7900GS vs 8600GT vs 2600XT

[Seggybop]

I'm trying to decide on a video card to get for not more than around $100 USD. I recently sold my previous system with an X1950pro 512mb, which was pretty much overkill for me, with the maximum resolution I use being 1280x1024.

I don't play games all the time, and when I do I'm content with relatively low FPS. However, I'd still like to get the best performance for the money.

I have been looking at 8600GT and 2600XT cards, which seem to have very similar performance, and the 7900GS, which lacks DX10 and HD video acceleration but from some benchmarks seems to provide significantly better FPS. All are 256mb DDR3. I can get any of these for ~$100.

The 8600GT seems to work acceptably pretty consistently, while the 2600XT will either beat it or be beaten depending on if AA is enabled.

DX10 is irrelevant to me because Vista is made of loss and fail, and these cards couldn't run DX10 playably even if it wasn't.

The HD video acceleration features of the DX10 cards would be useful to me if they also apply to video editing/encoding as well as playback. Do they have an advantage over the 7900GS in that area?

And with the 7900GS, are the benchmarks where it's shown to on average defeat the 8600GTS still relevant given driver updates? If so, that would be a huge mark in favor of it.

Note that whatever I get I will be overclocking as much as possible.

Any recommendation?

 

[Cookie Monster]

The 2600XT/8600GT will perform much better when it comes to newer games compared to the 7900GS.

I would say the 2600XT/8600GT would be the better choice since they offer solid mid range performance, HD video acceleration and other goodies for movie playback, small in terms of size, IQ is better than the 7900GS and low power draw if that matters to you.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Originally posted by: Cookie Monster
The 2600XT/8600GT will perform much better when it comes to newer games compared to the 7900GS.

ROFL. Thats a good one. The 7900GS will crush the 8600GT now and 10 years from now. If theres ever a game the 7900GS can't play but the 8600GT can, it's because it's a DX10 only game that even the slow 8600GT won't be able to play at worth while FPS. And the 2600XT is behind the 8600GT which is way behind the 7900GS.

Get the 7900GS.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Bioshock for example

Want me to search you benchmarks based on modern games like UT3 for e.g where a 8600GT/2600XT can match a 7900GS? where is this "crushing" going on? How about oblivion where the 7 series cards cant even hold a candle.

The OP is not an avid gamer. Newest titles runs better on 8600GT/2600XT because of the nature of their architecture. It has nothing to do with DX10. I nor the OP stated the importance of DX10. A 8600GT/2600XT will play shader heavy games much better than the 7900GS.

One clear example. Oblivion. The 7 series are already showing how weak they are when it comes to shader heavy titles. (Old DX9 games still favor this card, but newer games based on next gen engines show otherwise)

However putting all this aside, if i was in his position i would grab the 8600GT or 2600XT. More toward 8600GT since its more consistent.

Its small. No PCI-e connector needed i.e less power. Provides decent mid range performance for casual gamers. Provides MUCH better HD content playback, and offers much more in that area in terms of IQ, and hardware acceleration. Heat isnt a problem since these cards are cool to begin with. IQ also is better.

What would you pick? Its fine either way really but what i say about the newer cards performing better than the 7900GS at newer titles (with the exception of games based on old engines like HL2) is true relative to the cards specs.

If it was the X1950pro, it would be abit different because that card is in a different league.

Its my recommendation. Take it or leave it.

If you have a problem, then take it to PM. I dont want to go OT thanks.


edit - OP said hes going to OC massively. Vmod possibly?

7900GS can hit over 550MHz, and maybe 600 with a vmod or more. A 8600GT i have no clue, but the GTS counterpart has been hitting up to 900+MHz given that its properly cooled. Not so sure about the 2600XT.

 

[Seggybop]

This is the 7900GS I was looking at, for what it's worth. Already factory OC'ed to 560mhz core to begin with.

As for 8600GT and 2600XT, there tons of models available.
If I saw an 8600GTS that was cheap enough I would consider it as well. Though, I have heard conflicting info about the 8600GTS' overclockability compated to the GT.

 

[AzN]

7900gs is faster. Cookie Monster does have a point. Newer games 2600xt and 8600gt tends to be faster than stock 7900gs. I would give upper hand 2600xt though far as newer games.

In this case though I would say neither and get 1900gt, 1950gt, or 8600gts for nearly same price.

 

[gingerstewart55]

From the Anandtech current article on UT3 Beta:

The X1950 Pro, HD 2600 XT, and 8600 GTS perform very similarly across most resolutions tested. The exception is 800x600 where the NVIDIA part leads the way. Of course, the card to pick is the 2600 XT, as it's cheaper than the 8600 GTS.

I do find it strange that in their testing in the above UT3 Beta testing, if the 7900GS is so danged fast, why are the three above mentioned cards all besting a 7950GT in all resolutions? You can see the results linked below.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3128&p=3

 

[seemingly random]

One aspect of the 2600xt not mentioned here which affects price and performance is the ram type: DDR[234]. I don't think a DDR4 version can be found under $100 and this is the one usually compared to the 8600 in reviews.

Does anyone use 800x600 or 1024x768 anymore?

 

[Seggybop]

If I was getting a 2600XT it would definitely be DDR3, the DDR4 versions don't seem to show significant benefit for the cost.

I see how the 2600XT and 8600GT are showing better performance for the newest games, but I'll probably be playing as many older games as newer ones. Any of the cards is probably more than sufficient, but might 7900GS have better performance overall when older games are considered as well? Or are the DX10 still best?

Regarding 8600GT/GTS, given vmod OC, would there be worthwhile benefit to the GTS?

 

[hans007]

i would probably get the 7900gs or 8600gt personally.

if you want the 2600xt though its not as consistantly fast, but there are some good deals on it. at newegg its $95 free shipping, no rebates, and it comes with the valve black box so you get TF2 and some other games, effectively making it like a $65 video card...

 

[Sunrise089]

2600XT - super cheap, and might just end up the fastest based on new UT-2007 benches.

 

[Seggybop]

Everyone, thank you for the advice! I finally decided to go with a 2600XT (Gigabyte passive version w/NWN2 + Valve black box for $103)

The new UT3 results pushed me a lot towards it, and then I found that it can be easily modded to FireGL, which will make this computer very useful for my schoolwork. Even if 8600GT/GTS can be overclocked much more than the 2600XT and defeat it in UT, it still won't have the advantage for 3D/CAD.

7900GS looked really strong, competitive with the x1950pro I had before, but it really does seem like it's getting trashed in newer games.

 

[taltamir]

I would recommend the 8600GT...
Older games where the 7900 holds the advantage do not NEED as much power anyways... and you will have good framerate regardless... its those times where you are pushing the card that the archetectural benefits of the newer models come to play...
The 8 series takes less power and cables attached and produces less heat... which also means its probably gonna be more reliable in the long run.
The fact that as an 8 series would have driver support for longer then the 7 series.

As for why the geforce and not the 2600xt...
The GF is more consistant then the amd card. so thats a point in its favor.
And the nvidia drivers are also a breeze compared to amds... so thats another point.

NOTE: I have no idea how I missed the last post where the OC said they already made their choice...

Anyways... congrats on your upgrade

 

[frankierx]

Originally posted by: Seggybop
Everyone, thank you for the advice! I finally decided to go with a 2600XT (Gigabyte passive version w/NWN2 + Valve black box for $103)

The new UT3 results pushed me a lot towards it, and then I found that it can be easily modded to FireGL, which will make this computer very useful for my schoolwork.

What is fireGL? Can I do this with any 2600xt or only the gigabyte one? I just ordered a sapphire 2600xt 512mb ddr3 on newegg. It says in the specs Open GL2.0

 

[Seggybop]

FireGL are video cards ATI sells to be used by professionals for 3D graphics creation / CAD / rendering / etc. They use the same GPU as Radeon series cards but are sold for 5-10x as much money. They have different drivers than Radeon cards that provide more precise OpenGL quality and some extra features like wireframe antialiasing. The only hardware differences are components that have gone through more rigorous stability testing. Since the GPU is the same, most Radeon cards can be converted to FireGL with modified drivers or bios.

For 2600XT, see http://www.techenclave.com/for...iregl-v5600-98532.html

 

[bryanW1995]

yes, one of the best things about r600 is that firegl has been killing nvidia lately because of it. nvidia used to dominate the prof gpu market, but r600 firegl cards have put a serious dent in this. It kind of reminds me of what amd did with opteron a few years ago. if you can mod a 2600xt into a firegl for professional apps then that's an absolute no-brainer. good choice and good luck.

 

[requiem1]

If I were you I would just buy a new POWERCOLOR X1950PRO 512MB for $130....MUCH more bang for buck than any of those cards: Way better performance, 512MB memory, Lifetime warranty, and an Amazing heatsink. gg.

POWERCOLOR X1950PRO 512MB ($130) (Comes with Artic Heatsink)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814131055

 

[Om51]

I recommend 8600GT

Newest titles runs better on 8600GT/2600XT because of the nature of their architecture

Thats why I pickedup 8600GT for 120$ , I didn't find any better alternative .