Video Card Question...

[Volleypro]

Hello All,

I'm sorry if this is such a noob question but I am wondering which of these would be best bet. I typically use my computer for everyday use but I also game a little. I play Wow, Vanguard, Guild Wars, etc. but I am not sure which card layout would be the best.

Here is my current system:

Dell XPS 710 Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6600
Windows® XP Media Center
4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
Razer Tarantula Gaming Keyboard
Dual 256MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GS
480GB (3x 160GB SATA 10,000 RPM HDDs)
48x Combo + 16x DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer write capable
Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ XtremeMusic (D) Sound Card
750-watt Power Supply

A friend of mine just built a brand new system and he purchased the below Video card for it:

XfX GeForce 7950 GT 512 MB GDDR3 ExTreme PCIE

However, he has decided to put in a newer card with more memory and said I could have that card, for free, if I wanted it.

I am wondering if the 7950 GT would be better than running Dual 256MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GS'.

Please let me know your thoughts.

 

[jitpublisher]

Go here to see the comparisions. I'd take you are running SLI'd 7900's.
I'd keep them over the 7950.
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html?modelx=33&model1=581&model2=583&chart=228

 

[djmerlin]

Just leave it as it is?....nothing wrong with it as you are not bang into gaming or frame rates, overclocking or any other naughty habit.

 

[TyroneShoelaces]

Interestingly, if you use a different benchmark, the 7950 comes out on top...

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html?modelx=33&model1=581&model2=583&chart=198

Looks to be a toss-up depending on which particular game you play.

If it were me, I'd take the free video card, and sell all three of the cards on eBay, then use the money to buy an 8800GTS (or GTX if you got that much). :twisted:

-TyShoe

 

[billdcat4]

Interestingly, if you use a different benchmark, the 7950 comes out on top...

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html?modelx=33&model1=581&model2=583&chart=198

Looks to be a toss-up depending on which particular game you play.

If it were me, I'd take the free video card, and sell all three of the cards on eBay, then use the money to buy an 8800GTS (or GTX if you got that much). :twisted:

-TyShoe

\

before you go upgrading the GPU, make sure you have enough amperage.
Make sure you give yourself PLENTY of headroom. Dell doesnt offer the 8800 series on the XPS 710 so I would check it out thouroughly.

Personally, I would go with the SLI'ed 7900GS. You can OC them if you want to get a lot more performance. From what I remember the 7950gt only has marginally better performance than the 7900GS (which can be OC'ed heavily).

Go get the 7950 GT and sell it, cant hurt.

Youve got some insane setup there, what did that cost you 4.5grand?
4 gigs of ram, SLI, 10k-rpms

have fun

 

[TyroneShoelaces]

He's already using SLI 7900s. Could it be possible that a single 8800 would actually use more power than TWO 7900s? If not, I'd say his PSU (750W) is fine, as it's currently running the SLI setup.

-TyShoe

 

[billdcat4]

He's already using SLI 7900s. Could it be possible that a single 8800 would actually use more power than TWO 7900s? If not, I'd say his PSU (750W) is fine, as it's currently running the SLI setup.

-TyShoe

NEVER assume with Dell PSUs. I did, to a degree and now I HAVE a dead XPS.

Find out the total amps, and then find out from 2 reliable sources the MAX AMPERAGE.

Then calculate the max power draw and give yourself PLENTY of headroom.

never assume, it makes an ass out of you and me

 

[TyroneShoelaces]

I never assumed, I posed it as a question.

But nevertheless, yes, better to check that PSU to be sure before upgrading.


-TyShoe

 

[shadowmaster625]

you might lose a bit of performance but it really depends on how much of a boost your games get from sli. Some dont get anything. I personally would go with the 7950, just because it would allow me to upgrade the gfx cards of two other machines! And I doubt you'd see a difference either way.