS and a review is in the works.

niceguyrichy · Oct 21, 2006, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhO_KnOwS

If you are not in a rush wait for a few days. I have had the pleasure of testing an overclocked GS and a review is in the works.

awesome

no hurry here at all, I've got to sell a few bits anyways, so I'll wait on your review

bug77 · Oct 22, 2006, 04:48 PM

@niceguyrichy: I got that exact same card. Goes from 500/1400 all the way to 600/1600. 3Dmark05 goes from 7.7k+ to 9.2k+. Incredible bargain (I got it for 230USD).

@Z: Still, it's not the most fair thing to do, presenting the solutions as equal... Do you remeber nVidia dropped SoundStorm for the exact same reasons? It wasn't credited in any review. And since they had to pay royalties to DolbyLabs for it, they scrapped it altogether.

Kombatant · Oct 24, 2006, 05:47 PM

Excellent review mate, well done

Oct 20, 2006, 01:35 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	DH Review: Connect3D Radeon X1900GT / Foxconn GeForce 7900GS Read the review here ___________________________ SLI and Crossfire powered gaming systems are something most of us can only dream about. The same thing is true for cards like the dual-GPU GeForce 7950GX2. The majority of us have to look at single-card solutions, and even then the pricier models can be rather expensive. For that reason both ATI and nVidia offer several cards that can still be considered high-end, but with their price being set at a far more reasonable level. Today we look at offerings from both ATI and nVidia, namely the Radeon X1900GT HDCP by Connect3D and the GeForce 7900GS by Foxconn. To spice things up we will compare the results from both cards with a representative of the last generation of nVidias 7x00 series – the 7800GT. The card is getting rather difficult to buy, since it is no longer being manufactured, but its price is similar to that of both the other cards. Cards in this price range are likely to be partnered with a midrange TFT screen running at around 1280x1024, so we will be running tests at this resolution with as much eye candy enabled as possible.

Oct 20, 2006, 05:01 PM	#6
SFOSOK 939 Goin Strong Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 7,033 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	Man, Ruby is so ugly in the face (and a wannabe Joanna Dark) and Nvidias chick look like she is depressed (probably because of her fro). Great review though, these are more the cards I was lookin at if I were to upgrade this next time around but after seing the only slight performance between the 7800gt and 7900gs/1900gt I'll keep my 7800GTX. __________________ Warning - Explicit Content Preceeding METAL!!

Oct 20, 2006, 09:07 PM	#8
WhO_KnOwS The Knows Mister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Slovenia, Europe Posts: 409 Rep Power: 0	The X1900 I reviewed was very silent. The noise levels are comparable to those of the Zalman cooler I had on my 7800GT - aka almost inaudible. A definite improvement over the old (X1800) ATI coolers. To be more precise: if you use a fan-powered cpu cooler you won't be able to hear the card. If on the other hand you use a passive cpu cooler you will be able to hear it from a few inches away. As I've said, the card is very quiet (and that fan looks great if you ask me). __________________ How you can help DriverHeaven by using Digg! Last edited by WhO_KnOwS; Oct 20, 2006 at 10:05 PM.

Oct 21, 2006, 11:05 AM	#11
WhO_KnOwS The Knows Mister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Slovenia, Europe Posts: 409 Rep Power: 0	If you are not in a rush wait for a few days. I have had the pleasure of testing an overclocked GS and a review is in the works. __________________ How you can help DriverHeaven by using Digg!

Oct 24, 2006, 05:47 PM	#14
Kombatant DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Athens, Hellas Posts: 644 Rep Power: 62	Excellent review mate, well done __________________ There is no spoon... Kombatant's Lair

Oct 20, 2006, 01:55 PM	#2
bug77 DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: around Posts: 792 Rep Power: 0	Good stuff. Just yesterday I got my 7900GS and I'm happy to see I didn't miss a thing not getting the X1900GT (way harder to spot on the market then the X1900GT). For what it's worth, I wouldn't incude PureVideo at all in a review, because you don't get that with your video card.

Oct 21, 2006, 01:10 AM	#9
ronnn DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 617 Rep Power: 0	Great review! I like the min/max fps being shown, with discussion of how the games play. I have version 1 of the x1900gt and has been working great, and the new cooler appears to be a nice addition. Guess the x1950 pro will soon be filling this spot. DH rocks!

Oct 22, 2006, 04:48 PM	#13
bug77 DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: around Posts: 792 Rep Power: 0	@niceguyrichy: I got that exact same card. Goes from 500/1400 all the way to 600/1600. 3Dmark05 goes from 7.7k+ to 9.2k+. Incredible bargain (I got it for 230USD). @Z: Still, it's not the most fair thing to do, presenting the solutions as equal... Do you remeber nVidia dropped SoundStorm for the exact same reasons? It wasn't credited in any review. And since they had to pay royalties to DolbyLabs for it, they scrapped it altogether.