DX10 Graphics cards

ugly ferret · 21 Sep 2006 at 15:44

[-Stash-] said:
Sorry to hijack the thread, but I'm in a similar position and this may (possibly) help with your decision.

I have a 256MB 7800GT and run at 1600×1200 (may get a 1680×1050 WS in the not too distant future). For CS:S/DOD:S and BF2 (the main 3d games I play) it's just a fraction too slow as I can't stand less than 4xAA and 8xAF. I really want better performance NOW but want to spend as little as humanly possible.

Considering the 7900GS from OCUK is currently £117.49 I was considering purchasing two of them. Would this serve me better than a single X1900XT 512MB for damn near the same price? Or even an X1800XT for £129.24?

I understand that the ATI choice would allow slightly better filtering than the SLI option, but I only notice the dodgy filtering every other day for a moment or two, so I'm not too worried about it.

Other system specs: 2×1GB PC3200, A64 3800+ 512KB cache, DFI LP UT NF4 Ultra-D (I would need an SLI bridge...).

2x 7900gs would be better than a single x1900xt if you have an sli motherboard. 2x7900gs gets around 7000 in 3d mark 06 at stock and pushes 8000 overclocked, while a x1900xt gets only around 5500. At least that's what my one gets anyway.

LoadsaMoney · 21 Sep 2006 at 15:45

I know the G80 will be fastest at DX9, and the DX10 cards will also be faster in DX9, but there is no point anyone with a high-end DX9 card already buying the first DX10 ones, as your DX9 card will still run DX9 without breaking a sweat, just like the G80 will, but that will have a feature that you cant use for months namely DX10, so you may as well save your money as you do not need another DX9 card as the DX9 one you have cuts through everything anyway, and why get it for the DX10 when it cant be used for months when Crysis comes along around March, thats about 4 months away from G80 if November is correct, and by then a faster, better DX10 card will be out, and also why buy it just for Crysis when it looks exactly the same on your DX9 card now thats already going to run it fine, a GX2 will run it no sweat.

No one needs a DX10 card until its being used more, and when DX10 doesn't look identical to DX9, and that is year+ away, id only go for a DX10 card if you have a low end DX9 card that doesn't cut the mustard still as your DX10 games are looking identical to what they look like in DX9 under XP, so if your high end DX9 card is running them fine, why get Vista and a DX10 card for them to look the same, and run em fine again.

Look at Crysis in DX10, where the hell is the bloody difference to DX9, why would you waste your money on a DX10 card, and Vista to run it like that, when your GX2's etc... run it like that anyway.

ugly ferret · 21 Sep 2006 at 16:01

LoadsaMoney said:
I know the G80 will be fastest at DX9, and the DX10 ards will also be faster in DX9, but there is no point anyone with a high-end DX9 card already buying the first DX10, as your DX9 card will still run DX9 without breaking a sweat

Not really, my x1900xt struggles a bit with need for speed at 1920x1080, same for cod2 and oblivion. I really would like a more powerful directx9 card tbh, 40 fps just ain't good enough for me.

There are plenty of directx9 games that don't run very smoothly on current hardware at certain reses, maybe with sli, but not single cards.

LoadsaMoney · 21 Sep 2006 at 16:23

ugly ferret said:
Not really, my x1900xt struggles a bit with need for speed at 1920x1080, same for cod2 and oblivion. I really would like a more powerful directx9 card tbh, 40 fps just ain't good enough for me.

There are plenty of directx9 games that don't run very smoothly on current hardware at certain reses, maybe with sli, but not single cards.

Get a GX2 then, or go Crossfire.

I wouldn't wait for DX10 cards myself if i wanted a card, id just get one now, why wait for a DX10 to play the same games maxed out as you could on a GX2 if you got one today.

Only advantage of the DX10 cards is they can run DX10, but if it looks no different to DX9 like Crysis, then why wait, i can't see a point, may as well get a better card now than waiting.

Macro · 21 Sep 2006 at 16:59

LoadsaMoney said:
Only advantage of the DX10 cards is they can run DX10.

Well, that and the fact they will be a lot faster than a 1900 or GX2...

Lets not forget Xfire or SLi G80/R600 for that ultra wizzy performance for the man with more money than... well more money than me anyway

If you have a high end card but are running at 1900x1200 and want that little bit more you'll kick yourself if you spend a lot of money now for a tiny increase in speed when 2 months time brings you a much bigger speed increase and (less importantly but a nice bonus) DX10 compatability for the next year once DX10 stuff arrives.

In 18 months time you can then upgrade to a second gen DX10 card when new games start to really push the 1st gen ones.

If you have a low end card then you've waited long enough to upgrade a couple of months will propbably make no difference.

Either way I can't see the point in anyone upgrading to a current gen card today unless they are on a budget (in which case of course there are some excellent deals to be found).

Seems like a no brainer to me (budget permitting).

egraphixstudios · 21 Sep 2006 at 17:00

since dx10 isnt gonna be out for a while and very few dx10 games being available at/after launch of dx10- and always missing the first models of dx10 cards. its best if u need a gfx card now- then get it-

i've had a x800 for a while now-but feeling games are not being utilised fully- so i decided to get the x1950xtx- i too though about waiting for dx10, but i dont wanna be sitting here waiting for a undated release.
a 1950xtx will do me fine - while dx10 matures...

go for it..

pegasus1 · 21 Sep 2006 at 17:10

Cos when Vista comes out it will be 100% stable wont it, not a single bug at all, that coupled to a brand new driver system and new version of DX. Excuse me but i'l wait for Vista SP1 and the 2nd gen of DX10 cards before i ditch my current system.

LoadsaMoney · 21 Sep 2006 at 17:47

Athanor said:
Well, that and the fact they will be a lot faster than a 1900 or GX2...

Yes, and your GX2 is still cutting through DX9 games at cracking framerates, so who cares that the frame-rates are less than a DX10 card, say your GX2 is getting 100+ your seriously gona go and waste all that cash on Vista, and a DX10 card for say 120+, what the hell is the matter with 100+, if you can't play games at 100+ fps and find it a slideshow, like wading through a vat of treacle then please for god sake get rid of your PC there is no hope for you at all. :eek:

If you want a card don't wait, buy one now and happily use it for about a year or more, then get the DX10 cards that are around then, if DX10 looks diff, and is being used more.

w3bbo · 21 Sep 2006 at 18:52

It will take about a year for dx10 games to really make use of the software/hardware features as did the jump from dx8 to dx9. You don't see software developers developing games soley for dual core setups..and thats almost 2 yrs since dual cores have been around. They are going to go with the biggest market and (aside from consoles) that is going to be DX9 systems. Yeah you may get a few extra frames with DX10 and some nice effects but is that really gonna be worth the outlay?

Get a GX2 now, play the games at top performance now. If you play the waiting game you will never buy a pc component again as there will always be something better on the horizon.

Macro · 21 Sep 2006 at 18:54

You've fairly recently bought a GX2 havent you.....?

pegasus1 · 21 Sep 2006 at 20:11

w3bbo said:
They are going to go with the biggest market and (aside from consoles) that is going to be DX9 systems.

But, and to play devils advocate, PCI-E took over from AGP very quickly and at that point AGP's bandwidth wasnt being fully utilised.

offspringy · 22 Sep 2006 at 21:19

Another problem being that once you wait for the cards to come out, you then have to wait for the software/games to come out guessing that will be a good wile after the cards... id personaly get a nice mid range card (having a tight budget) 7950GT 512mb, n then go for the biggie when theres enough support/games/software out to make it worth wile, not to mention it will give the prices chance to settle?

The biggest problem for me is, im only going to buld a pc next week, and its gonna be ok for £900 but what gets me is buying a DX9 card is all well and funky, but im scared that ill make this pc and then few months down the line everything will need upgrading, im guessing it will only be the GFX + VISTA that will need adding? but if the GFX slot changses too the shi* will hit the fan for me lol

Thats just my opinion though

Best of luck!

pegasus1 · 22 Sep 2006 at 21:41

offspringy said:
Another problem being that once you wait for the cards to come out, you then have to wait for the software/games to come out guessing that will be a good wile after the cards... id personaly get a nice mid range card (having a tight budget) 7950GT 512mb, n then go for the biggie when theres enough support/games/software out to make it worth wile, not to mention it will give the prices chance to settle?

The biggest problem for me is, im only going to buld a pc next week, and its gonna be ok for £900 but what gets me is buying a DX9 card is all well and funky, but im scared that ill make this pc and then few months down the line everything will need upgrading, im guessing it will only be the GFX + VISTA that will need adding? but if the GFX slot changses too the shi* will hit the fan for me lol

Thats just my opinion though

Best of luck!

I bet loadsamoney has something to say about this post

ugly ferret · 23 Sep 2006 at 00:42

LoadsaMoney said:
Get a GX2 then, or go Crossfire.

I don't have a crossfire motherboard, and I don't want a gx2. I don't trust the sli drivers.

The next lot of cards are the only way I'm gonna be able to play my favourite games at the res I want and at the frame rates I want. And crysis too, I've seen how it runs on x1900xt crossfire and I'm not too impressed with the frame rate.

regulus · 23 Sep 2006 at 16:11

Lol. You guys and your fancy cards. My trusty old x850xt pe still does its job fine. Running all current games (apart from Oblivion) pretty much maxed out.

offspringy · 23 Sep 2006 at 16:44

Im only on 9550 256

so i can dream! lol

I know the waiting game sucks, and you shouldnt do it, but this isnt just another piece of hardware, its DX10 which is kinda something you cant just skip lol

So i recon ok-ish card now save some of the cash, buy a monster GDDR4 card when theres enough support

qwerty07 · 23 Sep 2006 at 16:48

Its confirmed via XS that the G80 will have unified shaders...thats right people...huge performance increase will happen!

the 8600GT will most likely out run a 7900GTX by atleast 20%

pegasus1 · 23 Sep 2006 at 18:22

It must be true then.

locutus12 · 23 Sep 2006 at 18:44

Daston said:
Hi guys

Any idea of when the DX10 gfx cards will be hitting the market plus the likley cost?

shoot me... just shoot me... *sobs uncontrollably at the lack of the search buttons use*

qwerty07 · 23 Sep 2006 at 18:53

pegasus1 said:
It must be true then.

It must when it was confirmed by the number one overclocking site by a nvidia rep