Evga 7800GT upgrade to a Evga 7900GT ? Worthwhile ? Benefits ?

[lordkosc]

Just wondering if its worth going from my current Evga 7800gt to a 7900gt ?

Opinions are welcome :)

[ziggo0]

IMO, It's gonna be like having 1.5 7800GT's, or 2

[lordkosc]

IMO, It's gonna be like having 1.5 7800GT's, or 2

Hmmm might just wait till fall when the 8000 series comes out :) that or when more 7900GTs get in stock.....

[snakeskinner]

Hmmm might just wait till fall when the 8000 series comes out :) that or when more 7900GTs get in stock.....

The highest I scored in 3dmark05 with my 7800GT CO SE was around 7800. I stepped up to the plain jane 7900GT and i've got 12,122 so far with my new card. Its definatly worth stepping up if you can. If you wait for the 8000 series cards to come out, your stepup will probably be expired, and you will have a card worth less than your 7900 will be if you step up now. Thats my 2 cents anyway. :)


Marlon

[rseven]

I have the same option open to me. My understanding is it's a 6 month window, which would bring me to August. I don't like the looks of the stock cooler on the 7900's. Upgrading the cooling is silly for me because i don't OC the GPU. I am uncertain if it's worth the extra money or not.

[ziggo0]

I have the same option open to me. My understanding is it's a 6 month window, which would bring me to August. I don't like the looks of the stock cooler on the 7900's. Upgrading the cooling is silly for me because i don't OC the GPU. I am uncertain if it's worth the extra money or not.

Grab a Zalman 700VF-CU for 30 bux or NV5 Silencer

[pookyman]

It's a 90 day window rseven...

[lordkosc]

It's a 90 day window rseven...

ARgh , I've had my card like 4 months..... Maybe I'll sell it on here and then get a 7900gt when they are in stock...

[rseven]

Thanks guys. I just found that out when I visited their website. I have about 40 days left. Does any one have a two headed coin I can flip? :D

[beavismorpheus]

i got my step up request in just in time. its taken about 3 weeks to move up 100 in the que. deffinately worth it for me, a few extra bucks and the cost of shipping.

[kimochii72]

The highest I scored in 3dmark05 with my 7800GT CO SE was around 7800. I stepped up to the plain jane 7900GT and i've got 12,122 so far with my new card. Its definatly worth stepping up if you can. If you wait for the 8000 series cards to come out, your stepup will probably be expired, and you will have a card worth less than your 7900 will be if you step up now. Thats my 2 cents anyway. :)


Marlon

Are you sure your hitting 12k with that upgrade. I've been reading even with volt mods that about 11k is the highest people got. Also I used to get 7600 average on my 7800GT when evga sent me a new card for rma the new one overclocked better and gave a score of 8300.

Step-up will cost you $11 for them to ship to you and another $10-15 to ship your old card to them too.

[beavismorpheus]

His score was hard to believe, but then i read his signature

"Opteron 165 CCBWE 0550 UPMW (naked)
2.7 GHz at 1.55v
2X512 Gskill Extreme DDR600 2.5-4-4-8 1T 300mhz"

some extreme hardware coupled with the 7900

[VinnyTAMU]

Thanks guys. I just found that out when I visited their website. I have about 40 days left. Does any one have a two headed coin I can flip? :D

rseven just do what I do, check your bank accout see that you have $150, realize that way you want is $300 and charge it to your credit card.

[snakeskinner]

Are you sure your hitting 12k with that upgrade. I've been reading even with volt mods that about 11k is the highest people got. Also I used to get 7600 average on my 7800GT when evga sent me a new card for rma the new one overclocked better and gave a score of 8300.

Step-up will cost you $11 for them to ship to you and another $10-15 to ship your old card to them too.

Hehe, yep, i'm pretty sure i'm hitting 12000+.

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=1935234

and 3dmark06

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=229525


Marlon

[snakeskinner]

rseven, I still think its worth it to upgrade even if you don't plan on overclocking. The stock cooling is good enough for stock clocks. My card cost me $15 plus $10 to ship it. For me thats worth the price for the performance increase, even if I left the card at stock clocks. You could buy the vanilla 7900GT for a few bucks, and then just overclock it to the CO or the superclock speeds and just leave it there. There doesn't seem to be much difference in all the versions they sell, other than the bios that comes on the card.


Marlon

[KillrBuckeye]

Does anyone know, once your step-up has been approved and you receive the pricing information, is there a limit to how long you can wait to send in your card? For $29 plus shipping, I can step-up my plain 7800GT to a plain 7900GT, but I'm still on the fence about it. I haven't OC'd this 7800GT, and I get 7200 in 3DMark05. I hear the 7900GT will get about 8200 stock. For someone who doesn't do too much overclocking of his VGA card, is ~$40 (plus a week or more without a good video card) really worth 1000 3D marks?

My previous experience in overclocking my video card (a 6800GT with stock cooling) led to some very bad experiences with game crashes and artifacts, and sometimes the video was still messed up after a reboot. I'm a bit hesitant to go down that road again.

[snakeskinner]

Does anyone know, once your step-up has been approved and you receive the pricing information, is there a limit to how long you can wait to send in your card? For $29 plus shipping, I can step-up my plain 7800GT to a plain 7900GT, but I'm still on the fence about it. I haven't OC'd this 7800GT, and I get 7200 in 3DMark05. I hear the 7900GT will get about 8200 stock. For someone who doesn't do too much overclocking of his VGA card, is ~$40 (plus a week or more without a good video card) really worth 1000 3D marks?

My previous experience in overclocking my video card (a 6800GT with stock cooling) led to some very bad experiences with game crashes and artifacts, and sometimes the video was still messed up after a reboot. I'm a bit hesitant to go down that road again.

Ok, to step up, you first have to register to get in the queue. Once you are in the queue, you wait for your turn to come up. When your turn comes up, they send you an email asking for your original invoice. Then when they get the invoice and approve it, the email you the RMA number, and its good for only 14 days.


Marlon

[KillrBuckeye]

Ok, to step up, you first have to register to get in the queue. Once you are in the queue, you wait for your turn to come up. When your turn comes up, they send you an email asking for your original invoice. Then when they get the invoice and approve it, the email you the RMA number, and its good for only 14 days.Thanks, the last sentence answered my question. I've received my approval from EVGA, but I guess I didn't see the fine print about the expiration of this opportunity. I think I got it about 7 days ago. Do you know if they have to receive my card within 14 days? If so, I'm quickly running out of time to make this decision.

EDIT: Actually, I'm still confused. This is what has happened: I requested the step-up, I was notified when the cards were available, I sent in my invoice for confirmation, it was approved and I got the following email from EVGA:
Your invoice has been verified and you may process your step-up to part number
256-P2-N560-AX.

To process your step-up please visit our site at http://www.evga.com/stepup/

After going to the page please type in your email address and serial number to
finish the process.

You will receive an email confirmation with more information about your Step-Up
request after you have completed the payment submission process.
What is still unclear to me is this: how long can I wait before I "process" my step-up by going to the website, entering in the S/N, and verifying payment? I haven't received an RMA number yet, and there's no fine print in this email about a time window. You think the 14-day window applies to this step in the process?

[rseven]

Kimochii72, thanks for the shipping costs as i was curious what it would run.

VinnyTAMU, LOL! I make it a rule to only charge what I can pay for when the bill comes. Since I have already charged my new ram this month, I'm out of business till next month.

I paid $260 for my 7800, so I'd be looking at $40+$25=$65 for the plain 7900GT. BTW, I checked their list of approved vendors and I was surprised not to find Newegg. Fortunately, I bought mine at Monarch.

[KillrBuckeye]

BTW, I checked their list of approved vendors and I was surprised not to find Newegg. Fortunately, I bought mine at Monarch.Newegg is an approved vendor. That's where I got mine, and I was approved for step-up.

[rseven]

Newegg is an approved vendor. That's where I got mine, and I was approved for step-up.
I don't doubt that you are correct, but it is strange that they don't list Newegg. :shrug:

[snakeskinner]

Kimochii72, thanks for the shipping costs as i was curious what it would run.

VinnyTAMU, LOL! I make it a rule to only charge what I can pay for when the bill comes. Since I have already charged my new ram this month, I'm out of business till next month.

I paid $260 for my 7800, so I'd be looking at $40+$25=$65 for the plain 7900GT. BTW, I checked their list of approved vendors and I was surprised not to find Newegg. Fortunately, I bought mine at Monarch.

That approved vendor list is only for prebuilt systems that come with a video card. There really isn't an approved list for purchasing retail cards. If you buy from newegg its fine, or pretty much anyone else that sells new video cards, as long as you can get in invoice from them.


KillrBuckeye, that RMA number they send you is only good for 14 days. I think after 14 days, that number will expire in their computer system, and it will no longer be valid if they get the card after it expires. I'm not sure how hard core EVGA is about this though, they might be lenient and let you take a little longer if you need too. If I were you though, I would just do the step up :)


Also, I was with no video card for over 2 whole weeks. I sent my card in on monday, and they got it on thursday morning. They sent the billing information to UPS on Friday, but didn't actually ship the card until the next tuesday, and I didn't get my card until the next monday. It ticked me off, but it wasn't that big of a deal, because during that time, I got all my watercooling stuff in and set it all up and leak tested it for a few days. But 2 weeks is a really long time to go with no computer. Luckily I had Ubuntu to keep me satisfied though, lol.


Marlon

[rrcoot]

I have the same option open to me. My understanding is it's a 6 month window, which would bring me to August. I don't like the looks of the stock cooler on the 7900's. Upgrading the cooling is silly for me because i don't OC the GPU. I am uncertain if it's worth the extra money or not.

Don't worry about cooling even if you are just going to leave it stock and not OC. I have my card overclocked and I am using the stock cooler right now. My card idles at 36 degrees. When I check my ATITool temp logs after playing Oblivion, there are a few entries where it peaks up to 56 degrees, but most of the time it is between 47 and 53 while playing. I had heard these cards ran cool before my purchase, but I find it truly amazing how cool it actually stays.

[rseven]

I have heard the same thing, but I wonder if it was just a matter of how they set the sensors as opposed to really cooler temps. I just get an uneasy feeling when i look at the pics of the 7900GT side by side with the 7800GT. The 7900 is smaller with a smaller heatsink and it just looks cheaper. (BTW, I assume that after market cooling will nullify the warranty) The MSRP is also significantly cheaper. I am concerned that the product has been cheapened as well and in the long run I might be better served by the 7800. I get a new card every other year and the old one gets passed down to the next rig in my home. As a result my GF3 from 5 years ago is still in service. I know there's a "lifetime" warranty, but God knows what the fine print says. :confused:

[snakeskinner]

I have heard the same thing, but I wonder if it was just a matter of how they set the sensors as opposed to really cooler temps. I just get an uneasy feeling when i look at the pics of the 7900GT side by side with the 7800GT. The 7900 is smaller with a smaller heatsink and it just looks cheaper. (BTW, I assume that after market cooling will nullify the warranty) The MSRP is also significantly cheaper. I am concerned that the product has been cheapened as well and in the long run I might be better served by the 7800. I get a new card every other year and the old one gets passed down to the next rig in my home. As a result my GF3 from 5 years ago is still in service. I know there's a "lifetime" warranty, but God knows what the fine print says. :confused:

Aftermarket cooling on an EVGA card does not void the warranty, neither does overclocking it. EVGA is the only card that I am aware of where this is the case.


Marlon

[rseven]

Thanks Marlon, that's good to know.

[jpersinger]

Pull the trigger on the 7900gt rseven; you know you want to. My 7900 GTX is waiting for me to pick it up from my parents house...I will be swinging by there this weekend so maybe some 7900 GTX results from me early next week...or maybe I will be to busy playing oblivion...or more realistically I will be to busy with classwork... :cry:

[KillrBuckeye]

LOL, I shot off an email to EVGA asking if I could "delay" sending in my card for 10 days or so, citing that I have a 4-day weekend coming up and would like to have a viable gaming rig during that time. :p Surely these guys should understand how important gaming time is, right?

[Kenshiro]

If it is the step up program, I will say go for it. Just wait until the last few days before your step up expires, and cross your finger wish the 8000 series cards will be release by that time.

[MeatTheEB]

If you can unload your 7800GT for like $250 and just pay the roughly $50 difference, it would be worth it. 100Mhz higher core stock, as well as 400Mhz higher RAM stock. Most cores I've seen hit 600-650, and the RAM seems to usually do 1.7-1.8. Mine (eVGA, the cheaper of the two, the 500/1.5 stock one) does 545/1680 with stock cooling, and this is considering a fan bug which limits my GPU's fan to 43% at all times (even when intensely gaming).

[Kenshiro]

speaking of which.... how much did you pay for your 7800GT? you probably don't have to pay anything for the upgrade at all, except the shipping charges.

[rseven]

Pull the trigger on the 7900gt rseven; you know you want to. My 7900 GTX is waiting for me to pick it up from my parents house...I will be swinging by there this weekend so maybe some 7900 GTX results from me early next week...or maybe I will be to busy playing oblivion...or more realistically I will be to busy with classwork... :cry:
Yes, I am getting a itchy trigger finger, but I still have time. Snakeskinner's noting that after market cooling would not void their warranty put my mind at rest about the cooling. Also, you all will laugh at my stupidity. When Snakeskinner commented that he had to live without his PC for 2 weeks I was saying to myself, "No problem, I have and old NF4 4200 laying around here that will fill in nicely." Duh! An AGP card in a pci-e slot will be just fine. :rolleyes: Well, I do have an old 3DFX Voodoo3 2000 around here. That would make a funny combination. At least I could boot up and have access to my files.

[kimochii72]

Hehe, yep, i'm pretty sure i'm hitting 12000+.

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=1935234

and 3dmark06

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=229525


Marlon


Holy crap dude. Those scores are insane for a single 7900GT! God. I hope I'm making the right decision stepping up to the 7900GTX. I can cancel either today or tomorrow and restart but it will be my last 2 days. It's either a $200 upgrade to the 7900GTX standard 650/1600 or $50 upgrad to the 7900GT superclocked. But I just don't know even with the volt-mod that I'll get a guaranteed 650+ core speed. I can game my system at 2.9 ghz with good low ram timings and so I just want ot be sure I got a card that can take the heat too. What type of volt mod are you doing to make that card scream like that??

[synthetic_fenix]

This looks like a good deal for me, If I would known that the 7900Gts would be relatively the same price as the 7800GT I would have held off from building my current system till the 7900s came out. So I think when I get home from work I will register for this. And hope I can pull it off. :D

[jpersinger]

Also, you all will laugh at my stupidity. When Snakeskinner commented that he had to live without his PC for 2 weeks I was saying to myself, "No problem, I have and old NF4 4200 laying around here that will fill in nicely." Duh! An AGP card in a pci-e slot will be just fine. Well, I do have an old 3DFX Voodoo3 2000 around here. That would make a funny combination. At least I could boot up and have access to my files.
Hard liquor in the morning again rseven?! :beer:

I have almost sold my evga 6600gt off a few times now, but I am quite glad that I didn't. It is nice to have a backup PCI-e card.

[rseven]

Bourbon and Rice Crispies gives you that snap, crackle and pop!:D
I have always had extra video cards around as you never know when you might need them, but being a recent convert to pci-e I have nothing. Do you think that voodoo 3 would even run on an NF4 board?

[synthetic_fenix]

Well I signed up for the step up program :D

[KillrBuckeye]

Just a clarification for those who intend to go through with the step-up program: Once you are approved for the step-up and receive notification that you can proceed with payment, you have 14 days to make the payment and finalize the process. EVGA doesn't necessarily need to receive your card within this 14-day window. This is what I was told by an EVGA customer service rep. This is good news for me, since I can now wait until after the upcoming 4-day Easter weekend to make payment and THEN send my card in. :)

[Burnt_Ram]

i was going to go for something 7900, but i ended up getting a second 7800GT instead. ran out of time to step up ;) that's some pretty impressive score for a "single" 7900GT tho. HMMMM

[Burnt_Ram]

Bourbon and Rice Crispies gives you that snap, crackle and pop!:D
I have always had extra video cards around as you never know when you might need them, but being a recent convert to pci-e I have nothing. Do you think that voodoo 3 would even run on an NF4 board?Howdy Bud,

i see you finally got rid of your Neo2 ;) miss it ? ...

(sorry for the threadjack)

[rseven]

Howdy Bud,

i see you finally got rid of your Neo2 ;) miss it ? ...

(sorry for the threadjack)
Hi Burnt, my Neo2 is actually my second rig now with an Opti 144 in it. I just couldn't part with so much pain, it's the masochist in me.:)

[Burnt_Ram]

Hi Burnt, my Neo2 is actually my second rig now with an Opti 144 in it. I just couldn't part with so much pain, it's the masochist in me.:)
thata boy ;) i'm still using my neo2 daily. still works excellent ...