Author Topic: Nvidia 7300 GS opinions? (Read 377 times)

Dichodog · « **on:** April 09, 2007, 03:55:37 PM »

I've been thinking about building myself a gaming rig but, after some thought, I've decided She Devils needs outweigh my own. That said I'm considering popping a nVIDIA 7300GS 7300 512mb PCI Express PCI-E Video Card into my Compaq Presario S4500NX on an interim basis.

I don't have any gripes about the way my machine runs the game. I'm using an Nvidia 5500 that a friend gave me and, other than the occasional stutter, no worries other than the interface between the computer and the chair.

Any opinions on doing this would be helpful.

Dicho

Krusty · « **Reply #1 on:** April 09, 2007, 10:52:21 PM »

No!!!!

7600 or higher. EVERYthing below 7600 is a stripped-down POS card [in the 7000 series].

That's a generalization, but mostly true.

38ruk · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2007, 02:32:12 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Krusty
No!!!!

7600 or higher. EVERYthing below 7600 is a stripped-down POS card [in the 7000 series].

That's a generalization, but mostly true.

Agreed!

You can find some 7600's pretty cheap, i would bet getting a 7300 wouldnt be much of an upgrade from what you already have!! Ruk

Irwink! · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2007, 06:02:44 AM »

Ehhh... The link to your machine says it doesn't even have a PCI-E slot. Its AGP. It also only has a 200W power supply. Both factors will limit your choices.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2007, 06:50:25 AM »

Have to be careful with these lower end video cards these days. They claim up to 512MB of video RAM, but read the fine print, and you will find they do not have any RAM of thier own and are using your system RAM for video data.

This is MUCH slower than using dedicated video RAM and it impacts all your applications due to dynamically allocating, re-allocating, de-allocating system RAM.

NVidia and ATI both have tradmark names they use for this 'new' technology. 'Turbocache' is one. I am not what the other one is and I cannot marry them to the right manufacturer at the moment.

Hoarach · « **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2007, 01:33:01 PM »

I have a 7600GS AGP that I had gotten from Compusa for $150. Its a 512MB from PNY. My FRs are a steady 90+ with the high res textures and I only have 512MB system ram.

Eurisko · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2007, 08:35:24 AM »

I'm lost.
You get 90fps? Wow. How did you manage that? I have the 7600GS
PCI Express AND I used Skuzzy's diet plan for Vista. Still seeing my FR
drop from 59 to 14 (yikes) when low over forest. Whats going on?!!!

Does anybody know how I can fix this? Its a new computer w Vista
(I know), AMD 64 X2 3800+, 1gig RAM, nVidia 7600GS, 19" Fp Widescreen -
1440x900, sliders maxed and 1054/Hi-res Tex Pak.

Do I need more RAM (I hate to spend another $150) or am I missing
some settings somewhere? Help!!

Skuzzy · « **Reply #7 on:** April 16, 2007, 09:05:47 AM »

He is probably running Windows XP. You are going to lose performance no matter how lsim you get Vista. Part of the problem is the NVidia Vista drivers. They are horrible.

Part of it is all the overhead Vista still needs even if you get it toned down a bit.

Hoarach · « **Reply #8 on:** April 16, 2007, 02:25:47 PM »

Yea I have Windows XP Home Edition. I only have 512MB system ram as well. I am using 84.66 drivers that were mentioned as the best drivers for the 7 series as well. Its probably what Skuzzy said that its because you're running Vista.

humble · « **Reply #9 on:** April 17, 2007, 05:41:29 PM »

Toms hardware gave the overclocked 7300 very high marks.......

Krusty · « **Reply #10 on:** April 17, 2007, 05:50:07 PM »

It's a POS, though. Avoid all 7000 series below 7600.

EDIT: Okay, I'm sorry, that was harsh. Nvidia normally makes a good product, as does ATI.

However, for the SAME PRICE you can get a decent card that won't cut out on you, as the 7300 will.

hubsonfire · « **Reply #11 on:** April 18, 2007, 02:57:26 PM »

I'm looking at a lowbuck upgrade for my box as well, and I've been looking at the 7600's. Are those decent cards? I notice both GS and GT versions (seems to be faster memory?), but was considering the GS for 100 bucks as a good option. Using a 128MB 6200 atm; would the 7600 (which would be accompanied by some more RAM for the box) be a good step up?

Krusty · « **Reply #12 on:** April 18, 2007, 03:11:50 PM »

7600 is one of the best bangs for your buck these days. About the same as the x800. The 7600GT (note the letters!) is just about the equal of the 7900GS.

GS = standard, basically
GT = turbo, higher clock speeds
GTX or the like, X = eXtreme, similar to GT but often overclocked with big heatsinks to deal with the power.

EDIT: The 7600GS is a good card too, but the GT is a step above.

Hoarach · « **Reply #13 on:** April 18, 2007, 08:45:24 PM »

Well hubs since getting my new machine...which contains:
AMD Athlon 64 3200+
PNY Verto 7600GS 512MB
512MB System Ram
SB Audigy 2
Ultra X-Finity 500W PSU

With these parts plus a few others I am able to pull 90+ FRs on highres tex and the graphic sliders all the way up. A lot of people say you need 2GB of system RAM but I dont see why.

I think would be a step up as my old machine was lucky to pull 50 straight FR on 256 tex sliders all the way down and it had a PNY 5700 128MB and 256 system RAM.