Would I be best going for an X1800XT or an X1900XT?

Hunders · 9 Aug 2006 at 22:31

Looking to buy a new graphics card to replace my cruddy 7800GT that I have to underclock for it not to crash.

I run games at 1280x1024 and Im going to buy another monitor so I have a dual screen setup.

Is there any point in spending the extra ~£70 to get the 1900 or should I just go for the 1800.

Whats your opinions on this?

Ta.

LoadsaMoney · 9 Aug 2006 at 22:45

Well ive got an x1800 XT here that cuts through everything maxed out in 1280x1024, so thats a toughy really as both cards are cracking prices, but if your not really bothered then just go for the x1900.

fenderbass86 · 9 Aug 2006 at 22:57

Yep same here, couldn't believe how well it flies with my E6400. Totally worth the money.

Hunders · 9 Aug 2006 at 23:03

The X1800XT im looking at is the 256MB version where as the X1900XT is 512MB. As far as im aware, the extra memory only really comes into play at resolutions higher than 1280x1024. Is that correct?

If Im not going to notice much of a difference at 1280x1024 between the two cards then I guess im better off going for the cheaper X1800XT.

Legionaire68 · 9 Aug 2006 at 23:04

Grab an X1900XT for £211, great card great price. The X1800'S good too but for the small price jump the X1900xt will cope better with games coming outater this year and next year.

HangTime · 9 Aug 2006 at 23:51

At 1280x1024 I would go with the x1800xt, it's £65 cheaper.

Hunders · 10 Aug 2006 at 00:01

I decided to go for the X1900XT. I bought the HiS IceQ 3 thats in the 'This week only' section saving me about 30 pounds.

I did a bit of thinking and if I were to get the X1800XT I would have had to replace the cooler with a Zalman that costs 25 pounds anyway, so Im paying about 40 pounds more for a better card that is more futureproof and that I plan to own for about a year or so.

Darkwave · 10 Aug 2006 at 00:56

My X1800XT 256MB blew everything out of he water at 1280x960 and 1600x1200 before I broke it. Not the fault of the card, totally my fault as I forgot to connect a fan lead. :rolleyes:

No point in spending more money if you're sticking with 1280x1024 really, the X1800XT will do everything you want it to do.

Darkwave · 10 Aug 2006 at 00:56

Double post.

Naffa · 10 Aug 2006 at 00:57

Repost ftl?

Ah yes.

ACESHIGH · 10 Aug 2006 at 02:14

Hunders said:
I decided to go for the X1900XT. I bought the HiS IceQ 3 thats in the 'This week only' section saving me about 30 pounds.

I did a bit of thinking and if I were to get the X1800XT I would have had to replace the cooler with a Zalman that costs 25 pounds anyway, so Im paying about 40 pounds more for a better card that is more futureproof and that I plan to own for about a year or so.

The HIS ICEQ cards are very nice. Good choice, now go play some games & enjoy it.

jtorry · 11 Aug 2006 at 14:31

I've just received a 7800GT from the members market which only cost me £105, but with such a good deal on the X1800 XT and the X1900XT I am thinking of changing already.

I have a mate who will buy the 7800 from me for what I paid so I'd be looking at spending another £50 to upgrade to the X1800XT. I'm running an A64 4000+ @ 3GHz and won't go higher than 1280x1024 res.

Is it worth the extra cash to go to the X1800XT?

Darkwave · 11 Aug 2006 at 17:32

jtorry said:
Is it worth the extra cash to go to the X1800XT?

Absolutely! The X1800XT is slightly faster than a 7900GT, so you can imagine the performance increase over a 7800GT. The X1800XT also has superior image quality over the 7800 and 7900 series, including features such as high-quality anisotropic filtering and the ability to render HDR and antialiasing at the same time.

Since you can sell the 7800GT for the same price that it costed you, then I wouldn't hesitate in your position.

LoadsaMoney · 11 Aug 2006 at 17:35

jtorry said:
I've just received a 7800GT from the members market which only cost me £105, but with such a good deal on the X1800 XT and the X1900XT I am thinking of changing already.

I have a mate who will buy the 7800 from me for what I paid so I'd be looking at spending another £50 to upgrade to the X1800XT. I'm running an A64 4000+ @ 3GHz and won't go higher than 1280x1024 res.

Is it worth the extra cash to go to the X1800XT?

Deffo.

sugoi · 11 Aug 2006 at 17:39

Hunders said:
I decided to go for the X1900XT. I bought the HiS IceQ 3 thats in the 'This week only' section saving me about 30 pounds.

I did a bit of thinking and if I were to get the X1800XT I would have had to replace the cooler with a Zalman that costs 25 pounds anyway, so Im paying about 40 pounds more for a better card that is more futureproof and that I plan to own for about a year or so.

Nice one, i have this card as well and the temperatures are great even on load. Shame i don't have naything inside my case to light up the Card

DanF · 11 Aug 2006 at 17:45

jtorry said:
I've just received a 7800GT from the members market which only cost me £105, but with such a good deal on the X1800 XT and the X1900XT I am thinking of changing already.

I have a mate who will buy the 7800 from me for what I paid so I'd be looking at spending another £50 to upgrade to the X1800XT. I'm running an A64 4000+ @ 3GHz and won't go higher than 1280x1024 res.

Is it worth the extra cash to go to the X1800XT?

Almost the same system here: 4000+ @ 2.95ghz with a slightly OCed X1800XT (650/828). The only game to still give me problems is Oblivion, I've absolutly no idea how poeple with similar systems can say it runs smoothly at 1280x1024 with HDR and any form of AA

But I mostly think I'm CPU limited in this game.

Darkwave · 11 Aug 2006 at 17:52

DanF said:
Almost the same system here: 4000+ @ 2.95ghz with a slightly OCed X1800XT (650/780). The only game to still give me problems is Oblivion, I've absolutly no idea how poeple with similar systems can say it runs smoothly at 1280x1024 with HDR and any form of AA But I mostly think I'm CPU limited in this game.

I doubt it, I would re-install the game and go through the .ini files with a fine toothed comb. My X1800XT 256MB played Oblivion in almost max detail with HDR+AA in 1280x960* and 1440x900† with ease (28-35fps generally), and did fine with the same settings at 1600x1200*, and this was on a single-core 3400+ overclocked to 3800+ speeds.

*When I had a CRT.
†When I switched to LCD.

DanF · 11 Aug 2006 at 19:27

Úlfhednar said:
I doubt it, I would re-install the game and go through the .ini files with a fine toothed comb. My X1800XT 256MB played Oblivion in almost max detail with HDR+AA in 1280x960* and 1440x900† with ease (28-35fps generally), and did fine with the same settings at 1600x1200*, and this was on a single-core 3400+ overclocked to 3800+ speeds.

*When I had a CRT.
†When I switched to LCD.

Lol that's what i mean, can't stand games below 40fps let alone 30. Load it up and go to somewhere with 3-4 dynamic lights + 3-4 actors (midle bits of castles are good for this) and you will be in single figures. With my current settings of mainly max details i aim to average 45+ or 35+ with NPC's around.

Hunders · 11 Aug 2006 at 22:54

I recieved my new graphics card today along with a 19" Samsung SM920N for a dual monitor setup and its running sweet! My 3dMark 05 score is at about 11200 which is great considering my 7800GT was getting scores of about 7150 when it was working at stock speeds.

This is my first ATi card and I'm very impressed! The only problem I have with it are that the CCC has to have .NET framework installed for it to run. And when I install .NET i have to click my login name to get to windows when I boot up, which is a tad annoying to say the least.

So all in all a very good upgrade!

Darkwave · 11 Aug 2006 at 23:02

DanF said:
Lol that's what i mean, can't stand games below 40fps let alone 30. Load it up and go to somewhere with 3-4 dynamic lights + 3-4 actors (midle bits of castles are good for this) and you will be in single figures. With my current settings of mainly max details i aim to average 45+ or 35+ with NPC's around.

Ah right, well if you find a graphics card that averages 45fps in Oblivion with NPCs around then let me know, your cheque will be in the post.

Seriously though; Even two X1950XT-Xs in Crossfire only get about 50fps average in Oblivion at 1600x1200 according to the leaked benchmarks. It's just a horribly coded game.

Hunders said:
I recieved my new graphics card today along with a 19" Samsung SM920N for a dual monitor setup and its running sweet! My 3dMark 05 score is at about 11200 which is great considering my 7800GT was getting scores of about 7150 when it was working at stock speeds.

This is my first ATi card and I'm very impressed! The only problem I have with it are that the CCC has to have .NET framework installed for it to run. And when I install .NET i have to click my login name to get to windows when I boot up, which is a tad annoying to say the least.

So all in all a very good upgrade!

Which card did you buy? You haven't updated your sig.