I got the 7950GT for my new computer - but now I'm having regrets

[caselogic]

I read a couple places that the X1950XT is a better card. I'm having trouble finding direct comparisons though. Can anyone help me out?

I can still return this card because I haven't opened it, but I'm basically looking for a good graphics card solution for casual gaming for less than $200. I got the 7950GT 512MB OC (BFG) for $170 after rebate. I don't really need DX10 either.

 

[caselogic]

By the way, this is the ATi card I'm looking at (I can't seem to find 1950XT's very easily):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102067

A nd this is the card I bought:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143071

 

[Craxbax]

The 7950 GT 512 is a great DX 9 card but the X1950XT is better. The X1950XT will need a more powerful PSU also. I wouldn't loose money to make the change over however.

 

[emp]

This is where you can find a comparison:

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html

And the guy above me is right, if you can take it to the store and get the X1950XT then do it, but if it's going to cost you money, then just keep it. Since they are pretty much around the same performance.

 

[caselogic]

I don't think it'll cost me much to do the swap. I haven't sent off the rebate yet, so I'm actually sitting at about $215 for the 7950GT, whereas the 1950XT is actually $169 - 20 = $149 after rebate.

My confusion is the pricing, why is the 7950GT priced $100 more if the X1950XT is a better card?

 

[caselogic]

A brief look here shows a wide variety of prices ($300 for open box!). Can someone help me understand the pricing scheme here?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&am p;Description=X1950XT&x=0&y=0

 

[turboflame]

My confusion is the pricing, why is the 7950GT priced $100 more if the X1950XT is a better card?

Because the X1950XT is more competetively priced

Make sure your PSU can handle it before you make the exchange

 

[rwayne]

$149 after rebate for a x1950XT?

Wow!

I would return your 7950 in a heart beat even if you do break even.

The x1950XT runs faster and has a much better picture.

Just make sure you have a Good PSU.

 

[caselogic]

Because the X1950XT is more competetively priced

Make sure your PSU can handle it before you make the exchange

I picked up a 520W PSU, is that going to be enough? Plan to run it with a E6550 C2D

 

[Craxbax]

In a word...Capitalism! Your job is to be a smart consumer. The X1950XT for that price compared to the 7950GT 512 priced higher is a no brainer. Go with the X1950XT. As to the PSU, A quaility 520W should be more than enough watts but you should have about 28-30a available on the +12v rail as a minimum.

 

[caselogic]

Are you sure that I need 28-30A? Most PSU's I see nowadays has on avg 20A per 12V rail (for example, a quick search finds most at 18A@12V for all 3 12V rails). What am I missing?

 

[foz]

Craxbax is talking about the whole system with the 28 -30 amp guesstimation which is a good number. Your video card will only need at most 8 to 11 amps of 12 volt power. If you have the Corsair 520watt PSU you will be fine with with plenty of power to upgrade in the future.

 

[caselogic]

So when my PSU says 12V@18A for each of the 3 rails, does that mean I really have 18A x 3 available for 12V purposes?

 

[Craxbax]

20a rails are fine but that isn't the available +12v amps. Your PSU has a max of 520w but the watts available for the 12v rail which uses around 90% of the power is usually much less. Find that number and use this formula: Watts divided by Voltage equals Amps (W÷V=A). That will give you the available amps on the +12v portion of the PSU (if the manufacturer has accurately rated their product.)
Example: 20a on two +12v rails would seem to equal 40a but if you only have 380w available to the +12v rails then using the formula (380/12=32) the max available would only 32a. Each individual rail is max rated to 20a but that isn't available to both rails at the same time.

If you have a Corsair then you are fine as the previous poster noted.

This may help you rate your PSU if it is not:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=108088
http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103

 

[caselogic]

Yeah sadly I'm an electrical engineering major, so I should know this - but I've never bothered to look at the schematics of a PSU to see how it all comes together, so I wasn't sure how each of the 12V rails are used in conjunction with each other (or if they're independent).

But your information was very helpful, I appreciate it

 

[foz]

If you have the Corsair 520, then the 3 12v rails will actually share amperage when needed acting like a single 40amp 12v rail.