fx 5900 or fx 5700 ultra

[MortimRex]

OK...I have a chance to buy both cards for the same price. Best Buy has the Fx 5700 Ultra for $219.00 before a $20 rebate and the 5900 (non-ultra) for $249.00 before a $50.00 rebate, bringing them both to $199.00.

I'm not enough of a video guru to know which one to get. Logic tells me that the higher the number the better the card, figuring that it migh be in a higher class ( high end vs. mid-range). The 5700 is such a new card, I can't find anything comparing it to it's 5900 brother. Can anyone help me here?

And please, let's not make this into an ATI vs. Nvidia war. I have had Nvidia for years and I want another Nvidia card. I'm just not sure which one of these cards is better.

Thanks

Rex

 

[Nohr]

The FX 5900, for sure.

Here's a link to a 5700 Ultra review starting at the benchmarks where the 5900 is included: link

 

Since they are both nvidia cards, this should be a no brainer. 5900 of course.
5900 is greater than 5700 in mem bandwidth, pipelines, and brute strength.
Even if the 5900 was fifty dollars more, it would be worth the buy.

GM

 

[1ManArmY]

5900 Without a doubt.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: 1ManArmY
5900 Without a doubt.

 

[nemesismk2]

get the fx 5900!

 

[Lonyo]

5900

 

[Zk1]

The 5900nu will be better then the 5700u in every single way, exept mabey power consumption (spelling?), but that shoulent be a issue anyway.

 

[MortimRex]

Cool!!! Thanks, guys. I was leaning that way, but something about putting "ULTRA" behind the numbers made it seem just that much more impressive. HEHE

Thanks again!

Rex

 

[ticktack]

what can a 8 pipeline 5900 lose to a 4 pipeline 5700u?

 

[department76]

the 5700 is a 5900 core, but its kinda like the 9800se; it only uses 4 instead of 8 pipes. the 5700 also uses 128bit memory rather than 256 of the 5900. the 5700 is a great mainstream ~200$ card, but go for the 5900 if oyu can

 

[mrman3k]

I was in the same boat, and thanks to this thread am going to buy a 5900nu! Thanks guys!

 

[bunnyfubbles]

dont you mean 4x2 vs 4x1? when did nVidia go to 8 pipes?

 

[modedepe]

As far as I know, the fx5900 is 4x2. But I've been hearing that the new fx5950 is an 8 pipe design.

 

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
dont you mean 4x2 vs 4x1? when did nVidia go to 8 pipes?

Yes you are absolutely right bunny. It's a theoretical 8 pipes (4x2).

 

[Wedge1]

What is the core and memory clock of the 5900, 5900 ultra, and 5950?

 

Originally posted by: modedepe
As far as I know, the fx5900 is 4x2. But I've been hearing that the new fx5950 is an 8 pipe design.

No modedepe. The 5950 is still only 4x2. 4 pipes with 2 texture units per pipe. Theoretical 8.

Possibly the NV40 will be a theoretical 16 pipes. 8 pipes with 2 texture units per pipe. Just dont know yet.

 

Originally posted by: Wedge1
What is the core and memory clock of the 5900, 5900 ultra, and 5950?

400, 450, 475

 

[jiffylube1024]

The 5900 is WAY WAY WAY faster than the 5700. We're talking 30% at least.

 

[Wedge1]

Originally posted by: gorillaman

Originally posted by: Wedge1
What is the core and memory clock of the 5900, 5900 ultra, and 5950?

400, 450, 475

And the memory is? 400/? 450/? 475/?

 

[Wedge1]

Originally posted by: gorillaman

Originally posted by: modedepe
Possibly the NV40 will be a theoretical 16 pipes. 8 pipes with 2 texture units per pipe. Just dont know yet.

Good lord!! When is NV40 due to hit the market?

 

[Schadenfroh]

i suck at reading

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
where can you get a 5900 for 200?

..... d*ty*r*ee*t.com

You should be able to figure that out.

 

[modedepe]

400/800, 450/850, 475/950

 

[Pete]

5900 >> 5700U. This is as close as it gets to a no-brainer in the 3D world: get the 5900, and don't look back (except maybe to laugh at 5700U buyers ).

5900 is 4x2/8x0, 5700U is 2x2/4x0 (nV says 4x1, but I think a 5700 is half a 5900, which makes it 2x2). Thus, the 5900 should theoretically be able to crank out twice as many pixels per clock. The 5900 also has twice the memory bandwidth.

And the 5950U is basically a 5900U clocked a little higher. I don't think there are any core improvements.