7900GT 256 or X1800XT 512

[Rack]

I've got the choice of two cards, 7900GT with 256MB of RAM, and the X1800XT with 512MB memory.

I would be willing to v-mod my 7900, but with only 256MB, I've noticed in reviews it tends to get lower minimum FPS values. With a 1600x1200 monitor, I'm thinkiing the 512MBs will be important - as important as the performance increase when I clock the 7900 up to GTX speeds.

Any non-fanboy opinions here? I have tried both ATI and Nvidia cards lots of times, including both a 7800GT and an X1800XT (I write reviews), so I'm not daunted by either companies drivers etc.

TIA
Rack

[sawyen]

I would go for the X1800XT tbh.. they offer better IQ and are as cheap as chips nowadays.. £230 for the 512MB version and will handle AA and AF better than Nvidia cards.. AA/AF was never so forgiving on Nvidia cards..

And on the PLUS side, you can soft-volt-mod with ATI..

Not being a fanboy or anything, 7900GT is a great card.. but amongst those 2, X1800XT will be my choice..

[jonathan_phang]

Interested in this thread as I have EXACTLY the same dilema and after reading around its going to come down to AA/AF quality (For the X1800XT) versus the more compact and quieter 7900GT.

Also the size of the cards too may be a factor, because of my case. But, i think that i am leaning to the X1800XT just for the extra memory....but then the noise....but then the quality.... Ooooh the dilema

Looking forward to the answers too!!!

[sawyen]

U can easily trade the cooler for something like a VF900-Cu.. but in all rights, the ATI cooler is by far one of the best stock coolers ever built.. Just slap some AS5/ Ceramique on the core and see the temps dive...

[ExceededGoku]

reviews show that the X1800XT 512 beats teh 7900GT hands down, but ona noise front is not even close the 7900GT is such a quiet card in comparison and you won't have an oven in your case! But I would go for the X1800 as noise is no problem when you're gaming

[sawyen]

well in all honesty, the X1800XT cooler is dead quiet during normal non-3d loads.. my disks are even louder.. no no, actually my CNPS9500 on 5v is louder..

[Max Tractor]

7900gt, runs cools, quiet, they clock like troopers, and with easy volt mod, will go even further. Mine idles around 40/45 with the tiny stock cooler, had the core up to 600 without any mods at all. I am waitng for the Sytrin KuFomula VF1 then I will mod it, but in in all honesty, my card will game 580/880 all day long with no problems.

I make my choice on the basis I have also ran the x1800xt 256(faster at lower res than the 512), ran 79gt and x1800 side by side, noticed no I.Q superiority apart from COD2, and the ability ro run HDR/AA/AF in oblivion, the fan on the xt can only really be heard at start up, when you game for a while, depending on the rest of your system, you can hear it kick in slightly.

There is nothing really much in it, stock x1800xt hit 9k in 05, 79gt ee 520/1500 9k both with opty 2.6/2gb ram. If you prefer a small heater in your case with some wins over the gt then get the ati

[sawyen]

max, try turning on HQ AF... you'll see Nvidia's mediocre draw distance pop out like a sore thumb.. Also, ATI 6xAA is a huge step ahead of Nvidia 4xAA in terms of quality but with only small drops in framerate.. Nvidia's 8xAA is better tho virtually unplayable..

x1800xt can be modded and clocked up as well. As long as u have better cooling for it.. Ppl over at OC3D are reporting relatively high clocks on VF900s.. 750/1700 region, and I believe that will give the 7900GT a run for its money.

Its basically the same for 7900GT, volt mod will have to come 3rd party cooler..

[Max Tractor]

HQ in the nvidia control panel? I have it always on HQ. In addition, Pro Evo 5 actually looked better on the 79gt

8AA/16AF
HQ
TA Supersampling

I ran it on the xt maxed, with temporal on, same monitor samsung sm 930bf,

[Rack]

I think he was talking about the ATI high quality AA? Or the difference in draw difference when HQ is on for NVidia?

[sawyen]

High Quality AF.. Nvidia's AF suffers from those shimmering effect.. Repetetive textures looks like a munched up blob far away..

Try running 8xAA on Far Cry and see how iti brings the 7900GT down to its knees..

But using 6xAA on Far Cry is definitely possible.. loads better than 4x but with limited drop in performance..

[Max Tractor]

What has farcry got to do with this? I am well aware of the old hat s***e about shimmering, crap AA/AF, better IQ ati fanboyisms. The bottom line is this, this is not a shall I go for an 5700/8/9 or an 97/8 pro situation, there is very little in it, as my original post,

"There is nothing really much in it, stock x1800xt hit 9k in 05, 79gt ee 520/1500 9k both with opty 2.6/2gb ram. If you prefer a small heater in your case with some wins over the gt then get the ati"

This was based on actually running both cards, what actual usage are you drawing on?

==edit==

for reference

I do not wear green blinkers

I would also like to see you running 6AA HQ Farcry on that radiator in your case

[sawyen]

i was just pointing out the fact that nvidia doesnt do AF very well.. and its not ati fanboyism.. Its a clear limitation. I too have used lots of Nvidia cards..

The high quality AF really does shine.. but thats purely subjective, as you can say u cant see anything.. and there's nothing I can do to change that.. But I can tell you that its there.. and its very obvious at times..

And I also made my point CLEAR in my first post, 7900GT is a great card.. but I would go for an X1800XT just for the fact that they are simiilarly priced.. and offers a much fuller features and AF quality..

and Far Cry is just a guideline... Its a valid comparison between the two highest AA settings. ATI has an advantage that the 6xAA is actually worth using as it does not impact gaming performacne that much. Nvidia's 8xAA is good and all.. but most games will be near unplayable when those settings are on..

[kalniel]

Really tough choice!

The 7900gt would maybe win me over for noise/power reasons. 256ram isn't really a limitation these days, though to be honest I'd like the 1800 for Oblivion.

It would come down to price difference, warrenty and bundles for me to make the decision!

[Smokey21]

I do not wear green blinkers

Sounds like it.

[Max Tractor]

Sounds like it.

What exactly is the contribution to this thread from you?