X1800XT Owners, convince me!!!

[Highendtoys]

Hello all.

I have an X1800XT card on the way and it will arrive here on Wednesday. If I were to actually have to pay for hardware why would I choose this card over a cheaper nVidia 7800 GTX?

Also, how is your card holding up and are you satisfied with your purchase?

Thanks in advance.

PS, this is not to start a flame war.

[IWasHungry]

Compared to 7800GTX 256MB :
A) Better performance at stock
B) Overclockability supposedly
C) You get to test it for us ;)

[RedDragonXXX]

I was expecting way more people on the forums to get x1800XT, but I think I only seen one so far.

[infinitevalence]

There are a few, just not many. Right now the last generation of cards is still adiquate for most games, Fear and some of the newer games are changing this, and as games require more performance more and more people start to migrate to newer cards. I have also noticed a trend that most people want to spend $300 on the high end and $200 in the best bang for the buck... thats why you see so many 6800GT, 6800GS, X800Pro, X800GTO2 threads.

you can check out some of the OC results for the X1800 series here (http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=424025)

[Frumpco_]

I am waiting for it to come to Canada and be in stock then I will have one it should be at the store next friday WOOT!

[deception``]

That's says a lot if you need to be convinced to pick an x1800XT over the GTX :-/

Anyhow:

Reasons for x1800XT
1. More powerful at stock (not significantly but the performance lead is there)
2. Ability to adjust the voltages of the card via software
3. ATI officially 'supports' x1800 overclocking
4. The additional memory does help under higher resolutions/IQ
5. Slightly better AA
6. Potential X-Fire support on the AMD platform and better on Intel

Reasons for GTX
1. Price
2. Availability
3. Better bundles (usually come with good games like COD2)
4. NVIDIA card makers have better warranties usually (many are lifetime)
5. SLI is a much more mature solution than Crossifre (when applicable)
6. SLI-compatible boards are much more mature/available than X-Fire ready boards (speaking in terms of AMD)
7. To this day, x1800 Master Cards are still unavailable
8. 7800 GTX cards come with single-slot coolers

deception``

[tom10167]

You buy a card, and then ask for reasons why you should have bought it.

[deathman20]

That's says a lot if you need to be convinced to pick an x1800XT over the GTX :-/

Anyhow:

Reasons for x1800XT
1. More powerful at stock (not significantly but the performance lead is there)
2. Ability to adjust the voltages of the card via software
3. ATI officially 'supports' x1800 overclocking
4. The additional memory does help under higher resolutions/IQ
5. Slightly better AA
6. Potential X-Fire support on the AMD platform and better on Intel

Reasons for GTX
1. Price
2. Availability
3. Better bundles (usually come with good games like COD2)
4. NVIDIA card makers have better warranties usually (many are lifetime)
5. SLI is a much more mature solution than Crossifre (when applicable)
6. SLI-compatible boards are much more mature/available than X-Fire ready boards (speaking in terms of AMD)
7. To this day, x1800 Master Cards are still unavailable
8. 7800 GTX cards come with single-slot coolers

deception``

Totally agree with this. Its also pretty similar to how the 7800GT and the X1800XL rides also.

I was going to chose a XT but I couldn't wait any longer as I was without a computer at the time for 3 weeks and I needed a main rig. XT is definatly a decent card and can hold its own to what it was challenging the 7800GTX 256Meg card. Since you bought it, good choice between the 2 cards.

[batboy]

If I were to actually have to pay for hardware...

Sounds like he didn't actually buy it.

As soon as prices drop down a little closer to $500, I'm getting one, but I ain't buying MSRP or above.

[stang8118]

Man i really hope more people buy an x1800xt in the next month or so. I plan on building a new rig at the end of january and had my eye's set on this card. Would love to see a few reviews here on OCforums from members.

[deception``]

Man i really hope more people buy an x1800xt in the next month or so. I plan on building a new rig at the end of january and had my eye's set on this card. Would love to see a few reviews here on OCforums from members.

Most of the people in the market for the x1800XT gave up and bought either the (a) 7800GT/GTX or (b) the x1800XL.

A 256MB GTX will not take the overall performance crown away from the x1800XT, but I think that some of the things I mentioned above make it an extremely attractive choice. If I had a choice between the two for free I would probably try out the x1800XT, but my hard-earned money would go to the GTX which many believe is the better value.

deception``

[deathman20]

Man i really hope more people buy an x1800xt in the next month or so. I plan on building a new rig at the end of january and had my eye's set on this card. Would love to see a few reviews here on OCforums from members.

If your waiting til end of janurary you might want to wait and see how things pan out possibly the release of the R580 cores, since suppositly it will be launched around that time. Not holding my breath on that though hehe.

BTW what do you plan on upgrading too? Its pretty close to the switch to AMD's new socket and also the relase of the newer revisions of the P4's.

[HousERaT]

Too bad if folks wanted one and didn't take advantage of the deal at ewiz. They had the X1800XT for $494.00 shipped. Better than the 256 GTX but below the 512 GTX. Now that the people at XS have figured out how to overclock the card they seem to be doing pretty well.

[eva2000]

Well here's where i am with 512MB HIS X1800XT stock heatsink air @749/882 with GPU at 1.425v and mem stock volts

3dmark05 = 10,915
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=1501741

http://www.fileshosts.com/DFI/NF4_SLI_D/results/Opteron146/CAB2E_0540FPMW_1/Hydrocool200/Gskill/PC4400LE/2x512/799_800/704_2BTA/LDT3x/10x/310-282-2.5336-7-14-2222_1.56-1.4-1.6-2.9_3684_dsW4dds1_9N65_16clk_16x7x/X1800XT/3dmark05_749-882_10915_tn.jpg

Room ambient between 28-31C

All benchmarks and pictures at http://i4memory.com/showthread.php?t=1842

[deathman20]

Just curious whats the stock volts for the memory on the XT?

Also im guessing your upping the memory clocks with the OC tool right? Doesn't that hurt the preformance to you instead of using ATITool? I know with mine OC messed something with the memory and it was able to clock high, but gave considerably lower results.

[eva2000]

Stock volts
http://www.fileshosts.com/DFI/NF4_SLI_D/results/Opteron146/CAB2E_0540FPMW_1/Hydrocool200/Gskill/PC4400LE/2x512/799_800/704_2BTA/LDT3x/10x/200-200-2225-7-14-2222_1.4-1.3-1.6-2.87_3684_ds7dds1_7N5_16clk_16x7x/3dmark_X1800XT/ATI_tool_voltages.jpg

DMM for GPU from user reports is 1.3-1.31v not sure about DMM for mem

Yup setting mem and gpu clocks with OC tool

To properly set clocks and voltages read first post at http://i4memory.com/showthread.php?t=1842 has a 5 step guide to do it and it works :D

[HomerPepsi]

Its worth the money for the x1800xt. Im still boggled by its size, in comparison to my x800 pro and x850 pro agp, the card is massive. Frame improvment in games is sweet, all though I have no solid evidence yet with a benchmark, they are on their way though.
Worthy buy and you wont be dissapointed. The only thing that made me a little ticked about the card was installing its drivers, it needs framework 1.1 min. and I hate ms framework.

peace
aaron

[Highendtoys]

Very nice overclocker! Your score is right with my GTX 512.

I am glad you said something about the EWiz price, that got me calling around and talking to some insiders. One retailer, Page Computer (I do not work for these guys and have honestly never heard of them before today) has them in stock for 494 right now.

With two calls I found out that this should be the price point of the cards within two weeks for most of the major sites. Currently there is a limited number of cards but when the number picks up we will this as the normal price. Unofficially :) all of the cards are currently being wholesaled at a price point where at 494 the company is making a profit. So anyone charging 560+ is just out to make as much as they can as quick as they can. *cough* bend over my dear *cough*

So hear we are with a level playing field price wise. That changes the entire landscape and the way we as consumers look at the product.

[HomerPepsi]

494!??! ouch man, I paid 647 cnd.

[Dan0512]

Well here's where i am with 512MB HIS X1800XT stock heatsink air @749/882 with GPU at 1.425v and mem stock volts

3dmark05 = 10,915
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=1501741

http://www.fileshosts.com/DFI/NF4_SLI_D/results/Opteron146/CAB2E_0540FPMW_1/Hydrocool200/Gskill/PC4400LE/2x512/799_800/704_2BTA/LDT3x/10x/310-282-2.5336-7-14-2222_1.56-1.4-1.6-2.9_3684_dsW4dds1_9N65_16clk_16x7x/X1800XT/3dmark05_749-882_10915_tn.jpg

Room ambient between 28-31C

http://i4memory.com/showthread.php?t=1842

Wow! Nice! that's almost like GTX 512 performance! Damn I'm saving for that card next year!

dan

[IWasHungry]

Nice overclock Eva. :) Wow hope that's a normal OC. ;)

[mikeguava]

Hello all.

I have an X1800XT card on the way and it will arrive here on Wednesday. If I were to actually have to pay for hardware why would I choose this card over a cheaper nVidia 7800 GTX?

Also, how is your card holding up and are you satisfied with your purchase?

Thanks in advance.

PS, this is not to start a flame war.
I am a big ATI fanboy- but for me the GTX 256mb is still faster than the X1800XT - I am utterly dissapointed.
I'd say GTX 256MB especially at the prices they can be purchased for now

[eva2000]

Nice overclock Eva. :) Wow hope that's a normal OC. ;)
and http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=427514 :)

[mikeguava]

and http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=427514 :)
That's one great card you have there! Not too many go there...

[{ace of spades}]

My friend said he was gettign 180 FPS on de_dust on our CSS server with this card. If this is true, the card is a winner >.<

[Highendtoys]

Well, I got in the card...and another card from Connect3D. I have to be one of the very few people that already have two retail X1800XT cards, woot!

I will be testing this week and also retesting the 7800 GT, GTX GTX 512 and X1800XL. All in the same computer and a super computer at that. The dual, dual core 875 box is coming out for this one.

[deathman20]

Dual 875's :drool: That must of set ya back a huge amount.

[ScoobaMikey]

Im on the x1800xt bandwagon, picked up the sapphire brand for a LOW $485!!!

cant wait to get all my computer parts in

AMD Opteron 170
DFI Lanparty Expert
OCZ Powerstream 520
Mushkin Redline 2x1024 pc4000
Sapphire x1800xt

Im so ready!!!

[PhoenixOfChaos]

Dual 875's....... I....... *speachless* :drool:

Anyway I think the GTX 256 being as theyre so cheap and a pleanty, unless that is the x1800xt 512 drops like a rock in price.

[traldan]

Thinking of getting one in the next few weeks. Eager to hear about typical OC performance (ie, do they all OC like eva's, or is that a really good one?).

[Highendtoys]

Dual 875's That must of set ya back a huge amount.

Not a dime, I did trade a PCI video card for them though since the guy needed one, ATI 9200 to be exact.

I am a sick man, pic of the screenshots. (http://www.indygamers.com/members/Softgod/sickman.jpg)

Anyhow, I started some OCing lastnight on the Sapphire card. I was pretty impressed with how well it scaled but did not like the temps at all. I went to bed before I reached the lock up point but the card was pretty quick. I would like to see what water or water/peltier would do for it. I will report back some early numbers here in a bit.

[Highendtoys]

The real question is, where can I find a 5800 Ultra? I would like to see which is louder.