Faster Video Card ?

[caveman16]

     Good Morning Guys and Ladies,

     Some of you know that I'm building a new PC.     I'm  in the  process of ordering and discovered that the  [  7900GT  ]  video card I was  to order has  "others" that have a faster  core and memory clocks.  The  "cost " isn't that much difference .  Of course  I want the fastest video card I can get that would work in the  "SETUP" outlined earlier.    

     I sorta wish  Congo  and/or  Cameron would respond to this as they are more familiar  with my PC.  

     I'm just unsure of myself and don't wish to make a mistake.      I appreciate the help from all you guys  in keeping me on the right track.

     Thanks so much,        caveman

[Politically Incorrect]

   

     Some of you know that I'm building a new PC.  

You are? lol kidding

You will find that buying a pre OC card will cost more, and you should be able to clock the 7900GT to the overclock speeds of the more expensive easily.
This is why I went with the 7800 GT and not the GTX, I can do it myself and save a bunch

[caveman16]

   
   Appreciate your input  and have considered that.  

   I now have another question :   The DVD Burner that I was going to order is no longer listed.  The one that I'm  "looking at" right now is the exact same  "specks"  - - -  ALMOST - - - .

     The only difference is :   The interface,    ATA/ATAPI  as opposed to the one I was going to order which was  : E-IDE/ATAPI.

      The difference is the first letters.   [ ATA ] - - -  [ IDE ]

     Will the new one [ ATA /ATAPI ]  work in my setup ?

     If this don't confuse you - - -   stick around, - - -  I'm very good at confusing people    

     caveman

[Brett_Henderson]

The price/technology/most-for-your-dollar curve is going to change completey (if parts of it already have not) by the time you order and build this thing.

The whole landscape can change in 90 days, if not less..

Look what's been discovered about the AMD CPUs in just the last few days. In a few more days, you might have to start this process all over..    :)


There's no way to have perfect timing on every component purchase.. unless you can afford major upgrades every month or two..

[caveman16]

    Hey Brett,      You just reminded me of how fast "this field"  changes.   I should have not overlooked that.    I see the changes happening from one day to the next and it sorta mixes me up at times as I can't find what I was  "JUST " looking at yesterday .

    Thanks for reminding me,    caveman

[NicksFXHouse]

[quote]

I want the fastest video card I can get that would work in the

[congo]

For the price of those cards NickN, you could throw in a few more dollars and have 2 x 7900GT's.

It also happens that the 7900GT is one of those cards that responds exceptionally well to overclocking, should anyone ever feel the need to do that. The 7900GT appears at release date with large factory overclocks in some models, giving further creedance to this.

I would consider the 7900GT an interim card while awaiting the next DX10 cards. $300 in a 7900GT is going to buy all the performance required for the next year or so in FS9, the cards for FSX haven't been released yet in my opinion. Spending 5 or 6 hundred on a better spec card now won't make FS9 run any better at all, (at least not noticeably), and the more expensive card will be just as outdated by DX10 by the time it's performance is required. That's how I see it anyway. OF course, if I'm wrong, and there are DX10 delays, another 7900GT in SLI at a later date is a very solid and economical solution.

[NicksFXHouse]

For the price of those cards NickN, you could throw in a few more dollars and have 2 x 7900GT's.

It also happens that the 7900GT is one of those cards that responds exceptionally well to overclocking, should anyone ever feel the need to do that. The 7900GT appears at release date with large factory overclocks in some models, giving further creedance to this.

I would consider the 7900GT an interim card while awaiting the next DX10 cards. $300 in a 7900GT is going to buy all the performance required for the next year or so in FS9, the cards for FSX haven't been released yet in my opinion. Spending 5 or 6 hundred on a better spec card now won't make FS9 run any better at all, (at least not noticeably), and the more expensive card will be just as outdated by DX10 by the time it's performance is required. That's how I see it anyway. OF course, if I'm wrong, and there are DX10 delays, another 7900GT in SLI at a later date is a very solid and economical solution.

Nobody knows what is going to happen by the end of the year or when DX10 will even become available.

There is a distinct visual difference between a 300 dollar video card and a 500 dollar video card when we are talking about the types discussed in this thread, AND Flight Simulator, which is different than other 3D games. You get to SEE MORE with the better card and the scenery appears, faster, sharper and further away.

FS9 automatically adjusts the amount of autogen and sight distance based on the hardware installed if the FS9.cfg file is correctly set up. Your expereince is enhanced because FS9 was programmed to throw MORE at the screen if the hardware is available.

There is a difference and Michael Greeblatt who is a tester for Nvidia, ATI and a Microsoft graphics consultant will confirm that.

Now, if you want to go on the premis that it is better to spend less now with the intention of definitely buying a new and DIFFERENT card next year or at the end of of this year, then I agree with the lower cost card solution. Otherwise I would still rather have 2x7900GTX 512 in SLI than 2xGT 256 in SLI for FSX. It comes down to budgets.


Personally, when I upgrade I will be going with either an SLI x16 MSI: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813130037

...or a DFI board with the best video card (or cards) money can buy. The processor will be either an FX60 or if I wait, an FX64 (due out in Q4). The memory will be rated to run a minimum of 250FSB with 1T enabled and I will not run anything less than an 800watt SLI PSU, probably a PC Power & Cooling unit.

That purchase will last me 4 years and I bet it will run anything I throw at it with maximum quality.

I would rather pay more now than nickle and dime myself to death over 2 years trying to get more out of a cheap purchase. That mindset ALWAYS costed me more in the long run and I learned my lesson years ago about going cheap. After the better components are purchased and installed, overclocking is nothing more than an unexpected BONUS. The components, specifically the memory and PSU will allow for aLOT of head-room in playing with overclocks and adding components later down the road.

My approach has always been to figure out my current budget, then consider what I will have to spend over the next year... then add the two together and go ahead and SPEND the budget+the year amount for the GOOD components. That mindset has never dissapointed me or let me down, ever.

If a small budget is all one has to work with, then that is just the way it is. Caveman asked:

[quote]

I want the fastest video card I can get that would work in the

[Jimbo]

Like Nick has said previously to me, raw horsepower is better.
That is why im getting the 7900GTX 512MB  8)
But if you cant afford it, Dont get it.
My new system will be here around the end of May. (Only around 4 weeks)

I'm looking very forward to my system.  8)

PS: Good luck Caveman with your new system  :)

[caveman16]

     Hey Guys , Nice of you to respond and give me so much of your time.    This is indeed very educational for me and a big help in my deciding which video card to buy .  I guess I saw so many others that Like I said earlier - - -  what I saw yesterday isn't the fastest today and will always be that way.  I'll always take into consideration your advice.   Now is the time for me to do that which is difficult  [for me] - - - think  

     Thanks so much guys,
             caveman

[caveman16]

   
    Oops - - -  Thanks  Jimbo

[PisTon]

The 7800GTX has 24 pipes and the GT has 20

With Flight Simulator, Nvidia will give you better speed and does not like AA or clouds, ATI will give you better visual quality and loves AA and clouds, but hates autogen. With Nvidia you also get SLI ready so you can add another card next year assuming the motherboard you choose suports SLI. SLI and 512mb cards will be pretty much standard for FSX so I think it is a no-brainer what is best to spend the money on for future capibility in Flight Simulator = Nvidia 7900GTX w/512mb

Don't forget, the increased capabilities of fsX are because of enhances in the software AND hardware.

There is no way of SLI 7900GTX being standard of fsX, standard would be a midrange Direct X 10 card or decent Direct X 9.
The screenshots of fsX are actually on 3.2ghz Pentium 4s with X850s/6800s on them.

cya

BTW: fsX isn't optimized for SLI anyway.