Price/Performance, which is best?

easyrider · 15 Sep 2006 at 00:13

Ulfhedjinn said:
I just did? You're the only one here arguing, so how is my argument flawed?

I was simply using a base for comparison. If people call the X1K cooler loud, then I will inform them that it's only 10db louder than the 7900GT cooler.

Your basis of argument was about slower cards.

Not relavant in this case.

Darkwave · 15 Sep 2006 at 00:17

easyrider said:
Your basis of argument was about slower cards.

Not relavant in this case.

What on earth are you smoking easyrider? Seriously? I wasn't comparing an X1900XT performance to 7900GT performance, I was comparing the X1K stock cooler with the 7900GT stock cooler because people like you tend to make out the X1K cooler is a lawnmower / hairdryer / leafblower / jet engine, and it's just not the case.

I don't even know why I'm replying to you, I'm only going to encourage your stalking behaviour with you looking for a fight and all.

Reality|Bites · 15 Sep 2006 at 09:38

There is actually quite a big difference between 40db and 50db, same as 10C and 20C, Water at 20C will scold your hands off lol.

The X1800 is only faster in certain games, the common ones used for benchmarks, Which must be about 6 games in total lol.

In the less popular/hyped games the 7900 GT is faster.

Mr Paul · 15 Sep 2006 at 09:50

My X1800XT is only loud for about 3 seconds when I turn the PC on, then it drops down to low RPM when it is about the same as my DFI chipset fan.

i.e. not loud.

Even when gaming I can slightly hear it up the rpm, but its not LOUD!

MoBo · 15 Sep 2006 at 10:12

...............What is the verdict then?

Connect3D ATI Radeon X1900 XT 256MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-053-CO)
Price: £144.99 (£170.36 Including VAT at 17.5%)

Connect3D ATI Radeon X1800 XT 256MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-044-CO)
Price: £109.99 (£129.24 Including VAT at 17.5%)

All 3 of these cards are on This week only so they are all relatively cheap anyway but which is best bang for buck?

Mates just got a 7900GS and I have to go better!

Shame there isnt a poll option

Darkwave · 15 Sep 2006 at 10:28

If you can afford it then go for the X1900, but the X1800 will be ace and not loud. :cool:

GoRedwings19 · 15 Sep 2006 at 10:38

Does anyone find the quoted noise speeds at best confusing. I think when people read on various sites what the quoted noise to be there seem to forget the dB rating is exponential and not linear.

For example. a conversation is rated somewhere between 50-60db's. A plane taking off is rated at 120dB.

So that in theory might mislead some people to think that a plane taking off is about just over two times the sound of a normal conversation. Whereas anyone who has heard a plane taking off know it sounds substantially more.

Some people find the xt series of coolers loud some don;t. I remember when I bought a 7800gt and everyone was complaining about the stock cooler noise as far as nvidia cooler noise goes. I couldn;t even hear it most of the time.

Well the fact I live next to a train track, A rubbish tip opposite the road and the main road into Cardiff certainly helped drown out the cooler noise if there was any

Metallifux · 15 Sep 2006 at 11:02

X1800XT cooler is anything but silent but it isn't too intrusive. It speeds up and slows down with the GPU temp. You can even hear it slowing down during map loads.

Darkwave · 15 Sep 2006 at 11:04

Metallifux said:
X1800XT cooler is anything but silent but it isn't too intrusive. It speeds up and slows down with the GPU temp. You can even hear it slowing down during map loads.

I don't think anybody said it was silent, anyone who does must be barmy.

It's not loud though.

fornowagain · 15 Sep 2006 at 11:21

Ulfhedjinn said:
It's worth noting that the X1K stock cooler is rated at 50db according to Guru3D, only 10db more than a sock 7900GT cooler, so you can see how exaggerated the problem is right there.

A 3dB gain is double whatever your measuring, e.g. for an amp, 60 watts is 3dB louder than 30 watts. With the ears limited response, generally in the audio (dBA scale) range a 10dB increase is perceived as twice as loud.

JamesM · 15 Sep 2006 at 11:22

X1800XT without a doubt, then you can save the pennies for a DX10 card later on

I have the connect 3D card and have no problems

Darkwave · 15 Sep 2006 at 11:41

fornowagain said:
A 3dB gain is double whatever your measuring, e.g. for an amp, 60 watts is 3dB louder than 30 watts. With the ears limited response, generally in the audio (dBA scale) range a 10dB increase is perceived as twice as loud.

Yeah I know how measuring audio output works, I have done a lot of messing about with studio equipment in my time, but the fact is that the X1K cooler isn't "loud" by any real definition. If you get into the technicals then really anything can be classed as loud, but comparitively speaking both are quiet compared to say, the environment the PC is in (office/lounge/bedroom) or something "really loud" (technically speaking) like normal speaking volume..

easyrider · 15 Sep 2006 at 11:48

This is a bit pointless anyway.

Noise is subjective.

I borrowed my mates X1900 XT one weekend and he had my 7900 GTX the fan was loud like a hoover.

The GTX was silent as you could not hear it.

Both the X1800 and X1900 fans are obnoxious IMO.

Its only the newer x1950 and the ICEQ3 that have improved things.

ACESHIGH · 15 Sep 2006 at 11:54

The X1800XT has to be the best buy if going by price & performance.

And having heard a X1800XT in use, I would agree that whilst its a bit loud at startup, I didnt really hear it whilst gaming.

Shocky-FM · 15 Sep 2006 at 12:24

Out of that list the X1800XT.. But the x1800/x1900 series fans are very noisy and are easily the loudest thing that’s ever been in my case.

If that’s a problem for you order with a VF900 or something.. Won’t really help you overclock anymore but will remove the noise.

MoBo · 15 Sep 2006 at 12:26

is the X1900XT worth the extra £42?

The noise is not an issue.

Plus playing games on 1 17" widescreen, not idea what the resolution is.

Also have a week to decided!

fornowagain · 15 Sep 2006 at 12:34

Ulfhedjinn said:
Yeah I know how measuring audio output works, I have done a lot of messing about with studio equipment in my time, but the fact is that the X1K cooler isn't "loud" by any real definition. If you get into the technicals then really anything can be classed as loud, but comparitively speaking both are quiet compared to say, the environment the PC is in (office/lounge/bedroom) or something "really loud" (technically speaking) like normal speaking volume..

If you know dB levels then why use the X1K HSF is "only 10db louder" than the 7900GT comparison. That's simply defined as twice as loud. To keep the temperatures anywhere near reasonable my XTX fan speeds had to be very high. Certainly perceptible over normal speaking volume, more like a harrier jump jet at full hover. It's something I tolerated because it was such a fast card. Whether its acceptable is purely subjective.

Darkwave · 15 Sep 2006 at 13:40

fornowagain said:
If you know dB levels then why use the X1K HSF is "only 10db louder" than the 7900GT comparison.

Because most people look at it comparatively rather than exponentially like we do, and it's much easier to explain that way as the scale is about right.

Shocky-FM said:
If that’s a problem for you order with a VF900 or something.. Won’t really help you overclock anymore but will remove the noise.

On the contrary, my X1800XT went to 730/900 on a VF900. It didn't get close on the stock cooler without manually adjusting the fanspeed (and increasing noise.)

ACESHIGH · 15 Sep 2006 at 13:54

MoBo said:
is the X1900XT worth the extra £42?

The noise is not an issue.

Plus playing games on 1 17" widescreen, not idea what the resolution is.

Also have a week to decided!

Considering the "This Week Only" special on the X1800XT i think the price cant be beat, & would run pretty much anything on your 17" screen.

fornowagain · 15 Sep 2006 at 14:51

Ulfhedjinn said:
Because most people look at it comparatively rather than exponentially like we do, and it's much easier to explain that way as the scale is about right.

Its logarithmically (log10) and a poor example. Shame you didn't explain your comparison meant twice as loud.