£350 on new GFX card, but which one?

[Trash Man]

I have just been refunded the money for my old card that became faulty I had an ATi X850 XT PE. I would like to stick with ATi if possibile.

So for around the £350 mark, could you please recommend me some cards? At the moment I don't have a X-Fire MB, but I will be updating to a conroe later on in the year, and would like to have the option of adding a second gfx card. So a X-Fire card will be nice also.

Thanks for any advice

[chuckskull]

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=335773 you wont do muchy better than that. Unless you go for the slightly more expensive http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=340096 xfire version

[Trash Man]

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=335773 you wont do muchy better than that. Unless you go for the slightly more expensive http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=340096 xfire version

In the Hexus review for the XTX,

Savvy enthusiasts will opt for the cheaper R580 card and 'overclock' it to XTX levels. Therefore, whilst there's nothing intrinsically wrong with the SAPPHIRE X1900 XTX card, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense when considered in relation to the XT.

Is there much difference in price between the XT's and XTX's? Also, how easy is it to OC a GFX card?

Thanks again.

[Jinx]

Well, if you really do want to stick with the ATi side of things, then going for an XT and OC'ing it to XTX speeds is definitely the way to go.......and it's easy to do as well......just bear in mind that no OC is guaranteed......

If you could be tempted over to the green side however, on the budget that you mention you could easily get your hands on a 7900GTX (in some places, for less than £300) and if you're really really really really lucky, you may even be able to find a 7950GX2 for that money.......but don't quote me on that.....

[Trash Man]

If you could be tempted over to the green side however, on the budget that you mention you could easily get your hands on a 7900GTX (in some places, for less than £300) and if you're really really really really lucky, you may even be able to find a 7950GX2 for that money.......but don't quote me on that.....

Are these cards better than the ATi's ?

[Gibb0N]

They're the most powerful in the world atm I think. [not sure, saw it on the cover of pcformat yesterday].

[mallett]

if you are tempted with the green side then.......

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=370089

done

[cptwhite_uk]

the X1900XT(X) is considered more powerful than the 7900GTX, but the 7950GX2 is better than either (because it's basically 2 graphics cards).

Here is the cheapest X1900XT available in the UK (£234) - saves you over £100 from the first link, and runs at about 95+ % performance wise.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatal...aGX_2d047_2dCO

[Jinx]

Are these cards better than the ATi's ?

Everyone will always argue the case depending on their opinions......there are those that say nVidia are faster, while the others will say that ATi have better quality.....

Whichever way you look at it, go with that which your most happy with, and which everyone else's informed opinion (not fanboyism) points you in the direction of.

I've always been happy with green products, but there are those that will say that ATi is better........it's all about preference.

The 7950GX2 is undoubtedly the fastest currently on the market........but as an ATi alternative, the XTX isn't a million miles behind it.....

[Azza]

If you want to stick with ATI then get a X1900XTX. That with your Core 2 Duo when you get it will batter anything in sight. But if you could find a 7950GX2 for around that price i would get that, if i was to choose. But seen as youwt to stick with ATi get the X1900XTX.

[Jinx]

if you are tempted with the green side then.......

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=370089

done

I saw that on their site just the other day....and the image to me looks like the 7900GX2, which was first released for the Quad SLi setup, and only available to system builders and with selected barebones.........but maybe they've just got the wrong image up.......

Sorry, hijack over.......

[shaithis]

I would without doubt wait a week or 2 and then buy the new ATI card.....no contest

[Rack]

Get the X1900XT, put the rest towards a conroe.

For your full budget, the 7900GX2 card will give best performance. Look at reviews around on them. I like Hardocp.com, and lets not forget Hexus.net :-)

[ExceededGoku]

I could never bring myself to get a 7950GX2 because of its heat, and the fact that it is just 2 graphics cards... I would much prefer one really powerful graphics cards to 2 relatively weak graphics cards (because of the clock speeds), in terms of which one to choose out of 7900GTX and X1900XT (I chose the X1900XT-X only because I didn't ahve to pay for it ), well that is really a very tough question. I reckon I would go for the cheapest option, remember before you purchase that the X1900 runs very hot and makes a lot of noise with stock cooler (almost reaches 90oC in some cases higher). Not sure on the 7900GTX so I can't really comment

[Jinx]

Stock cooler on 7900GTX is quite quiet.......

[Trash Man]

Is the 1900xtx any noiser than the X850 XT PE was? My old card also ran very hot, around 60c in WoW put in the 80's for most other game.