Which GPU for me?

[MustangSVT]

I'm looking to upgrade my computer soon. At the latest, early October. My current specs are:

athlon xp-m 2500+ @ 2.4g
6800gt @ 400/1100
1gb ddr400
nforce2

I'm looking at upgrading to this:

Core 2 Duo E6400 (2.13ghz)
2x1gb Mushkin ddr2-800 4-4-4-12
MSI P965 Neo-F (only 1 PCI-E)

GPU solutions:
ati X1900XT 512MB $399cad
bfg/evga 7950gx2 $629-$649cad (with $50 mail-in-rebate)

I looked at some benchies at Rage3D (and here) for the Multi-GPU world tour, and 7950gx2 kicks ass in GT Legends and GTR2, 2 racing games I will play a lot. I will also paly a lot of Oblivion and Battlefield 2 and Call of Duty 2 and whatever new games come along.

Anyway, I would like some opinions. Are there any new GPUs coming out soon beside these 2?

X1950XTX - $399 US -> ~$470-$480cad (not worth it since it doesn't seem to be much faster than regular X1900XT)
X1950 Pro - $199 US -> ~$250cad (probably too slow for me..)

.. anything else? When is G80 coming out? I don't know anything at all about it. The only thing I'm worried about is spending too much on a 7950GX2 and be outdated in like 6 months if Vista/DX10 come out. Anyone know when it's suppose to come out. Thank you for any response.

[SH64]

Anyway, I would like some opinions. Are there any new GPUs coming out soon beside these 2?

Yeah , probably the 7950GT .. the best bang for the buck.
details here :
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=75180
basically a 7900GT o/ced to 550/1400 with 512MB GDDR3 for $299!!

if you dont like to wait & prefer going for ATi's side , the X1900XT should be fast enough for a while until next-gen GPUs arrive which i predict to be sometime in Q1 2007.

[MustangSVT]

How many new GPUs are coming out next year exactly? R600 and G80 too? Are they both coming out in like 3 months?

[SH64]

How many new GPUs are coming out next year exactly? R600 and G80 ?

Most likely ..
they should be the Ultra High-end , followed by High-end & then mainstream GPUs.

[MustangSVT]

Well this sucks then. I really want a new computer right now, but if brand new GPUs coming out very soon. :thumbdwn:

[Toss3]

The price for the x1900xt seems a bit high; you can get those in Germany for around 300€? And I'd recommend the x1900xt as it beats the 7900gt and is almost on par with the 7900gtx. The 7950gt could also be a good choice, but I'd take the x1900 since it allows hdr+aa. :)

[MustangSVT]

300 euro is 425 canadian. I can get it for 390 canadian here. (nana2)

Anyway, let's say that in 2-3 weeks, I buy the X1900XT. I'll wait another bit just so that X1950XTX becomes available here. Is the 7950GT gonna be just as good as a X1900XT and even cheaper?

Anyway, I want you guys to be honest with me. Am I upgrading at a bad time. Will I have buyers remorse in like 3-4 months. I'd be really pissed if a much much better GPU came out for like only 500 american and had DX10 support and all that.

[SH64]

The best you can do for now is getting a cheap high performance card so you wont regret it when the next-gen cards come out.

[MustangSVT]

I think I'm gonna just go with an X2 3800+ and some cheap Asus non-sli board for now. I'll get a x1900xt.

It looks like the Conroe board i was planning on getting (MSI 965) has received some negative reviews. :(
Conroe mobos are just too expensive.

[MikeC]

The noise is a factor in considering the X1900XT. They are loud! I'd get the 7950GX2 and enjoy it. :)

[Q]

The noise is a factor in considering the X1900XT. They are loud! I'd get the 7950GX2 and enjoy it. :)

Not only the fan, though. I have one that I've really enjoyed (I've done a lot of Oblivion over the summer) but even with my Zalman there is still noise.

There is a slightly documented issue with a high pitch squeal coming from the X1900 series. Not all cards, not all apps, and not all the time. I noticed it about a month ago when playing Pontiflex2 (like the NV only title BridgeIt). Its an OpenGL game and there was a horrible noise coming out of the card during the main menu sequence and a mild one during other games.

The XT is a damn good card, but if you are sensitive to digital squeals this one may, or may not, cause you some problems.

Google about this if it might be something that bothers you.

[MustangSVT]

Wouldn't really bother me. I've been using a 53+ dB CPU cooler for like over 4 years now, and my GPU is pretty loud too. I've gotten used to it. I doubt this small squeal on the X1900XT would bother me.

Problem with 7950GX2 is it's too epxensive. $699cad here + $50 mail in rebate. That's $250cad more than the X1900XT (~60% more). Too much money for something I know I will sell in 1 year from now.

[Mike S.]

7950GT will be announced in a few weeks, I am sure you could wait and see how it performs.

[bordewisser]

I think I'm gonna just go with an X2 3800+ and some cheap Asus non-sli board for now. I'll get a x1900xt.

It looks like the Conroe board i was planning on getting (MSI 965) has received some negative reviews. :(
Conroe mobos are just too expensive.
Good choice. The X2 3800+ is a great processor if your budget is not too big. And you will enjoy the x1900xt. It has a great price/performance ratio and really good IQ. You will love it.

[bordewisser]

The noise is a factor in considering the X1900XT. They are loud! I'd get the 7950GX2 and enjoy it. :)

Probably a bit too fast for x2 3800+. He needs a x4800+ or a Core2Duo to fully exploit the speed of the 7950Gx2.

[Heinz68]

If you're near Toronto, at PC Village (http://www.pcvonline.com/search.aspx?cat=Video%20Cards&text=x1900xt) they have X1900XT $379 CAD and X1900XTX $439 CAD

At Premier Computer Canada (http://www.pccanada.com/viewitem.asp?id=4269)
X1900XT $369.99 CAD *SALE PRICE* A Savings of $70 Until 8/31/2006

Sure some other stores in greater Toronto will match the price

[JootecFromMars]

Surely with DirectX10 coming possibly in January buying a DirectX9 card now is not the best thing to do. You'll only wish you had a DirectX10 card when you see games like Crysis and UT2007 running. Wait.

[Toss3]

Surely with DirectX10 coming possibly in January buying a DirectX9 card now is not the best thing to do. You'll only wish you had a DirectX10 card when you see games like Crysis and UT2007 running. Wait.
Yeah, but no one knows when they'll be released. So getting an x1900xt now would be a good move since it would allow him to play almost all of today's games at high settings. Then when the dx10 cards are released, he can sell his x1900xt and still get some money for it. You should also read the thread about the 7950gx2 as it gives you some clue about the problems that can accur with SLi.
Btw. I think both Crysis and UT2007 are Dx9 comatible and that they'll only add dx10 later in a patch(at least for ut2007; Crysis has native support for dx10).

[MustangSVT]

I'm not anywhere near Toronto btw. I can get a Sapphire X1900XT for $389.99cad locally.

[Toss3]

I'm not anywhere near Toronto btw. I can get a Sapphire X1900XT for $389.99cad locally.
Get the x1900xt and I bet you'll be happy. :) I'm thinking about getting an x1900xt, but before I've got the money I need for a whole new system, Nvidia's and Amd's new dx10 beasts will be out. :o

[Xion X2]

Probably a bit too fast for x2 3800+. He needs a x4800+ or a Core2Duo to fully exploit the speed of the 7950Gx2.

2.5-2.6 is the sweet spot. There's a guy on this forum who benchmarked the same on a GX2 with a X6800 as I did when I had my GX2 and my processor at the current speed. He scored 8,100 on 3dMark06 and I scored 8,000.

If he could find a way to get that 3800+ to 2.4gHz or so he'd be fine.

[MustangSVT]

I think I'm decided on the proc/mobo now.

E6400 - $325cad
ASUS P5B (non-Deluxe) - $190cad

Now to decide what GPU or to wait or not to wait or something..

bbATI X1900XT $399cad

or w8 for 7950gt or x1950pro or just wait altogether for DX10 GPUs

I'm thinking just buy the damn thing this weekend or like tommorow..

But I really fear I will have wished I would've waited if DX10 GPUs come out in like 3 months and are like 2 times faster and only like $600-$650cad. :thumbdwn:

Decisions, decisions.. :(

I think I will put up my 6800gt for sale at work and like wait another week or two before I upgrade..

[MustangSVT]

Is the Gigabyte DS3 any good as a board? Maybe some1 here know.

Anyway, I was considering getting a 7950gx2 or x1900xt off ebay, but then i wouldn't have warranty, so I'll just get new one.

Ok, my options for GPU. I'm considering buying all this like tommorow or this weekend or maybe in 1 week from now.

bbATI x1900xt 512mb $399cad
Sapphire x1900xt 512mb "lite retail" $389cad
BFG 7950gx2 $699cad +$50 mail-in-rebate (deal ends aug 31st)
eVGA 7950gx2 $679cad +$50 mail-in-rebate (deal ends aug 31st)

I wonder if 7950gx2 will get cheaper in 1-2 week if/when X1950XTX and/or 7950GT becomes available. Any ideas?

Also, I figure I'll be selling whatever card I get now in 6-8 months when Vista/DX10 becomes a necessity. I figure I could get $300cad from my X1900XT if I'm lucky (from selling at my work) in 6-8 months. With the 7950gx2, I could maybe get $400, maybe $450 if I'm lucky. What do you guys think.

[SH64]

Hmm i think you should go with the cheaper which is the "Sapphire x1900xt 512mb "lite retail" $389cad".
it should give you great performance until next-gen.

[MustangSVT]

Ok I think I will go with the following.

Conroe E6400
Gigabyte DS3 - Intel P965 mobo, 1 PCI-E, Intel HD audio
2x1gb Mushkin ddr2-800 5-5-5-12 OR 2x1gb OCZ ddr2-800 4-5-4-12 (but more money!) OR 2x1gb OCZ ddr2-800 5-5-5-12 ($10 less than Mushkin)

bbati x1900xt

I guess I'll prolly sell the vidcard in like 6 months or so anyway.