GeForce 7800 GTX a PCI-E-only solution!!!

[Maverickman]

It seems that the new GeForce 7800 series cards will be PCI-E only. If you want to upgrade, you won't be able with an AGP system. It looks as though AGP will truly be a dead-end solution in the very near future. I still think the 7800 will not offer a quantum leap over the 6800 series. I'll upgrade to PCI-E when G80 hits next year.

[anzak]

This is already being debated in another thread, but I might was well ask. Do you have a link to back this up?

[Vishruth]

If you're going to say that your source is a staff from overclockers.co.uk, I should tell you that lots of people here (myself NOT included) have already dismissed that as 'unreliable information', 'wishful thinking', 'fanboy drivel', among other things.

[jAkUp]

There is still a market for AGP, so there should be an AGP version, however, it will probably come much later with the bridge chip.

[vX]

It's a toss up. When AGP faded out PCI, cards basically came in both flavors for a while and eventually weren't totally phased out, but pci cards ended up only being made in low-end and mid-range markets, if you wanted high-end, you needed AGP.

Seeing as 8x hasn't even been utilized yet and there is virtually no difference, currently, between an agp and pci-e card, it seems logical they can still make both. But then again, they may also have the next-gen cards jump right into using the 16x bandwith and totally skip over 8x. It wouldn't be suprising, the pc market has taken ridiculous steps like this before, to force you to upgrade and help keep certain companies flourishing.

You have to think though, there's hundreds and thousands of pc gamers out there still with agp, companies see $$ in that. Even if ati/nvidia strictly stay pci-e as well as their right hand companies like asus, msi, bfg, etc. Someone will more than likely come up with a pci-e to agp bridge chip. It might affect performance, but it will do the job.

It's really unknown right now, hopefully nvidia will shed some light on the subject when they do their new gpu gimmick party later this month.

[msxyz]

Since ATi has basically said that next gen cards will be also bridged to AGP, I don't think NVidia will leave this segment of the market uncovered.

While most of the businnes will be (as usual) in selling dirty cheap mainstream cards to integrators, a large portion of the retail market will still be taken by AGP cards as PCI-e has been around for too a short time.

[NAZCA M12]

I think this generation should be the last "dual" one and then go for PCI-E only. In fact, if one of the two companies decides not to provide an AGP solution for those "living in the dark ages" (just tell the mofo who said that to come and repeat it in front of ME* :D ), that could enable its adversary to produce an AGP version of its next-gen card and completely monopolize the AGP market...right?

*Not to be confused with Millennium Edition :p

EDIT: Beaten by msxyz

[msxyz]

(just tell the mofo who said that to come and repeat it in front of ME* )
Go tell people with an Athlon FX on an AGP mobo (maybe they're upgrading to dual core, too) that they live in the dark ages and see the effect. :D

Those who spill such PR crap should be tied to stakes and burned (just to remain in touch with the dark ages...) :p

[Lfctony]

Costs outweigh the benefits by a mile for me, if the new cards are PCIe only. I consider my system to be top notch, and I'm not willing to throw it away so easily. Either way, I'm staying with an AGP setup for another year at least, maybe more.

[Vishruth]

According to The Inquirer (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=23915), ibuypower.com (http://ibuypower.com/ibp/store/configurator.aspx?mid=136) had the PCI-E 7800 GTX (256MB version) listed for $639.

It looks like ibuypower.com has now removed it from the list. But still, now I know what prices I can expect on the 7800 GTX. I was hoping for a $500-$600 price range. But I guess this will have to do.

[Dr@Home]

well, think of the 6800U with 512 megs of ram. that thing was going for almost a grand (and sometimes more), and now you can get one for 730. it is alot, but it just shows that new stuff usualy has jacked up prices. i'd still expect it to settle down around 500 myself...

[Dazz]

Theres cards are PCI-Ex however the AGP cards will use a bridge so yes there will be AGP cards but not for some time.