[Brandontw]

Im shopping for a new video card/motherboard setup and im choosing between 2 512mb 7600gs's and a 256mb 7900gt

So i am having a hard time believing that one 256mb 7900gt will outperform 2 512mb 7600gs's totalling 1gb of video memory especially in games like FEAR that require a 512mb card... i know that video memory is only a small part of the performance factors of a video card, but im having a hard time passing up a gig of VRAM.

ASUS A8N-SLI (for SLI)

ASUS A8N5X board. (non SLI)

AMD64 3700+ 1mb cache, 2.2ghz


Help me decide here. Im also open to other suggestions for SLI/non SLI setups for around $300 for 2 cards(sli) or one card(non SLI)

[jivetrky]

With SLI memory, you can't really think of it as 1GB of memory....each card uses the memory seperately...so it's never 1GB of mem.

I would personally go with the a8N-SLI and get the 7900GT ....they are great cards, and most overclock quite well (you could even get close to 7900 GTX speeds with luck, and possibly a volt mod if needed.)

and with the SLI board you can then add a second 7900GT in a couple of months or something and have a killer setup!

But I'd take the single 7900GT over 2x 7600GS easy!

[Fronic]

I think this will answer your question:


More here: http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/...re/1597_1.html

[IWasHungry]

Yeah easy answer. 7900GT >>>>>>> 2x 7600GSs

[Brandontw]

thanks, i guess i just wanted to have more than 256 VRAM, especially when
FEAR wont even let you max the settings without 512mb

[jivetrky]

It's your money I guess

You'll be much better off with the 7900GT

(comparing eVGA branded cards)

7600GS 512MB:

400Mhz Core clock
800Mhz RAM (that's DDR speed)
128-Bit DDR2 RAM
12.8 GB/s Memory Bandwidth
12 Pixel Pipelines

7900GT 256MB:

500MHz Core Clock
1500 MHz RAM (DDR)
256-Bit DDR3 RAM
48.0 GB/s Memory Bandwidth
24 Pixel Pipelines

I've highlighted the important areas of those specs to note. (yeah, all of them)

that 512MB of RAM on the 7600 isn't going to make a bit of difference when it's running at half the speed of the 256MB of RAM the 7900GT is. And the fact that it has half the "road width" in the 128Bit mem interface. And the fact that the GPU only has half the pixel pipelines.

And BTW with FEAR.... at "max settings" you'll get yourself 30 or LESS FPS with SLI 7600GS's If you like slideshow...then jump all over it.

I mean, just LOOK at this review page
If you understand what those benchmarks are saying....you'd see why you wouldn't want to buy the 7600's

If you really came here to ask opinions, Then take our opinions.

[soulfly1448]

FEAR doesnt require 512MB of video memory. I maxed settings with the X800Pro 256MB unit I had awhile back. Ran like crap, but it ran.

[Zx2Slow]

Originally Posted by jivetrky

It's your money I guess

You'll be much better off with the 7900GT

(comparing eVGA branded cards)

7600GS 512MB:

400Mhz Core clock
800Mhz RAM (that's DDR speed)
128-Bit DDR2 RAM
12.8 GB/s Memory Bandwidth
12 Pixel Pipelines

My 7600GT runs at 590/1600 stock. The 7600GT is a decent card, the GS is weaksauce. I thought it had some great bang for the buck potential. I got one XFX 7600GT XXX edition and found a insane deal on another like a week after I bought all my stuff. I got the second one because it was cheap and wanted to take SLi for a spin. I run CS:S and Half life with HDR enabled and all settings but AA maxed out (4x) at 1280x1024 with no problems.

[jivetrky]

yeah...there's a big difference between the GS and GT ...and a difference in price. And for the cost of 2 GT's it'd be cheaper and better to get a 7900GT

[jivetrky]

Originally Posted by soulfly1448

FEAR doesnt require 512MB of video memory. I maxed settings with the X800Pro 256MB unit I had awhile back. Ran like crap, but it ran.

yeah, now that I think about it, when I had my SLi 7800GTX's (with 256MB RAM) they ran FEAR at Max settings just fine.

[Mr.Guvernment]

why get 2 single cards in SLI when a single card is faster

for me, the point of SLI is to get 2 cards that will have mjore power then a single card will.

getting 2 7600's use pointless, maybe cheaper, but pointless cuase you kill your upgrade path in the possible future.

sure it sounds cool to say HEY! i got SLI! but yeah, 7900GT

[Brandontw]

Hi guys, sorry to seem like a stubborn jerk, but i guess i just needed to get it beat into my head..

I have scince decided on a single 7900GT, and i have also decided to go with an MSI k8NGM2-FID MOBO

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813130529

It is a MICRO ATX board, so i can get a tiny case for it and have a pretty slick Small gaming machine.

Thanks for beating it into my head, and ill keep in touch with how it turns out as i go... i just need to get more funds together now.

[jivetrky]

Sounds like a weiner!