comparing 2 video cards

[parlee]

System
AMD64 3700+ (Socket 754)
1 Gb Corsair XMS low latency 2-3-3-6
160 Gb Western Digital
Creative X-Fi Soundcard (forget the model)
ATI X700pro 256 mb (AGP)
400 Watt Thermaltake PSU

I'm trying to decide which video card to upgrade to. I may be able to get 100 dollars for the x700 (which i bought for 130) so im thinking of selling it while its worth anything. I plan to upgrade to one of the best AGP video cards, im going to wait until Vista is out and running stable until i make my next upgrade. My question is, is an x850pro a better deal than the 7800gs and how do they compare?

PNY 7800GS - 299
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=337467&pfp=BROWSE

256 MB gddr3
256 bit interface
16 pixel pipelines

ATI x850 Pro - 179
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=332729&pfp=BROWSE

256 mb gddr3
256 bit interface
12 pixel pipelines

I know the 7800gs is better than the x850pro, but is it worth the extra $120 for the 7800gs? i hear its overpriced for the amount of performance it offer. Also i could go to a 6800gs, but compusa doesnt sell them and i may not be able to order online. So can someone tell me how much faster a 7800gs is than the x850pro, and what the difference in speed would be between a 6800gs and x850 pro? The games i plan to play are Oblivion (mostly with the upgrade, at decent quality levels, its on medium/low now and i cant stand it) Counter-Strike Source, FEAR, BF2... I have a 17 inch LCD so I'll be playing at 1280x1024, AA/AF dont really matter to me, im just wondering how much better are the 7800gs and x850pro from my x700pro and how different are the two cards from eachother...

 

[Datman]

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30502

This is form another thread on this forum.

http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/Gainwards-King-AGP-ftopict179359.html

Read it and see what you think.

 

[parlee]

that doesnt really help, the absolute max id spend on a card for agp is 300, and thats really hurting me by doing so, im really leaning towards the x850pro or maybe 6800gs, id just like to see how they stack up, and how well they play oblivion. id like to be able to play at higher settings at 1280x1024... if a 7800gs is needed for that then i may buy one..

 

[HYST3R]

well right off the bat iu can tell you that the 6800 is the lowest recomended card for oblivion and if you wanna play it any where decent your probably gonna be looking at the x850 or 7800GS.

personally im in the same boat as you with AGP, and im saving up for the 7800GS just because i think it will last a lil longer than a x850.

plus your looking at probably a year and a half util vista is compltely out. so go with something big.

 

[baracuda73]

If you are gonna choose between the x850 and the 6800 there is no comparison, The x850 is far supperior. The 7800 should be better than the x850. But for an extra 100 dollars the preformance doesnt justify the cost IMO.

 

[Datman]

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/07/05/vga_charts_vii/index.html

Have you looked at the vga charts.

I got 2 setups, one with the X800pro, the other with a X850XTPE, both AGP.
I like the Ati cards. Personal preference, not fanboy reasons.

 

[mdd1963]

"im going to wait until Vista is out and running stable until i make my next upgrade."

I don't know why anyone would rush to Vista from XP anyway, barring more than 2 MS-released games that will actually *require* Vista; Vista will run slower, require more mem to do it, and be generally a resource hog compared to it's OS predecessor...as always.

 

[Datman]

I agree about Vista and directX10, I haven't read much that shows it is going to be a good operating system at first.

 

[cleeve]

If you're serious about playing FEAR and Oblivion, you might want to upgrade your motherboard. There are some Socket 754 motherboards out there that support PCI-express, then you could buy a more powerful PCI express card like an X1800 XT or 7900 GT

I still don't think a 16-pipeline card is worth $300, so I wouldn't go with the 7800 GS. The X850 PRO would be a good upgrade for you, it's a strong card.

But if you really want power, Gainnward is releasing a 7800 GS that is actually a 7800 GT - with a full 20 pipelines. that would be worth the $300+ dollars, at least you'd actually be getting something that might last a bit.

But once again, I'd seriously consoder a replacement PCIexpress motherboardif I were you. PCIe videocards are more powerful, and generally cheaper for the performance dollar.

 

[FlyGuy]

Yes, I say X850 would give you the best performance for the $$$.

 

[Anoobis]

I think the X850PRO is the better choice. For 180 bucks it's a prime investment for an AGP card. Anything above $200.00 is getting hard to justify these days for AGP. I know, I'm in the same boat as you although my 6600GT aint dead yet.

Does your CompUSA have the X850PRO in stock??? I know when you check for it online the card is sold out.

Props out to you if they have one. And if they only have one and you cannot get it right away....hide it behind a bunch of other cards on the bottom shelf so some other fool don't get it.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

The GF7800GS isn't worth the $299, there are better options out there from ATi and nV.

At closer to $200 it's agreat deal.

Oh yeah, edit: Ditto What Cleeve said.

 

[parlee]

yea id love to go pci express but compusa doesnt sell 754 mobo with pci express, my parents wont let me order online, so i kinda have to deal with compusa and other retailers like that... i think the x850pro at compusa is cheaper than on newegg anyways, and yes i believe its in stock... my friend with a 6800gt runs oblivion on medium/high, which is pretty much what i want, and since i hear the x850 pro is a bit faster than a 6800gt so im thinkin ill be golden...

i really would like to upgrade to pci express and get an x850xt for 169 but i really cant order online... plus i dont wanna get another mobo and have to reformat or even mess with drivers, the x850pro will just pop right in and start up...

also what fps should i expect in oblivion? and how much of a diff would it be over my crappy x700... i hope compusa has that card cuz i dun wanna spend 300 on a 7800 :lol:

 

[parlee]

well after much thought, almost the entire afternoon at work, i decided to go with the 7800gs... this computer is going to last until i graduate, so over a year and a half... and im not putting anymore money into it. id like to have HDR support and sm3.0, the x850pro although fast one could argue is a dated card, the 7800gs will run oblivion how i want it with decent frames. and since im getting 150 for an x700pro, which i got for 130, its like being paid to upgrade, i dont really mind spending the 300 as long as it lasts the year and a half... anyone agree? i know u all hate the 7800gs for agp, but does anyone think the price is going to drop on it anytime soon? also is PNY a good trusted brand? compusa has the pny 7800gs for 300, but not any other brand..

 

[Anoobis]

Well, if your getting $150.00 for the X700 :lol: , then you're only paying $150.00 for the 7800GS. I guess go for it.

 

[parlee]

yea, thats the way i looked at it too... im going to pick up the 7800gs after work, ill tell u guys how it runs oblivion...

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Be sure to download the latest Olbivion drivers from nV and be sure to check some of the performance threads at ElderScrolls.com's forums.

There's a few settings you can change to help. I've heard of a few, especially from one member here, but the ones I was picking on the most were for a friend to help his FX, and I wouldn't suggest that for anyone else because it's only for crippled cards.

 

[parlee]

well i did find that if i turned off all shadows it ran about 70% better, and with trees scaled down to a smaller view distance it adds another 30%... just guessing, but before it was about 20 fps and now im up to at least 40 in outdoor/battles... id like a constant 60 so fighting is more of a delight than a frustrating "WHY THE FUCK IS MY COMPUTER CRAPPING OUT NOW!!"