Wait for a 7800GTX or buy a X1900XTX - What would you do?!!

[MassTA]

Would I be better off just buying the X1900XFX? It's cheaper, apparently faster and perhaps more importantly, it's available.

The question is: do the Radeon drivers work good in 3ds max?



2x Seagate 120GB SATA-II-300 w/ 8MB Cache (RAID 1) for system and programs
Wouldnt RAID 0 be better? :)

[lukx]

there's nothing to think about. NVIDIA all the way!!!

[jbo]

there are a ton of companies that make 7800gtx cards, and most of them ARE in stock. is this just an issue with your retailer forcing you to buy a particular brand/model? if so, perhaps you should find a different retailer, or buy the computer without a card and install one yourself. If your retailer is not able to find one of the most popular cards on the planet, do you really want them building your computer?

[lightwolf]

there are a ton of companies that make 7800gtx cards, and most of them ARE in stock.
...not with 512 MB as the poster mentioned. 256 MB boards are easy to get, 512MB versions are _extremely_ rare.

Cheers,
Mike

[nitindesign]

512Mb 7800 GTX are everywhere just like DODO :scream: I had the same problem I waited 3 weeks for it and the delivery date kept changing. Anyway due to other problems I got a full refund on my new PC so back to the drawing board :scream:

Quadro 4500FX will be hard to get as well?

[lightwolf]

']
Quadro 4500FX will be hard to get as well?
I doubt it since they are pro boards and have been around for much longer...
...and you also pay a hefty premium for them...
Cheers,
Mike

[evanfotis]

I work mostly in Photoshop but also do work in 3D Max on occasion. I create websites and multimedia presentations, and when I do 3D work I want it to render and display fast (something I currently do not experience but didn't mind shelling out the coin to finally get). My new system will include dual Samsung 214T 21" monitors.

In all honesty,
with mainly photoshoping stuff and a little 3d You_Don't_Need such a card.
Save the bucks, buy the 7800 GT or Ati 850XT.
All of the high end cards would support dual UXGA res.
Just check their specs thorougly before.

[MattClary]

I think the only advantage of 512mb would be if you want to run 2 really big monitors.

I'd take a 256mb 7800xx, especially if render speed is your main concern (which the video card won't affect).

[Ints99]

I would get the 1900xtx bc it is faster ( in games and tests, haven't seen 3d programs tests yet tho) and it should have better image quality over the 7800 gtx.
For 3d work probably nvidias cards will be better, put since x1900 has got a different architecture than the previouse gen-s it might be faster. (drivers support should be better for nvidia, put i didn't have any problems in max with my old 9200, bad card to take for an example, put that's the only ati card i have owned)

[jbo]

I think the only advantage of 512mb would be if you want to run 2 really big monitors.

I'd take a 256mb 7800xx, especially if render speed is your main concern (which the video card won't affect).

I agree about buying a 256MB card. you don't need 512. almost no one does. it isn't going to make much of a difference regardless of how large your monitors are. it's just more space for textures, but totally unneccesary for almost everything. it could be useful in games if they really start using that much texture space, but they don't because no one has 512 cards.

[kingrobb]

I appreciate all your input guys. Please keep it coming!

I just wanted to point out that I will be running dual 21" monitors at 1600x1200 (Samsung 214T's). That the card I was hoping to buy was the 512MB version and that from what I can see they raelly are rare regaurdless of the supplier. That the rendering speed I was referring to was really the OpenGL display support of the card (and not actual final render speed as that would be more of a CPU & ram issue). MassTA: I chose Raid 1 for the Back Up of the system & programs and not for speed. I've lost two old SCSI HD's in 6 months and a bunch of data along with it. I don't ever want to turn my computer on again and find it wont work because a HD failed. I was concerened about the system slowing down with the Raid 1 but my retailer assured me that using a quality raid controller would put things back to par.

I think lukx was right when he said "nvidia all the way" as the openGL drivers work better for 3D Max (at least that's what people in this forum keep saying).

So would two 256MB 7800's really work just as well? Or go with the X1900XFX? Or wait it out?

[kingrobb]

I appreciate all your input guys. Please keep it coming!

I just wanted to point out that I will be running dual 21" monitors at 1600x1200 (Samsung 214T's). That the card I was hoping to buy was the 512MB version and that from what I can see they raelly are rare regaurdless of the supplier. That the rendering speed I was referring to was really the OpenGL display support of the card (and not actual final render speed as that would be more of a CPU & ram issue). MassTA: I chose Raid 1 for the Back Up of the system & programs and not for speed. I've lost two old SCSI HD's in 6 months and a bunch of data along with it. I don't want to turn my computer on find it wont work ever again if a HD fails.
I think lukx was right when he said "nvidia all the way" as the openGL drivers work better for 3D Max (at least that's what people in this forum keep saying).

So would two 256MB 7800's really work just as well? Or go with the X1900XFX? Or wait it out?


(posted this reply once already but it didn't show up so I'm trying again. If it comes up twice, sorry)

[jbo]

I just wanted to point out that I will be running dual 21" monitors at 1600x1200 (Samsung 214T's). That the card I was hoping to buy was the 512MB version and that from what I can see they raelly are rare regaurdless of the supplier.

i run two dual 21" monitors at 1600x1200 on a 5900 w/128megs, and there's little, if any performance hit when i have both monitors running opposed to when i just have it switched to single. that slight performance hit(not even really noticable) is due to the gpu anyway and not the ram. believe me, you don't need the 512. the extra 256 megs would rarely if ever get used. it's not like your second monitor is going to be running a different scene than your first monitor. they will most likely be sharing the same textures(that's if you're even running 3d on both of them). the extra ram will not make a difference. i can't stress enough that holding out for 512megs (or even buying a 512 card in the first place) is a bad idea.

[nitindesign]

I ran Raid 1 with my new Opteron 280 system which I returned.
I did not like the speed hit it took. Mind you my MOBO, Raid controller or HDs could have been busted for all I know. Anyway for the replacement system I won't go with Raid 1. I will have one HD for OS, one for current project data, one for Photoshop scratch disk. Then an external firewire HD for backing up current project data.

One additional 500GB external for finished work + all finished work will be put on DVD as well.

[Ints99]

The 7800 gtx 512 mb is a lot faster than the 7800 gtx 256 mb version.
It is because the 512mb version uses faster ram chips and is clocked a lot higher.
Don't know put it appears to be in stock at newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130259

[Endymon]

I had to make a choice between 512 7800GTX or the X1900XT.


I ordered the X1900XT because of two reasons:

1) Outperforms the 7800GTX in games
2) The 7800GTX 512 version is impossible to get at the moment in Beligum :(

I hope an pray that the X1900XT OpenGL performance in Maya is going to be acceptable. Otherwise I'm going to try and have it swapped against an Nvidia 7800 GTX card (when they become available)...

[tito8008]

Hi

I live in Qc canada and I halso have a problem with my videocard (gf7800gtx) and it isnt even the 512 version :/

It has been 2 weeks and Im still waiting. Godamn manufacturer, y cant they just set date :) common sense? no?

Well the computer store were a bought the Pc kindla offered me a 6800 till the 7800gtx arrives
Just finished instaling all they is to install. That tool 2 whole days :/ oh well

I hope it comes soon :)

Well good luck on making a wise decision


Forgot this.. might be interesting...

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/01/24/ati_radeon_x1900_heats_up_with_48_pixel_pipelines/

[kingrobb]

tito8008: Well at least they offered to give you 6800 while you wait! I'm going to ask my retailer if he will do the same!

By the way, where are all the hard core 7800GTX 512MB users out there? (whose posts I read with envy) Why are they not extolling the virtues of their decision and telling me it was worth the wait? (mind you they probably got in on the first batch and didn't wait at all)

I appreciate you guys trying to save me money though - it's good to challenge the rationalle of overzellous buys. I personally though am not too worried about the money issue.

BTW - if I did take some of you up on your suggestion, and did just stick with a 256MB card, would I get two, one for each 21" 1600x1200 monitor? or just one?

[probie]

In light of this thread, I am thinking on holdiong off on the purchase of the X1900XT but had a couple questions as well. The X1900XT has HDTV/S-Video and dual monitor support. I saw where Evanfotis said:

with mainly photoshoping stuff and a little 3d You_Don't_Need such a card.
Save the bucks, buy the 7800 GT or Ati 850XT.

and would like to know if the difference between the 3 cards would be that noticable? I don't upgrade often and would like to get the most out of this next purchase.

Question 2:

The system i'm looking at putting together is here:

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128293
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116230
RAM: N/A
Video: X9100XT or X1800XL

Suggestions on this configuration would be great. Also the applications that are going to be running are Softimage XSI Foundation, 3DS Max 7, Adobe AfterEffects and Premier. Mostly the need for the upgrade is for decrease of render times while using radiosity and caustics.

[evanfotis]

Man,
you're thinking of using high end vga cards, to use them in a Prescott cpu (low end) machine...
I would buy a more powerful cpu (like AMD X2) and get a vga card in the $250-300 area.
The X1900XT has HDTV/S-Video and dual monitor support.
Check out in Ati webiste if it supports all 3 outputs simultaneously. I think not.
There is another thread on this issue:
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=314082

[probie]

Man,
you're thinking of using high end vga cards, to use them in a Prescott cpu (low end) machine...
I would buy a more powerful cpu (like AMD X2) and get a vga card in the $250-300 area.


Thinking about, but that's why I came here first. ;) I know when to step up and admit that I don't know and this is one of those subjects that i'm kind of in the gray area. I know that my budget is going to be about $1k or so. So I have to make the best of it and I need to cut my rendering times. Right now my video card is an embarrasment. It's a cheap Nvidia MX400 so obviously that needs to be upgraded. My current PC is 1.8Ghz w/ 512M. Not really much of a machine, but like I said it's time to start upgrading. :)


Check out in Ati webiste if it supports all 3 outputs simultaneously. I think not.

Not looking for simultaniously, but the HDTV would be nice for working with AfterEffects and such. An additional card is an option, but as it is I really need to keep the costs down. In that aspect I have been looking more and more at the X1800 XL. It seems to be a nice card and at a reasonable price. Again keeping in mind that being an animation student I will be needing all the ram and horsepower I can get.

I'm quite open to suggestions for a nice animation box using the X1800 XL card. Kind of fond of it and heard a lot of good things. Debating Corsair memory (2G) and at the minimum 3.0Ghz.

Thanks Evanfotis for the comment and I'll look at the other thread as well.

[cignox1]

Hi, I agree that you wont need a 512 Mb card. I'm not a tech expert, but if the 7800GT 256 and 512 use the same chipset at the same clock rate, then I suggest you to buy the 256Mb version. The Ram wont affect the way the device will draw on the two monitors ( for that, 32Mb could be more than enaught) because most of the Ram is used for textures. Do you want to play Quake 4 at Ultra quality? It uses 500Mb of textures, and you could take advantages from such a card (but perhaps the PCI-E would let you use system memory). For anything else, you wont need this amount of memory if you work mostly with 2d.
P.S: your new workstation rocks! I will dream it tonight :-)

[kingrobb]

Ahh ... but they are not the same clock speeds.

I'm buying a MSI card (cheaper than BVG & eVGA, etc) but still a quality card.

CARD..................GPU....Memory.....Price
..........................Mhz...Ghz..........CAN$
7900 GTX 512MB...700....1.65.........$800 ($ when it arrives if it replaces the 7800 GTX 512MB)
.........................................................(speeds are rumor and non MSI info)
7800 GTX 512MB...550....1.70.........$800 (currently)
7800 GTX 256MB...400....1.20.........$590
7800 GT 256MB.....400....1.00.........$440

BTW - I did ask my retailer if I could have a loaner card while I wait for the one I ordered. They will sell me a 6600GT and then buy it back at a reduced rate. But honesty, they want to sell me something I can use today and be done with it. They suggest a cheaper SLI solution. Sounds good BUT my too main apps are Photoshop and 3D Max will not benefit one bit, I understand, from SLI, PLUS I am buying and wanting to use dual 21" 1600x1200 monitors which wouldn't be supported by SLI at all!

I have already pre-paid them $800 for my 7800 GTX 512MB but it may never arrive or exist again.

So that puts me back to buying a 7800GTX 256MB now @ $590 (as it would be the fastest non-SLI solution that is available) or buy a cheap 6600GT and wait it out. And if my logic is on the money (He-He), then when the 7900 does appear either the 7800GTX 512MB will too (at a more reasonable price) or it wont. If it doesn't and the 7900's are out of reach financially, then I will end up tomorrow (1-2 months from now) exactly where I am today but for around $600 I will own two cards (because with the introduction of the 7900 line the 7800GTX 256MB card will likely drop to around $440). And I will have the satisfaction of being able to contemplate one or two 512MB cards (depending on what's avail.). I guess I've waited 3 yrs to be able to afford a new computer, over one month for that computer to arrive. Another month or two wont kill me sort of speak.

Does that make sense to anyone? I know lot's of people are trying save me money.

But, if its a non-SLI solution you want and a nVidia card, wouldn't you buy the fastest one you could afford?

Originally when I read the following thread
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=261501
and then the VOTE thread for Best Choice For Professional HomeStation Graphic Card
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=263728
it seemed to me that people were suggesting to get the best card you could.

[SirNeo]

I prefer Nvidia and 7800 gtx everytime!

[CGTalk Moderation]

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.