XFX 7800GT-To buy or not to buy??

[felix2792]

So I have an oppurtunity to pick up an XFX 7800GT for $50. I'm only 16 and have a VERY tight budget, so I only have a 6600GT right now. I've been really busy and havn't been able to upgrade for quite some time.

I'm wondering if i should take the 7800 for now b/c its so cheap, and can be O'C'd to GTX like speed, or hold out/save a while longer and pick up something better, like a 8600GT or 8800GTS or possibly a 9600. I don't need to play at that high of resolution, as i have only a 17" moniter. I do like to put up the GFX tho...

also, how much of a bottleneck(if any) would my CPU be? P4 3.0GHz Prescott


lemme know what you think

thanks

 

[badge]

Have two 7800GTs. 8600GT/GTS would be a MUCH better choice.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=715&model2=854&chart=308

 

[felix2792]

even with the 7800 being only $50?

 

[badge]

Yep. I would stay away from the 7800GT. I saw an EVGA 8600GTS on their outlet store for $69. Newegg has a long list of 8600GTs. Probably should go that direction:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048+106791921+1067928607&name=GeForce+8600GT

 

[pchoi04]

Yeah I would say no go on a 7800GT. It was a good card in its time but its old technology. Save your hard earned cash. Thats $50 that you can always put towards something better.

 

[dev1se]

I think he should take the 7800GT... simply because it's a much better option over his current card.

Sell the 6600, buy the 7800... and be happy. Ok so the 8600's perform better but you've managed with a 6600 for so long... you're going to see a huge improvement in your gaming with even a 7800.

So go for it, you'll not regret it, not for $50 anyway.

 

[badge]

I would take a $75 8600GT over two 7800Gts. Upgrade from a 6600GT to a 7800GT? This isn't 1956. LOL. Why?

 

[badge]

I have two 6600Gts, Two 7800Gts, Two 7600Gts, 1900GT, 1800XT, 7900GTO, Two 800GTOs, 9200 radeon, and a 5950 Ultra all running currently. I would take the 8600Gt over any of them.

 

[dev1se]

He's not getting two 7800GT's... only the one.

Badge seriously consider this guys needs... he's playing at a low resolution and has managed with a 6600GT for ages... All he wants to do is ramp up the graphics settings in games and still maintain fluid gameplay.

For $50 the 7800GT will allow this on the titles he plays.

I dont think this guy's too fussy about FPS... aslong as his games are playable with plenty eye candy he's happy. He could still make a few $ back on his 6600GT, which would further reduce the cost of the 7800GT. After O.C the 7800GT (Yielding better O.C results due to 256 bit bus)... I wouldnt be surprised that the card out performs the 8600GT, and he's had to pay nothing extra in order to do it.

Badge you're judging this guy based on your own needs. He's 16 years old and this is an upgrade that is going to last him a while, or till he's saved up some more. So buy the card now, pocket the money from the 6600GT and when you find your 7800GT is no longer cutting it in the games you like to play the most, you'll have surely saved enough money to buy a card that doubles the performance of your 7800GT... instead of buying a more expensive card now that doesnt really outdo the 7800GT by any great margin.

 

[badge]

Yeah,, but your advice to OP makes no sense at all. Replace the 6600Gt with a measly 7800GT? And FORGET about making the right choice and getting a 8800GT! The 8600GT kills the 7800GT. Go fight with with your relatives. Tell them you hooked the 6600GT and 7800GT together and it they still would outperform the 8800GT. You are ridiculous. You deserve to be flamed off the site.

 

[dev1se]

I have two 6600Gts, Two 7800Gts, Two 7600Gts, 1900GT, 1800XT, 7900GTO, Two 800GTOs, 9200 radeon, and a 5950 Ultra all running currently. I would take the 8600Gt over any of them.

You are ridiculous. You deserve to be flamed off the site.

Hmmmmm, I'm not the one with at least 9 PC's in the house.... What sounds more rediculous?

Me advising a 16yr old on whether he should buy a very reasonably priced 7800GT....

Or you, the Ultimate in 'Having a PC in Every Room in the House' technology?

It sounds to me Badge that you see website's as a place to belittle people and prove your superiority. In this case, you've failed... Do you think that 'flaming' a person from a website is going to make one little difference to their life? It seems you do, or else you wouldnt of brought it up.

Sort your head out... I was only offering advice to someone who needs it. Just because my advice is the opposite of yours doesnt make any one of us right here. But yeah go ahead and flame me all you want if you feel it'll improve your online reputation with other like-minded tosspots.

 

[aznstriker92]

hah a 8600Gt over a 7800GT?
I don't think it "kills" it.
If it does pleaseeeeee show me.
How can you call a 7800GT measely? I don't see you owning any highend cards. Plus it performs around a x1900 which a 8600GT doesn't.
Ok heres the chart
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=715&model2=855&chart=318
I think the 7800GT beats it??
But not a 8600GTS. If he has only $50 then its better than a $70 8600GT or a $90 dollar 8600GTS.

Op, if the card is only $50 bucks I'd do it. Shoot its 256bit at least.
If you don't want it i'll buy it, I have only $50 bucks and im on a extremely tight budget to. Im using a X600 right now!

 

[aznstriker92]

You are ridiculous. You deserve to be flamed off the site.

Hmmmmm, I'm not the one with at least 9 PC's in the house.... What sounds more rediculous?

Me advising a 16yr old on whether he should buy a very reasonably priced 7800GT....

Or you, the Ultimate in 'Having a PC in Every Room in the House' technology?

It sounds to me Badge that you see website's as a place to belittle people and prove your superiority. In this case, you've failed... Do you think that 'flaming' a person from a website is going to make one little difference to their life? It seems you do, or else you wouldnt of brought it up.

Sort your head out... I was only offering advice to someone who needs it. Just because my advice is the opposite of yours doesnt make any one of us right here. But yeah go ahead and flame me all you want if you feel it'll improve your online reputation with other like-minded tosspots.

Lol don't waste your time on badge, right now hes acting like a noob. He probably had bad experiences with his cards.

 

[dev1se]

I was ready to offer him a handful of fish hooks for the next time he decides to self-pleasure himself... presumably infront of PC one.. located in the basement

 

[Ananan]

I went from a 7600 GT (pretty much the same as a 8600 GT w/out DX10) to a 7800 GT and the 7800 GT was a much better card in most of the games I played.

My 3d marks went up by about 25% with the 7800 GT.

 

[aznstriker92]

I was ready to offer him a handful of fish hooks for the next time he decides to self-pleasure himself... presumably infront of PC one.. located in the basement

OUCH! :lol:

 

[monst0r]

i would take the 7800gt over an 8600gt. having owned a 7800gt i can see that the 7800gt is a more viable option; especially because of the opportunity of getting it at such a low cost. the 8600gt MAY fair slightly better over the 7600gt in shader intesive games, but thats about it. There is a slight gap between the two, price and performance wise. if your willing to about double your budget, you could get about ~25-50% more performance. IMO, i don't think its worth it, but badger does have a point.

P.S. I'm the same age as you ;P The way i afford all of this stuff is by saving up from a job. Its been working since i was 14, so i recommend you find some crap job to do too (its worth it)

good luck w/ your choice.

 

[pauldh]

This 7800GT owner says avoid them now. $50 isn't bad, but still not great either. The whole GF7 series should be avoided IMO (if other options exist in the same price bracket) as they tank in too many new titles. For $50 you could have a brand new HD2600XT that at least in some games will kick the poop out of a 7800GT. Older games it won't, FSAA neither would be great. But if you care about UT3, Crysis, COD4, Oblivion, or Need for Speed tiltes, you would be better off with an HD2600XT or 8600GTS than a 7800GT or 7900GS.

A few examples of games where HD2600XT > GF7's: Keep in mind a 7800GT is basically a slightly lower clockd 7900GS.

http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=693&p=5
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3128&p=4
http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=698&p=2


OK, the rebate expired yesterday for the $50 Sapphire GDDR3. But look at the higher clocked GDDR4 HD2600XT with the Witcher for $70 shipped AR. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127305

Or if NV is your thing, a passive 512MB 8600GT with the Witcher for just a bit more:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127310

 

[kpo6969]

Check here from time to time:
http://www.evga.com/products/bstock.asp
available now:
Evga 8600GTS 256 $80

 

[felix2792]

@ monst0r: yeah, i get crappy jobs in the summer, and i was going to do some big stuff last fall, but I blew ~400 on and Xbox and **** to go along with that. I hadn't played on my PC for a while and got caught up in the pre-Halo 3 excitement.

and about newer games tanking on 7 series cards-does that really happen?
my friend gets decent framerates on with COD4 an X700 pro and a AMD64 3200+...(albeit at low settings)


If i do get this 7800GT, i'm planning to OC it into GTX territory...
any thoughts on that

and thanks so far all, i really appreciate the help

 

[pchoi04]

I agree with pauldh, I'm a former 7950GT owner and I too think that the 7 series should be avoided. For games like HL2 and Counterstrike it rocks even at high resolution. On games like COD4 and GRAW2 I had to play on a combination of medium to low settings to get decent frames and that was on 1280x1024.

Like I said its $50 more than you can put towards something nice, such as a 9600GT. The experience will be far better and you can play your games the way that they are meant to be played.

You already have a 360 so that will hold you off for sometime but what titles are you itching to play on PC?

 

[felix2792]

cod4, BF series, HL2+episodes, fear, stuff that catches my eye.

Idk really, iv'e been too busy with other stuff to keep an eye on what games to pick up lately

 

[randomizer]

Might I ask whether your 6600GT is AGP or PCI Express? I would assume PCIe if you are intending to get a 7800GT, but if you don't know, you better find out.

 

[Nik_I]

Might I ask whether your 6600GT is AGP or PCI Express? I would assume PCIe if you are intending to get a 7800GT, but if you don't know, you better find out.

that's a good point. agp or pci-e is definitely a deciding factor here.

 

[pauldh]

cod4, BF series, HL2+episodes, fear, stuff that catches my eye.

Idk really, iv'e been too busy with other stuff to keep an eye on what games to pick up lately

Not sure on your desired resolution, but The 7800GT will handle 1280x1024 fairly well in all those games. COD4 will be the hardest one for it. Don't expect to use FSAA in COD4. Along with COD4, other weak games for the 7800GT's will be Crysis, UT3, Oblivion, Need for Speed: Carbon & Pro Street. Maybe others too, but I know in these games the GF7's fall behind their typical competion. I still personally think the HD2600XT, 8600GTS, and (now rare) X1950 pro are much better cards for current/future games. And the $110 8800GS is like twice the card compared to all of these, but over twice the price of that 7800GT too.