I need a new VIdeo Card

[Hajo]

X800 series better then 1400 1600 etc.

Have an X800XT it has 16 pipelines....faster data transfer naturally then the 12 pipeline models.   Found an X800XTPro online and it still lists in the 300 dollar range which is more expensive the the X1600 etc with 512.\mem.

[Krusty]

Oh, yes, I forgot to post my FEAR settings.

CPU is my limiting factor, so autodetect set physics to medium, sound to medium, particle bounce to medium, shells on, world and corpse detail to max.

GPU settings:

Everything is maxed, EXCEPT:
water = med
volumetric light density = med
FSAA = off
soft shadows = off (I tried it on, and they didn't work right, also took a big hit in performance)
aniso 4x
1024x768

The test gave the following FPS:
Min: 25 (0% below 25)
Avg: 40 (52% between 25 and 40)
Max: 102 (48% above 40)

Funny thing is, setting FSAA to 4x gave the following:
Min: 25 (0% below 25)
Avg: 44 (58% between 25 and 40)
Max: 99 (42% above 40)

So FSAA doesn't hurt it at all! Good to know! (I just learned this today)

[Shamus]

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php

try this for card comparisons.

shamus

[sonicboom970]

krusty the reason you probibly had virtually had no slowdown was because AA can quadruple the amount of memory needed. but at less than 1 Megapixel, verry little memory is nessasary in order to achive high FPS so 4x AA shouldnt be hard to render. ( Acutally Krusty, the only reason cards w/ more ram feel slower is due to higher latencies, not slower ram. but those cards shine at 1600x1200 ect. when it takes 512 MB of ram inorder to get 4x AA.) but the 6800 GS can have its 4 pixel pipes and 1 vertex engine unlocked (so it will be as fast as the 6800gt, but some people get artifacts doing that.) but krusty is right. GeForce 7 GPU's are much different in encryption keys, and the like. plus if you use Open GL apps GeForce7 is a better idea or the Ati comparison.
NOTE if you are going to run at 1024x768 you do NOT need anything w/ more than 256 mb of memory. 512mb of memory and you will see a slowdown, due to higher latencies.

[Krusty]

Side note: It's the 7800GT that "blows the 6800GT" away. The 7600GT is about comparable to the 6800GT, it seems.

[Phil]

Guys...
You seem to know very much about VIDEO cards !

List me (your opinion) the top 3 cards I should buy.

Building from scratch and will be getting a 19" -  20" monitor ...
I want REALSIM and good sound effects....

THE REAL THING MAN !!!!

If your schedule permits, add some Pos / Neg on each of them ....

Tks guys !

Canadian Phil

[Krusty]

I sent you a reply to your PM. Basically it depends on your budget. Do you want cheap, do you want super high end, or do you want middle of the road that will still let you play games that come out next year?