Radeon or GeForce

[jonessoda]

The uses of the computer will be gaming, at the highest resolution and AAing I can use on the cards, as well as some heavy Photoshop use (Maya will wait until I have a dedicated graphics computer with a FireGL, I think). So, my question is:

-Dual X1800XTs running in CrossFire mode

or

-Dual 7800GTXs running in SLI mode

The $200 price difference between the GeForce and the Radeon setup is not a problem if there's a significan performance increase.

Games will be mostly things like BF2, Doom 3, HL2, CS: Source, F.E.A.R., and other FPS/3d-intensive games. The processor is most likely going to be a dual-core Athlon, and the mobo depends on the video cards, I guess.

 

[Steelski]

what resolution will you be gaming at. this is very important as if its super insane then i would guess the crossfire but not yet (as it is not available yet). otherwise if you are gaming at 1600 x 1XXX then the GTX will be better for your price i guess.
Also it matters what motherboard you have at the moment and if you are upgrading anything else.
either way you will see big improvements.

 

[kurt454]

I'd lean towards dual 7800GTXs. SLI has matured a little farther than Crossfire atm.

 

[TheHans]

Plus the nVidia drivers have dual core optimisations giving you a speed boost with the dual core Athlon if you're getting it.

 

[Steelski]

i just noticed you said the highest resolution on the cards. That is always limited by the monitor so please specify what res that goes to.
Anandtech reported that although they couldent disclose results because of NDA, they did say that the XT performed better including in AA tests. you could wait out a little for that, its kind of game now or in a couple of weeks time i guess.
if you are looking to get this before christmas then the safe bet would be dual GTX's

 

[rbV5]

-Dual X1800XTs running in CrossFire mode

Not available.

 

[johnnqq]

Originally posted by: kurt454
I'd lean towards dual 7800GTXs. SLI has matured a little farther than Crossfire atm.

^^

 

[Cookie Monster]

Originally posted by: rbV5

-Dual X1800XTs running in CrossFire mode

Not available.

True, the X1800XT CF card isnt released til dec8th according to vr-zone. You could wait though, but looks like your willing to spend quite alot.

Are you gonig to buy now or wait? because the R580 and the G71 is going to be announced and release pretty soon around january~feburary.

This is from Hardocp with playable settings using 7800GTX 512mb SLi.
Quake4
16x12 4x TR SSAA 8xAF UQ

F.E.A.R
16x12 4x TR MSAA 16xAF

BF2
16x12 4x TR SSAA High AF

Lost Coast
16x12 4x TR SSAA 16xAF

You have to note that SSAA(super sampling) is ALOT better looking than MSAA(multi sampling) Plus transparecey AA cleans out alot of jaggies on the fences.

This is from techreport. (the setiings are low, but you can up the settings basing on the scores from techreport)
Doom3 16x12 4xAA 8xAF
178.8 fps

HL2 lost coast 16x12 HDR 16xAF
77 fps

F.E.A.R 1280x960 4xAA 16xAA
Minimum fps 43
AVG fps 92.3

BF2 16x12 AxAA HQ AF
Minimum fps 77
AVG fps 89.5

So, this setup is pretty much the BEST gaming solution out there. You will play games at insane settings.

Im not sure about Crossfire because firstly the X1800XT CF cards arent available. There arent many good crossfire boards out there (only known ones are Asus, and DFI) and there isnt any review on the performance and stability of crossfire.

However SLi is matured and been arond for 1 year. It has dual core performance increases, mix vendor matching, dont need a master card, stability on most games(like 200 games so far) can turn off/on SLi on desktop, and some more stuff.

 

[VIAN]

Well, I don't think there will be that much of a performance difference. But I'll say this.

Last I heard, SLI was a better implimentation of dual cards as well as BEING available. Then I would think of what kind of compatability problems both have.

 

[Eureka]

Go with the SLi... just a better system overall... CrossFire... more like misfire.

Norm

 

[The Green Bean]

Originally posted by: johnnqq

Originally posted by: kurt454
I'd lean towards dual 7800GTXs. SLI has matured a little farther than Crossfire atm.

^^

^^

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: Cookie Monster
This is from Hardocp with playable settings using 7800GTX 512mb SLi.
Quake4
16x12 4x TR SSAA 8xAF UQ

F.E.A.R
16x12 4x TR MSAA 16xAF

BF2
16x12 4x TR SSAA High AF

Lost Coast
16x12 4x TR SSAA 16xAF

So even dual 512 gtx's arent fast enough to smoothly run FEAR at those settings with SSAA? Cause I've seen enough reviews to know that MSAA does just about nothing for transparency textures.