Between the X1900GT and X1800XT, what do you think

[bosox188]

I have looked at a bunch of benches and the X1800XT beats the X1900GT in just about every one. Both of these are 256mb and I can get them for about the same price. Whichever one I pick will be my card for probably 2 years or at least 1.5 so what I am wondering is how much to you think the 36 shader processors in the GT will help in future games, even DX10 ones if at all? It does only have 12 pipes so I'm wondering if that will just hurt it more in future games anyway, cancelling out the effects of the 36 shaders processors. 1280x1024 is the highest I can go anyway. So I'm still a little undecided after seeing a bunch of benches, what do you think? It seems we only have ATi's word to go by as far as the benefit of the 36 shader processors.

 

[NetGuru42]

It's your choice to make. I personally decided on the X1900GT because it was slightly less expensive, and real world, there is not a significant difference in performance (you won't notice 3-4 FPS).

There are also a couple other factors that you haven't noted. The X1800XT is already maxed out on clock speed and memory speed. There is virtually no headroom for overclocking. What your benchmarks didn't show you was that the X1900GT *does* have some headroom for overclocking... and that after you overclock the X1900GT, it will perform slightly better than the X1800XT in most benches.

Another thing you overlooked was that the X1800XT is a dual-slot cooler. Buying the X1900GT will leave you with an extra PCI-Express or PCI slot open for later expansion. The single-slot cooler is also MUCH quieter and more efficient than the dual-slot found on the X1800XT. Please note that there are two revisions of coolers available on the X1900GT, however. They are both sinlge-slot coolers, and comparitively quiet, however you will find that the second revision (such as on the Connect3D version of the card) is significantly quieter and more efficient. This means better overclocking as well.

If you need one more reason to do the X1900GT over the X1800XT, the Connect3D X1900GT is on sale right now at NewEgg for $100 off. Finally, the X1800 lineup, whether it really makes a difference or not, is technically a generation behind the X1900 series. The X1900 is based on R580, a much newer and more efficient design than the X1800 - R520.

 

[bosox188]

Yeah the X1900GT I would get is $217, and it's a built by ATi one. I don't mind the fan noise and I don't mind too much the dual slot cooler thing. It is a tough choice to make.

 

[Asus]

They are pretty similar in performance. The X1800XT performs better with AA/AF in some games but you could OC the X1900GT to catch up here. The X1900gt is a single slot solution. I have the X1900GT and it works very well. I hear it OCs pretty well too, I think mainly the memory. I have not messed with mine yet.

36 pixel shaders for the x1900gt (575mhz core/1.2ghz memory)
16 pixel shaders for the x1800xt (625mhz core/1.5ghz memory)
The X1900GT would probably do better in future games and maybe like oblivion.
The reason the X1800XT does better with AA/AF is probably because of it's memory speed.

Edit: they seem to go back and forth depending on the game and setting.
FEAR without AA/AF and then with AA/AF
Up and down. hehe

They OCed their X1900gt quite a bit.

 

[bosox188]

Yeah I think I'm going with the X1900GT.