x1800XT 512MB or 7800GT + 2GB Ballistix

[Theo404]

As in the title. I have 2x512mb Gskill LE and a 6800GT at the moment, would I see overall better gaming performance (in games like BF2 and Fear) upgrading my graphics to bleeding edge (X1800XT) or getting a budget performance card (7800GT) and 2x1GB crucial ballistix?

I have an opteron 146 that doesnt seem to like my TCCD much, being stable 300x9 2.5-4-3-6 but needing to relax to 3-4-4-8 to get 280x10 stable (had the chip up to 2.95ghz stable, so its not the chips clock thats maxing.

:confused:

[GageMW]

i'd take the 7800gt and the ram personally

[oasked]

In BF2 and FEAR, you need 2Gb for a smooth experience.

[nn_step]

which is more important to you Benchmarks or Gameplay?
If benchmarks the X1800xt
if Gameplay the 7800GT + 2GB Ballistix

[mion]

Hopely these balistix won't die

[Theo404]

I like benching, but in the end, its loading times and smooth gameplay that give me that *my PC is SWEEET!* feeling.

After posts in another thread about ballistix, I think I'm going to go for gskill UCCC based 2x1gb sticks and a 7800GTX, should make a nice alround system that kicks ass!

[Bar81]

In BF2 and FEAR, you need 2Gb for a smooth experience.

exactly. Another option would be to get an XL with the 1.4ns RAM and clock it to XT speeds like some of us have done already ;)

[kamongear]

exactly. Another option would be to get an XL with the 1.4ns RAM and clock it to XT speeds like some of us have done already ;)

I second that.

[Theo404]

exactly. Another option would be to get an XL with the 1.4ns RAM and clock it to XT speeds like some of us have done already ;)

That would beat a 7800GT, but I think a 7800GTX (overclocked) would piss all over that, its definatly a good idea, but if my budget allows for a GTX (not really much more than an XL), why shouldnt I?

[Bar81]

It's your call, just wanted to set the table with all the courses :) Pricing especially is a thing that only the person spending can feel comfortable with (i.e. "not really much more" is a completely subjective statement). And there's always image quality if you care. If you do, it's really hard to pass on the ATI cards as their performance at comparable IQ (meaning the 7800 have to use the ultra high setting - all the rest are crap; check this and note it's the 512MB GTX they're testing not the normal 256MB one which would perform noticeably worse http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/7800512dhreview/fear.htm The picture gets uglier for nvidia the more your care about image quality as you can see http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/7800512dhreview/high.htm) is beyond that of the nvidia cards (I assume you want to buy a fancy new card for the eye candy and at full AA/AF the 7800s cannot compete). But that's a balance you have to decide for yourself.

[Hicks]

Id get a X1800XT and 2GB ram.:)

You can sell your GT, and your current memory. You don't need to spend massive on memory if your benching, which your obviously not botherd about if your thinking of a GT over XT. You can just run a divider or w/e, i do.

Sure im slower in 3dmark 01 and AM3, doesn't matter at all, games are pretty much the same.

[Magnj]

I'm going for the 1800xl and 2 Gigs of Gskill Value ram 2.3-3-3-4 for 175$@the egg.