Author Topic: Bfg 7800gs Agp (Read 670 times)

LePaul · « **on:** February 21, 2007, 04:43:58 PM »

I've read a bit about these cards and for an AGP system like mine (2.9ghz Intel, 4gb RAM, etc)...anyone have one? How do they like em?

I'd have to replace my power supply but Ive seen deals on Newegg for these cards, plus power supply, for under $250.

Just curious what kinda frame rates those that have the card are getting. (I suspect my bottleneck would be CPU, not video)

Kev367th · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2007, 04:59:29 PM »

Got one, works real sweet.
Frame rates pegged at max monitor refresh rate.

If you get problems with the game freezing -
Go into the BIOS and set -
PCI Latency Timer to 128, or 256 if 128 doesn't work.

eagl · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2007, 05:10:51 AM »

I couldn't get one to work on my Nforce3 board but it could have been a weak power supply. I had a 450 watt thermaltake silent purepower at the time, and I think that PSU just wasn't cutting it.

I replaced the power supply with a better seasonic one but haven't gone back to try the 7800GS again.

Eagler · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2007, 05:44:03 AM »

I have the evga 7800 gs co. I also had to upgrade my power supply when I upgraded from an ATI 9800 pro.
It is a great card IMO, in AH, FB/PF and Tiger Woods 05 the graphics are awesome. Regular desktop and windows apps look great too. I have my desktop set at 1920x 1200 and AH set to 1600 x 1200 on the 24" widescreen. This card has no problem pushing those resolutions.

LePaul · « **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2007, 08:33:15 PM »

Excelllent reviews

I'm running a Dell SC 400, so being of server origins, there isn't much (asides AGP Aperature size) i can tweak for settings, should I need to.

My power supply is only 250 watts, so its a given I'd need a beefier one.

I'd love to do a whole new system but for now, a $250 upgrade keeps my flying/shooting games going

38ruk · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2007, 11:15:51 PM »

There is a windows program out there that can set the latency for you . I forgot the name but i used to use it without issue. I'll look around and see if i can find it . 38

Here ya go.
http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=951

LePaul · « **Reply #6 on:** March 07, 2007, 02:28:35 PM »

Thanks for the info

I ordered one from Newegg today

I also bought a 550 watt Antec/nVidia Approved power supply to replace my Dell 250 watt

Couple guys at work suggested it, figured if it can handle dual gpu/SLI setups, it should handle one card just fine.

38ruk, thanks for that info.

Looking forward to playing AH, Falcon 4 and Joint Ops at higher res!

LePaul · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2007, 11:47:13 PM »

Well, i dont know where to begin on this fiasco.

Ordered card early Wednesday morning Eastern time, so I was well ahead of their noon PST deadline. Just to make sure I had it for the weekend, I paid the $3 for the priority shipping and upgraded to Second Day Air.

Well, the idjits didnt ship it til late Thursday. So, there went the hopes of having it Friday. After sitting on hold for 40 minutes, I got a NewEgg rep on the phone with zero personality. After explaining the situation, the priority shipping and upgraded UPS shipping will be refunded.

Today, the card arrived, along with the 550 watt power supply.

Installed the power supply into my Dell. The power plug holes dont line up. I removed the motherboard from the case, brought it to the shop and dremeled out the back so it would. I was hoping that would be the last of the issues.

Oh silly me

Installed the card, got everything plugged in (man these new power supplies have tons of cable leads!) After a few tried, I could finally close the case.

Powered the system up...green lights, very loud fan from the BFG 7800 GS card...and lots of hard drive activity. System boots....but no video. Black screen. Hmm, maybe I have a power supply with a bad power lead. Powered down, tried another lead from another branch....same. Dang, if this thing is DOA, its the third DOA card I've had from BFG in a year.

So I called up BFG and 40 minutes later I got a tech. Sharp guy, I'll give BFG that. Explained what Ive got going on and he stops me in mid sentence. "A Dell? Let me guess, black screen, wont post?" Yup. PowerEdge SC 400. Ive read of 8000 models having issues but the guy says its a problem with the card and Dell's BIOS, which is running the latest. Best he can do is offer an RMA. There's no solution and he's sorry. Dangit. For kicks, I call the Dell Rep I know from work. Their techie chuckles at BFG's explanation "Gee, we work with every other brand card out there."

So BFG wants to blame Dell. Dell points out that all I needed was a beefier power supply and it should work fine.

And this is dead BFG #3. So Im inclined to fault them

I called Newegg and got an RMA. Shipped it all back a lil while ago.

Dangit. I was really hoping to be back into Aces High and play my games at hi res!

Meanwhile Im gonna start piecing together a new system. Sigh!

llama · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2007, 03:22:55 PM »

I know you're probably at your wit's end with upgrading your old AGP system, but I might as well mention this:

Newegg is selling two AGP versions of the nVidia 7600GT. Though its GPU is not as advanced as the 7800GS GPU, it runs significantly faster AND has faster RAM. The end result is that the card almost always runs as fast as the 7800GS. Sometimes faster. It depends on the benchmark.

There are many, many published benchmarks that show this to be true.

Now then. The 7600GT is a very small card, relatively speaking, and it consumes far less power than the 7800GS. How much less?

Well, I have a SFF system - you know, one of those shoebox-sized computers. It comes with a 250 Watt power supply. I used to have an ATI9800XT video card, and at load, the whole computer consumed 210 watts from the wall socket. With no change other than replacing the video card with a 7600GT, the computer cosumes 155 watts at load. That's 55 watts less! And the 7800GS is supposed to consume more power than this old ATI card.

The card I got is from XFX:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150210

Hope this helps,
Llama

Hoarach · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2007, 05:33:42 PM »

Lepaul, my system is able to run the high res package on 1024x768 (just cause I think it looks the best on my 17" LCD monitor). I have the graphic details all the way up and have full vis while having skins STILL downloading in the background. With all this I get easy 100FR and only drop to about 70 the lowest when over giant furball with many gvs or fire.

The system contains:
Athlon 64 3200+ 2.2GHZ processor
512MB of RAM
500W Ultra X-Finity power supply (would recommend it to anyone looking for a power supply as it as lifetime warranty, very quiet, keeps PC very cool, lots of wires)
2 HD (1 SATA and 1 peripheral)
PNY 7600GS AGP 512MB

The 7600GS 512MB cost me $150 from compusa. Its a very good card as its been running nice ever since I figured out to turn it down from 8x to 4x using coolbit.reg. If you looking for a vid card the PNY 7600GS is a nice card that is probably in the upper echelon and is cheap.

airspro · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2007, 06:07:31 PM »

I sent you a PM LePaul .

LePaul · « **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2007, 09:02:32 PM »

Got it.

Im regretting returning the power supply, that would've been good to have regardless. But...so be it.

One thing Ive learned is that if there is less than a $75 difference between buying local and dealing with NewEgg....go local. Worst case scenario and you have to return it, you can quickly.

I'm waiting for my RMA credit to go thru. Then I can figure out whether to try another card...or watch the Intel Duo 6700 prices

qts · « **Reply #12 on:** March 15, 2007, 02:43:19 PM »

Many Dells use non-standard PSUs. See here.

Also you'll find the ATI 1950AGP faster.

LePaul · « **Reply #13 on:** March 15, 2007, 10:18:20 PM »

qts: I replaced the power supply with a 550 watt, nVidia Certified Antec power supply.