X1800 performance down to memory?

[maverik-sg1]

I was looking today at some X1800 results - and is the ram stays at 1500mhz then it is not faster than a 7800GTX.

Could it be that memory bandwidth will be the deciding factor in the current GPU shoot-out?

 

[maverik-sg1]

Sampsa tops out at 12400 in 05....

 

[SAS91]

Thats still pretty damn fast, one card beating SLI. It also shows that the r520 doesnt have the cold bug.

 

[SAS91]

But yea, i also guess that the speed of the RAM is the deciding factor as the r520 just hasnt got the pipelines to really compete with the nv70

 

[chris_ah1]

but then again, fewer pipelines means faster overall clocks are attainable - its a fine line of compromise really. I prefer nvidia's approach though.

 

[Vrykyl]

so nvidia reads, see that memory is winning and releases a gtx/ultra with ram clocks the same or higher and watches as their new cards beats ati's.....

 

[maverik-sg1]

so nvidia reads, see that memory is winning and releases a gtx/ultra with ram clocks the same or higher and watches as their new cards beats ati's.....

More than likely - it would appear that this ACE (if the deduction i have made is correct) has allowed nvidia to rule the roost for 6 months with lower manufacturing costs than ATI has now - maximising margins in the 1st 3months of release (hence the apparent 'low' current price), but also by having the best card and SLI unchallenged for so long hs also maximised unit sales - so highest profit margin with highest attainable sales - by the time the RAM change comes along it is likely Nvidia will (probably) be able to put the same higer quality ram in the cards and still at a better price.

You have to admire the way this has all transpired.

To reply to the question of lower pipes = higher clock speeds - is partly true, but owes more to the manufacturing the GPU at 90nm (X1800) versus 110nm (7800 series) - The real gain will be proven when Nvidias 90nm unit comes out (Expected to be 550mhz plus with 24 pipes).

MAv

 

[mcmad]

expect to see a 512 speedbumped GTX with faster mem chips very very soon...

 

[chris_ah1]

yeah, some guys at a certain store said that a 7800ultra would be here within a week or so......

 

[maverik-sg1]

expect to see a 512 speedbumped GTX with faster mem chips very very soon...

For crying out loud - I only just finsihed getting these puppies volt modded - but if these babies bandwidth starts at 1500Mhz and can realistically overclock the same as the ATI ones - then It'll be time for Mav to upgrade

Well someone has to give Gollum a run for his money before xmas

But then again it could be that I sit this round out and wait for the G80 - I gotta draw the line somewhere.

 

[jellybeard999]

But then again it could be that I sit this round out and wait for the G80 - I gotta draw the line somewhere.

thats the thing, to be competitive bencher, you NEED the top of everything :s

to game, 2 generations or more ago is still fine for top detail most of the time

you CANT draw the line to stay competitive benching, thats why most who do it drop out after a short time, cos its too expensive

just enjoy the computer d00d... and start gaming ... do you really want to pay hundreds just to see your computer show you a higher number ?

 

[chris_ah1]

[snip]But then again it could be that I sit this round out and wait for the G80 - I gotta draw the line somewhere.[/snip]

The age-old dilemma :'(

 

[maverik-sg1]

Of course, but one thing I have learned over the past few months is this:

The 6800GT overclocked in sli are still more than adequate for the current wave of games about to hit the high street - even at 1600x1200 with some AA and AF enabled and even HDR.

The 7800GTX's are still to reach their full potential but again are more than adequate for the same wave of games at 1600x1200 with some AA and AF enabled - in SLI you can have all the bells and whistles too.

I also learned that apart from the accolade (which personally, I do enjoy) of benching there was no reason to upgrade when I did purely from a gaming perspective.

I also could have saved myself £150 (£75 a card) by waiting until now to upgrade (a measely 3 months after launch) and still been flying high in the benching stakes).

What I like about the volt modded action I have enjoyed with these 7800's is that even set at 1.55v (a 0.15v increase) and the RAM set at 2.2v (a 0.2v increase) these units can remain air cooled (in a well cooled case like antec P160 or Lian Li PC65) and still run at 575mhz core clock and 1450Mhz ram clock speeds staying well within the heat limits of the unit (around 75degrees under load after 3 hours of UT2004) with stock cooling and no throttling (with the right BIOS). This gives you a really good boost in games and with watercooling the ability to go even faster.

My mindset right now is to sit back for a few months and see what happens, but the coach reserves his right to change his mind (again!!)

Just a comment on the X1800XL overclocked to XT speeds 625/1500 with stock cooling - temps are 80degrees under load - watercooling will be required to go higher and that proves that the 7800GTX overclocked remains the better choice for air cooled rigs.

Mav

 

[Master_G]

My mindset right now is to sit back for a few months and see what happens, but the coach reserves his right to change his mind (again!!)

Rofl, trying to keep a rig for a few months, you must be ill or drunk

I wonder how long it is before that "buy" finger starts to twitch lol.

Current games will always run fine on past hardware, especially if it was pretty high end when you got it, if it didnt then they would seriously limit their market.

Benching is the one that keeps you buying, you just itch to have the fastest stuff as soon as it is releasedn so you can play and post the scores. It's an expensive itch though.

Good luck trying to hold out mav

G

 

[chris_ah1]

I utterly agree - the one reason why I never ran a benchmark in my life is becuase I knew i would always be that little bit disappointed and neurotically go for the next %. It is really like formula 1 in a way - trying to eek out that extra .1 of a second.

 

[Faaip De Oiad]

I would upgrade constantly as well if I had the money.