X850XT PE($450) or 7800GTX($740)?

[kaleb_zero]

I need some second oppinions.... =D
I'm looking to buy a high-end video card for my new PC.. I'm stuck with a tough decision on my hands: I live in Canada, and, one of my main outlets for shopping for hardware is TigerDirect.ca (the canadian version of TigerDirect)... At the moment, they have a good deal on Connect3D's PCI-E Radeon X850XT Platinum Edition GPUs selling them for $470 CDN (like 350ish US?), however, they have a full lineup of 7800GTX cards for $730.00...

At first glance, my choice appeared obvious - x850 for sure - it's a great deal I don't want to pass-up... However, I keep hesitating about going with that solution for a number of reasons:

The rest of my system is pretty high-end (AMD dual-core 4800+ cpu, 2GB OCZ memory, SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS)... The x850 is a decently high-end card, however, will it be obsolete sooner than later? Nvidia has already stated they'll release a GPU faster than PS3's RSX in 2006, and ATI's R520 is due out very soon - all SM3.0 cards - I am kind of hoping Unreal Engine 3 games could run decently on this rig in the future...

My motherboard is SLI capabile aswell, so the 7800 would at least provide a solution that could later be scaled up if needed...

I also have a time constraint as I have to finish building this PC before summer vacation is over (in about 3 weeks).

The price-performance ratio advantage is obvious, I just want to make sure i wont regret my decision a few months down the road when a 300 dollar price difference of the system could mean all the difference between a slide-show and a smooth running game.

Any suggestions?

 

[pauldh]

Oh to have your problems.

The 7800GTX is amazing. But that $260 price difference is a huge BUT. I don't put much into 7800GTX SLI because you could later sell the X850XTpe and buy a newer gen single card tha's better than 2 7800GTX's.

I'd buy for now. Your high system specs scream 7800GTX. But your prices are a bargain for the X850XTpe and soso on the 7800GTX. Myself, I'd probably do the X850XTpe for now and later if needed sell it (and use the $260 you saved)for a R580, R600, G80, etc. when needed.

<A HREF="http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=Nzg0LDE5" target="_new">Look at [H]'s max playable settings charts.</A> The X850XTpe can run 1600x1200 with 16X AF in every game. But some games it can use use 4X AA others no AA. Some games are too dark to see a difference with no AA at 16x12. It depends on the monitor and wether you need more than the X850XTpe to run the resolution, details, settings you desire. The X850XTpe has some limits where the GF7800GTX it's basically 16x12 4X TR in every game. You decide if that is worth the extra money. It's really hard to guess and buy for future games, and cost wise it doesn't make much sense as even the mighty 7800GTX won't touch the cards put out a year from now.

But it all comes down to money. If you put $2600 into a gaming computer is another 10% more to get the very best video card such a big deal. If it is, go with the ATI.

<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=658042" target="_new">3DMark05</A> <A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=3781954" target="_new">3DMark03</A>
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Pauldh on 08/07/05 08:32 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[mofofosho]

"I just want to make sure i wont regret my decision a few months down the road when a 300 dollar price difference of the system could mean all the difference between a slide-show and a smooth running game."


7800gtx.p

 

[mozzartusm]

I wouldnt pay that much more for the 7800. HELL NO.

ASUS P5WD2 Premium
Intel 3.73 EE @ 5.6Ghz
XMS2 DDR2 @ 1180Mhz

<A HREF="http://valid.x86-secret.com/records.php?PHPSESSID=792e8f49d5d9b8a4d1ad6f40ca029756" target="_new">#2 CPUZ</A>
SuperPI 25secs

 

[emogoch]

That system just screams dual-GPU (either nVidia or ATI). If you're going to blow $1400 on a processor rather than $675 for one that is almost as good, than you really should be going with a dual-GPU solution right away. With that in mind, I won't bother getting into a discussion of Crossfire vs. SLI, how long you're going to wait, etc. Just let you make up you're own mind about that one.

That said, I'd look at other places than Tigerdirect. I can find the 4800+ for amost $300 less at other Canadian retailers (i.e. <A HREF="http://www.accountwizard.com/clients/shop.asp?Web=greytech&AW_SessionID=AWEngine2005000000378316435354355k35Q435DId5k35j435DSite8k18k818k&page=item&itemid=764" target="_new">here</A>)

 

[kaleb_zero]

T.T

I wish I would of known about grey-tech before I bought anything at all.. Could of saved a load.. Funny, they're based in Markham ontario, thats the same city TigerDirect is located in. I bought my processor from NCIX.com though, it was cheaper there, but shipping from the west coast takes a little while... I think its cheaper at grey-tech still, just didn't know about them, thanks for the future reference for where i'll be purchasing from.

In an update, I have decided to go with the x850xt pe... I figure its the best bang-for-buck right now, and in the future i can always sell it and upgrade if needed.

 

[emogoch]

A couple other vendors that you should look at in the GTA that I've found to be good with prices (Grey tech has given me the best 'whole system' quote though):
<A HREF="http://www.canadacomputers.com" target="_new">Canada Computers</A>
<A HREF="http://www.infonec.com" target="_new">Infonec</A>
<A HREF="http://www.logiccomputerhouse.com" target="_new">Logic Computer House</A>

As for another online retailer, I check out <A HREF="http://www.vibecomputers.com" target="_new">Vibe Computers</A>. They're based out of Vancourver, but sometimes have good prices as well.