Looking for a newer PCI-E video card than my X850XT

[blackhawk]

I'm completing the family upgrade to pci-e now and am moving my x850xt card to the family computer and need to replace it on my dfi ultra with opteron 165 overclocked.

I do a bit of gaming, maybe two games a year and have used mostly ati over the last 4 years so am used to them. I'm looking at an ati x1800xt 512 up here on sale but hear of heat and noise issues.

I'm not averse to buying used but am concerned by the warranty issues with nvidia 'lifetime waranty' cards and origonal owners etc and feel they're overpriced on the forums right now.

I can get a new 7900gt for about 15% less than the x1800xt 512 up here as well but am concerned about pic quality as I haven't used nvidia since the 4200 days.

any suggestions or experience would be appreciated as always

[123cool]

both good cards, picture quality isnt really an issue anymore theres a few minor things with AA, but not static pictures or any real difference in games, the 7900 GT is a great card. so is the x1800xt, its really up to the price. if you want to see how these cards perform check out the THG buyers guide,

http://tomshardware.co.uk/2006/05/15/gr ... age44.html

[blackhawk]

thanks for the reply, still haven't decided so the box is sitting without a card right now but also looking at a slightly used x1900xt, I'm still happy with ati os am partial to them

I can pay whatever for a card but just calculate its life at about 50% value per year or about 350-400 for a card that'll last 2 years for games, less for other uses like the Matrox G450 on this machine I'm using

I'll take another look at it next week when I get back from a work trip, no rush.

[123cool]

if theres no rush i would wait for the directx 10 based cards to come out, that will bring the price of the other cards down(hopefully).

[blackhawk]

there'll always be a newer card coming

finally picked up a lightly used asus 7900gt, time to try nvidia again!

with the coreduo reviews, maybe time to try intel again