Advice: which 7900GS to buy?

[Saxito Pau]

So I have decided to hold off on going for an 8800 card until a major  price drop occurs

In the interim I am going to buy a GeForce 7900GS/Radeon X1950 Pro.

This link below is the basis for choosing such a card:

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/05/01/the_best_gaming_video_cards_for_the_money/page3.html

Browsing Amazon, I came across a few cards that look worthy of my money, with varitions mainly in clock speed (factory OC'd)

So which do I buy? Here are the contestants:

Card Name                              Model Number     Core/Mem clock      Price
PNY GeForce 7900 GS 256MB      VCG7900SXWB     450/1.32            $158
XFX GeForce 7900 GS 256MB      PVT71PUDE3      480/1.40            $175
XFX GeForce 7900 GS 256MB      PVT71PUDD3      600/1.60           $204
XFX GeForce 7900 GS 256MB      PVT71PUDP3      525/1.55          $175
EVGA GF 7900 GS 256MB         256-P2-N624-AR      500/1.38         $160
Asus Radeon X1950Pro  EAX1950PRO/HTDP/256M    581/1.40          $179*


My personal pick is the XFX with the 525MHz core clock for US$175 as it have a decent OC and it is visually appealing
(Remember Arcman, artistic taste counts with me!  )

So I ask the tech-inclined members of GATT: which card should I go with? I will most likely order this card as soon as Tuesday.

[Spazosaurus]

Firstly....WTMC @ your avatar lollll

Ok down to business. Now Sax, for a man who's willing to pelt out for a 6000+ x2(which is ~ $130 more than the 4200+), I don't know why you're finding it so hard to add $100 to the price of that 7900gs and get an 8800gts 320 and done...just to save a few $$. (8800gts 320's not gonna drop by much anytime soon).

Anyway...if you insist on buying a dx9 card i'd say your choice is a good one...just make sure and overclock it. If you're not into the oc'ing thing, your better bet would be the 1950 pro. To aid you in you decision read this review.

Someone...please slap some sense into Sax 

[Saxito Pau]

well I have been doing some reconsidering... I may not go the the X2 6000+... just yet. I'm waiting till daniboy (hopefully) acquires one and I'll do ..field testing/observations there.

As for the video Card, I can definitely afford to get the 8800GTS, but I've decided I'm setting my eyes on the GTX.

It is THAT card for which I await a price drop,  hence holding back my spending to under US$200....

On top of all that I'm buying a car soon. Guess where the money I'm saving going?

[Spazosaurus]

lol I hear that. Throw that extra money behind some 20's and watch em spiinnn. Now that I know its the gtx route you're going...the 7900gs seems like a good stop gap measure.

btw did you take a look at the article? Perhaps the x1950 pro will be a better choice depending on the games you play.

[Czar]

I was gonna say go with the eVGA because of their sweet lifetime warranty, but it seems XFX is providing a similar warranty now...most impressive. In which case, it's a toss up on which to get...you could spend a lil less on the eVGA and overclock it yourself, or jus get the pre-overclocked one from XFX for a lil more.

The new XFX warranty:

Here’s the deal: We will repair and service your 6, 7, and 8 Series Graphics Card for as long as you live. Even for those of you who know how to push our cards to the limits, if anything goes wrong, we’ll service it free of charge. All you have to do is register the card with us online. If you ever decide to sell or give the card away to someone, we’ll still honor the protection plan for the second owner as well. They just need to register the card with us. You get the protection AND the added value of being able to pass along a full warranty.

[Saxito Pau]

Unknown, I did read the article. Very informative. It identifies the Radeon as a winner most of the time despite relatively poor OC'ing.

and yes, the GTX and I will PWN EVERYTHING on GATT for Benchies!! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH!

(btw, the avatar supposed to look just like me. Created using Winning Eleven game by a friend based on my passport picture)

I guess is now a toss up between that Asus X1950 (EAX1950PRO/HTDP/256M) and the XFX OC'd card (PVT71PUDP3).

Czar, I do like the warranty given by from XFX and eVGA. Better check what Asus offers in comparision.

Right now I want to build a game collection: Right now I just have original (and not original) copies of Far Cry, Prey, NFS Most Wanted;  looking to acquire games like WoW, BF2, and anything GATTers will recommend.

[Arcmanov]

The 2nd XFX on your list (PVT71PUDD3) is technically the best of the 7900 GS selections there.

However, the X1950 Pro is better than the 7900 GS, so go figure.

[Saxito Pau]

one thing I forgot to mention:

The lone Radeon card I listed is available via 3rd party seller. All the rest can be purchased from amazon direct.
Most Amazon direct Radeon cards go from US$229  up to a ridiculous US$439!!

I have Amazon Prime (free 2-day shipping; 1-day shipping @ US$2 per item) so I looking to have the card in hand by Friday or even the following Monday (one-day shipping IWMC!), so I am hesitant to go 3rd party... damn you, DAAMIT!!

[W1nTry]

You COULD get it from newegg... I know someone that brings in specific items now and again... it'll cost you more but perhaps not THAT much more. PM me if interested.

[Crixx_Creww]

you plan on beating all the c2d benchies with that amd thingy???
pfft

there is a nice war between xfx and evga

ive had cards from both sides and i must say i like the performance AND look of the xfx cards so my bet would be xfx.

and id say stay on the oc route as well.

[Saxito Pau]

you plan on beating all the c2d benchies with that amd thingy???
pfft

Oh, Crixxy boy.

I know for SURE I'll pwn you for benchies, whipping you like a kid with my current rig....  Show me some real PC benchies before you scoff at my "amd thingy".

("AMD thingy"...... LMAO!! Fear not, Sax, for he knows not what the says. LOL)

W1n, I'll take a look at what newegg has and PM you if see something I like.

[Spazosaurus]

Sax doh study it boy. You just know your rig blowing Crix's current outta the water 100ft in the air heheee

*Unknown wonders when Crix going and upgrade and if he gonna use a AMD thingie to power his new rig or if he will buy a DELL...oh wait...DELL coming with AMD's now o laarrrddddd*

[Saxito Pau]

Well after considering all opinions submitted, I'm going with that OC'd XFX @ 525.1.55 GHz clock for US$175

Time to start saving for a Car and a GTX!

Much thanks!!

*places order forthwith*