Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 4150
Joined: June 2003
Posted: Nov. 24 2005,17:42
Well from all the reviews I read they are pretty even in performance no one is really faster than the others. They each of strong and weakpoints and over-all they cancel each other out as being better than the other.
Other than that point, I believe this round ATI lost the market wars for high-end users. The X1800XT is hard to get, and even if you could get one, it cost $150 more than nvidia's 7800GTX! And it's not even consider "$150 faster".
So if you can get a card for this kind of performance and there's no difference between the 2, which would you get? I'm a little more of an ATI fan than nvidia, but I'm no fanboy. I'm not going to spend $599 when I can get a similarily performance card in the 7800GTX for $450! I wouldnt mind spending $599 *IF* ATI was really worth $150 more in terms on the reward experience in difference in performances!
I really really like ATI's cross-fire, BUT you can barely find any mobo makers that supports it, and the ones that do, are EXPENSIVE! You cannot even get the x1800xt crossfired at the moment I looked, but you can easily get 2 7800gt/gtx cross-fire!
heck... both my local bestbuy and compusa carries the 7800gt, whereas, none of them carry the ati x1800xt; and you can easily purchase the 7800gtx online from either retailers.
x1800xt when you can find it, will be overpriced by the online resellers, even tho the MSRP is $599! Rip-off!
Many users have already chosen to get a 7800 over ATI's X1800 this round, and I dont blame them. It isnt as fast as ATI claimed it would be compared to nvidia (and heck it's pretty fast, just not 2X faster than X800XT or the 6800Ultra, or any faster at all than the cheaper 7800GTX) -- and ATI wants us to pay $150 more. No thanks.
If it cost the same as the 7800GTX I would have chosen to get ATI. But this round, If I were getting a video card in the top-end segment, it would be 7800GTX ($450-$499) over X1800XT ($599 - $699); or 7800GT ($350 - $399) over X1800XL ($499 - $599). Both these competing models are pretty equal in terms of performance but the prices is definitely not.
My money goes to nvidia. Nvidia wins my money this round. ATI better get their act together and stop insulting my intelligence that I would pay $150 more for something equal. blah!
other comments:
Last round: 6800 vs X800 tied. I got the 6800GT, loved it. and the X800XT loved it.
6800Ultra 512. $799???? What the HELL! It's NOT even faster than the 7800GT that cost $399 at compusa! You can practically pick up 2 7800GT in SLI for a single of this card. Why is nvidia even wasting their time and our time making that card??? Why are resellers thinking we're dumb enough to buy it for that price when 7800 is out there?
Good price, good features... heck SoundBlaster intergrated! Price I found is around $165 online including 2 day shipping. This combined with 2 x 7800GT in SLi is about the same price as crossfire + 2 X850XTs (crossfire editions).
The best crossfire cards I can really buy at this time from any online are the X850XT's.
IF crossfire was more widely available, and IF Crossfire editions of X1800XT are out AND IF they are competitively priced, I would likely have went with ATI over nvidia because I slightly prefer them. Just ever so slightly. However... that's not close to the case! they are a heck of a lot more expensive than cards from nvidia. If I were building a system now, I'd go with nvidia for best bang for the buck. As much as I like ATI products this time around, you simply cannot deny nvidia's price points for competively similar performing solutions.
I hope and strongly believe ATI will be dropping their prices soon to keep with nvidia, or else only the most hardcore ATI fanboys will be picking up their top-end cards.
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 2509
Joined: June 2003
Posted: Nov. 25 2005,01:49
i would agree.
i also looked at the NEO 4. but the only peav i have with it, is the FSB will max out at 800Mhz. no hypertrans to 2000Mhz. i know this is being a bit trivial.. but i don't want to spend money twice.. i can't wait to see AMD's new bread....... if only they would drop the price of the FX's.. i would be oh so happy. still thinking.. might just have to go with a lonely old 64-3700 or 3500 if i want a better vid card..lol
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 4150
Joined: June 2003
Posted: Nov. 25 2005,02:06
bit off track in topic regarding video cards... but the NEO4 IS 1000 fsb capable. THAT one is. It also supports the X2's.
It's Intel current CPUs/mobos that are at 800FSB.
It's pointless for FX series when brandnew and first introduce to be anywhere lower than $800. Sure we want to be able to buy it at cheaper when every1 else is paying $800 bucks... but if the value of it really drops, it just wouldnt be an "FX" brand. The reason why we all one it, is it's amd cream of the crop CPU for Extreme PC users.
If I were building a system now, I'd go with nvidia for best bang for the buck. As much as I like ATI products this time around, you simply cannot deny nvidia's price points for competively similar performing solutions.