7900gt vs. x1900gt cf vs. x1950xt

[colonelsanders1]

Hey, these are the 3 possible configurations I can get for my upgrade. I am planning to overclock, can the 7900gt get to gtx speeds? Also I read a review where the x1900gt in crossfire was performing worse than a single x1900xtx, is this true? Does anyone know how to x1900gt overclocks? Anyway, please help me decide, and don't recommend something because its a good value, just tell me which set up will perform the best overclocked.

,Thanks

[SoulsCollective]

Best bang-for-buck at around that level would be to get two 7900GSs instead of a single GT. The GS OCs really well, and with a slight voltage bump can get to GTX level performance.

However, I wouldn't buy any of those given a choice, as they aren't DX10. You'll get at the most a years use out of them before they literally cannot run new games (unless you want to nerf eye-candy totally and run them in DX9 mode). Go for an 8600GTS or something...

[colonelsanders1]

ok, but the thing is, I'm not buying these new, all of these configurations would be under $170. So out of these three which would be the best?
,Thanks

[TouGe]

The x1950xt would get my vote.

[YukonTrooper]

The x1950xt is the best out of those 3 cards. Hands down, no contest.

[Neon Biker]

If "X1900GT CF" means two X1900GT cards in CrossFire and not just the CrossFire master card, than that's the most powerfull setup... except for a few games in which CF doesn't work... but it's also quite a power hog.

Second place would be the X1950XT.

[quake6]

Pick one xt,then later if you have money buy another one...Simple and it is the best in here

[Neon Biker]

Not really. For 2x X1950XT in CrossFire you need one CrossFire master card, which are not that easy to find.

[YukonTrooper]

If "X1900GT CF" means two X1900GT cards in CrossFire and not just the CrossFire master card, than that's the most powerfull setup... except for a few games in which CF doesn't work... but it's also quite a power hog.

Second place would be the X1950XT.

Yah I was going to mention that but he said $170 so I didn't even consider 2 cards.

[quake6]

Not really. For 2x X1950XT in CrossFire you need one CrossFire master card, which are not that easy to find.

There is no need for master card...In new drivers ati cancel master card,i think you must have it only for x1950xtx

[colonelsanders1]

Oh, I'm sorry x1900gt cf does mean 2, I can see how that could be confusing. So would x1900gt in crossfire beat an overclocked 7900gt(without vmod), or an overclocked x1950xt? Also does anyone know how the x1900gt overclocks?

Also, I have a 25a 575w psu, would this be enough to run 2 x1900gt's?

,Thanks

[YukonTrooper]

Oh, I'm sorry x1900gt cf does mean 2, I can see how that could be confusing. So would x1900gt in crossfire beat an overclocked 7900gt(without vmod), or an overclocked x1950xt? Also does anyone know how the x1900gt overclocks?

Also, I have a 25a 575w psu, would this be enough to run 2 x1900gt's?

,Thanks

Forget about the 7900gt because it won't come close to your other 2 options. The x1900gt in crossfire would beat the x1950xt in some applications but in other applications and games the x1950xt would beat out the gt setup. Also you have to have a crossfire motherboard to have 2 ATI cards running in crossfire. Do you have one of these?

Your PSU is probably not a recommended power supply and I would definitely go with something beefier but you could probably get away with it depending on the rest of the configuration of your PC. What kind of PSU is it? It must have 2 12V lines so you can run 2 graphics cards. If it is a newer PSU then it should have them but if its any older than a year you might want to check it out just to make sure.

IMO I would go for the x1950xt because it is the fastest single card of the lot, can overclock well and will give you less headaches then if you went to crossfire.

[colonelsanders1]

yes I have a crossfire mobo, I will probably go for the x1950xt then, how far do you think it could go on air?
,Thanks

[evoic]

How about one 7900GTX 512MB that you're able to overclock the piss out of?

*Wink

[YukonTrooper]

yes I have a crossfire mobo, I will probably go for the x1950xt then, how far do you think it could go on air?
,Thanks

Every card is different. Even if its the exact same model of card every one differs from the next. You won't know until you actually have the card in your rig and get down to business. However the x1950xt beats the socks off those other cards at stock clocks so once you have it overclocked you should be ripping right along.

Also I would suggest picking up a nice third party cooler if your going to overclock. You will see much lower temps, better clocks, longer life of the card and it won't be nearly as loud. I suggest the Zalman VF900-CU third party cooler. I had it on my old x1900xt 512mb and it served me very well. It has a fan controller so you can manually adjust the fan speed for real nice overclocks. It also comes with little ram heatsinks that you put on top of the ram chips to cool them as well.

[colonelsanders1]

I was just wondering if a 7900gt could easily o/c to gtx speeds without a voltmod, if it is overclocked this high, could it be comparable to a gtx?

,Thanks

[rintamarotta]

I have X1950GT, bought it with only 130euros, and its great overclocker on GPU side with Artic X2 cooler in it, only problem i have is memory overclocking that doesnt seem to "commit" the changes i have made to memory clocks.

Anyway its great card and i got it oc'd to 650Mhz with Artic X2 cooler and under 65'c in load.

So what im thinking, X1950GT is the best card with best Price/Performance rate from those 3 cards, specially overclocked.

[evoic]

I was just wondering if a 7900gt could easily o/c to gtx speeds without a voltmod, if it is overclocked this high, could it be comparable to a gtx?

,Thanks

I don't think so, because you can turn around and do mods to the 7900GTX and blow all of the cards listed out of the water.

Either way - a good way to check is to find out what people score with their volt-modded 7900GT's and compare it to these scores for a 7900GTX....

I have 2 of them, both of them were tested on the same system within 45 minutes of each other and came out within 10fps on 05' and 06'.

3dmark05 - 12,160 marks give or take a few.
3dmark06 - 6,800 marks give or take a few.

With some bumps in speed, aftermarket cooling, and volt mods - I don't see why these cards couldn't hit 15k / 9k easily.
I'd like to see if that's possible with 7900GT's.

Just my humble opinion.

[YukonTrooper]

I have X1950GT, bought it with only 130euros, and its great overclocker on GPU side with Artic X2 cooler in it, only problem i have is memory overclocking that doesnt seem to "commit" the changes i have made to memory clocks.

Anyway its great card and i got it oc'd to 650Mhz with Artic X2 cooler and under 65'c in load.

So what im thinking, X1950GT is the best card with best Price/Performance rate from those 3 cards, specially overclocked.

For price yes, but the x1950xt is noticeably faster than the GT editions.