Author Topic: Lookin to upgrade Video Card (Read 1234 times)

68DevilM · « **on:** May 13, 2006, 06:30:48 PM »

Current system:

DFI Lanpart UT NForce 3 250 Gb
AMD 3700 2.4 754 pin
1 Gig of Corsair DDR400
80 Gb 7200rpm hard drive
400 watt power supply
radeon 9800 pro 128mb
Creative Audiogy 2zs Gamer 5.1

looking at the ATI All-In-Wonder X800 XT 256mb 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO AGP 4X/8X Video Card for 269.99 U.S. Dollar on newegg.

i might go so far as to upgrade to the DFI Lanparty UT NForce 4 if it will reap any large benifits, and i have a 120gb hard drive that i use for storage that i can always swap for the 80gb that i use for my operating system.

question is:
i get constant frame rates as it is at 75 fps with current configureation.
only thing im starting to notice is the textures are getting a little rough, expecially the ground, and im starting to not see single trees anymore until im right ontop of them. so will this upgrade help at all? i guess is the question.

Eagler · « **Reply #1 on:** May 13, 2006, 07:35:46 PM »

I went from 1 gig of ram to 2 and from an ati 9800pro to evga 7800 gs oc.
I was looking at ati also until i saw comparisons here:
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/evga_e-geforce_7800_gs_co_superclock_review/page5.asp
I had to upgrade my power supply as it only had 16 amps on the 12 volt rail.
I am now able to run ah2 in its highest settings - it has never looked better

eagl · « **Reply #2 on:** May 13, 2006, 07:46:01 PM »

$269 is pretty expensive for an X800... You can get a 7800GS or GT for just a bit more than that.

Brenjen · « **Reply #3 on:** May 13, 2006, 08:51:41 PM »

I have a 7900GTX & I still see entire barns popping up now & then with my detail set to around 3/4 up, I think you're still in a good range at 75fps if your detail settings are more than halfway up with high textures.

The big thing is, upgrading right now, you are on the cusp of direct-X10, better to stick it out until this winter or next summer if you can & see what's available then. If Vista is ever released the 64bit architecture will get a avalanche of support also, & that is pretty much all the GPU manufacturers are waiting on to release their new DX-10 compliant cards...Vista.

38ruk · « **Reply #4 on:** May 14, 2006, 01:03:38 AM »

At one point i had the exact same machine , and upgraded to an X800 pro and was happy with the performance . The 269 dollar price tag on the one above is too high thou . You will be able to run more anti aliasing with the X800 and have a smoother frame rate . .

68DevilM · « **Reply #5 on:** May 14, 2006, 03:59:20 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by eagl
$269 is pretty expensive for an X800... You can get a 7800GS or GT for just a bit more than that.

is the 7800 is a better card than the X800?

looked one up on newegg....the GS is 284.00 US

Meatwad · « **Reply #6 on:** May 14, 2006, 05:04:25 PM »

wow them cards must be nice. I am still running a Geforce2 MX400 64 MB card

Eagler · « **Reply #7 on:** May 14, 2006, 05:29:48 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by 68DevilM
is the 7800 is a better card than the X800?

looked one up on newegg....the GS is 284.00 US

here is of one the comparisons from the link I posted above:

68DevilM · « **Reply #8 on:** May 14, 2006, 05:35:33 PM »

wow considerably better.......
ok im sold on the 7800.....

also thinking of adding another stick 512mb of ddr400 to the 1 gig i have already

eagl · « **Reply #9 on:** May 15, 2006, 03:37:45 AM »

Find some reviews to see if your rig will be stable with that memory configuration. If the manual says it's supported then maybe it is, but you might have to turn down some speed settings if you use 3 sticks of memory or 2 sticks that are different sizes.

68DevilM · « **Reply #10 on:** May 15, 2006, 08:21:02 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Meatwad
wow them cards must be nice. I am still running a Geforce2 MX400 64 MB card

lol meatad......

those things you keep crashing into when flying close to the ground arent invisible rocks, thier trees.......

68DevilM · « **Reply #11 on:** May 15, 2006, 12:07:33 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by eagl
Find some reviews to see if your rig will be stable with that memory configuration. If the manual says it's supported then maybe it is, but you might have to turn down some speed settings if you use 3 sticks of memory or 2 sticks that are different sizes.

another question....sorry ive been a ati user for too long.......

GS or GT? which is better

Brenjen · « **Reply #12 on:** May 15, 2006, 12:44:37 PM »

The GT has the most power of those two. You also have LE versions & GTX version etc.

68DevilM · « **Reply #13 on:** May 15, 2006, 02:35:46 PM »

looked up the gtx it a little more than 400 bucks

Eagler · « **Reply #14 on:** May 15, 2006, 03:52:52 PM »

free shipping
$260 after $10 rebate
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/eVGA-e-GeForce-7800-GS-Video-Card-256-A8-N506-/sem/rpsm/oid/144489/catOid/-13011/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

it is the one I have. It is actually evga's 7800 gs co as reviewed HERE