hello there, im currently in the process of buying parts for a build so here's the question i have, what's the absolute best video card i can get, im willing to pay up to $2000 on it so fire away. if you have specific questions try checking here for more in depth thoughts http://forums.pcapex.com/case_moddin..._computer.html if that doesnt help you then feel free to ask here or PM me, thanx for any help

Well, for gaming applications, you really only have two choices. ATI's Radeon X1900XTX + XT Crossfire, and nVidia's GeForce 7900GTX SLI. Both cards offer incredible performance, put out lots of heat and noise, and are very expensive.

With the ATI cards, you'll need an ATI CrossFire chipset-based motherboard. Here is what I recommend you look at:

Motherboard: DFI Lanparty CFX3200DR. Looks sweet, overclocks like a mofo, and has full 32-line PCI-Express for both the video cards.

Video Cards:PowerColor X1900XTX 512MB + PowerColor X1900 CrossFire Edition 512MB.

For nVidia:

Motherboard: Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe. Lots of features, supports nVidias SLI, and also has 32-lanes of PCI express dedicated to video.

Video Cards: 2 x XFX GeForce 7900GTX 512MB Extreme. They come pre-overclocked to 675Mhz on the core.

Now, either setup will set you back around $1300 for just the video cards and mobo. Did you say you have up to $2000 for just the video, or the whole system? If it's the former, then let me know so I can adjust it for you.

In the other thread he says he has a budget of $5000 for the whole computer so I would think he ment $2000 just for the graphics portion.

What Ator mentioned is just about the best you can get right now. The only thing I would get is some aftermarket coolers for these cards. Like Ator said these cards put out a lot of heat and noise. I would suggest the Zalman VF-900 Link

Quote: Originally Posted by The Amish Kid In the other thread he says he has a budget of $5000 for the whole computer so I would think he ment $2000 just for the graphics portion. What Ator mentioned is just about the best you can get right now. The only thing I would get is some aftermarket coolers for these cards. Like Ator said these cards put out a lot of heat and noise. I would suggest the Zalman VF-900.

I would actually recommend not getting a VF900 on the 1900XTX. For some reason, that thing overloads even Zalman's best air-cooling offering. This is based off of the experiences of other users from Xtremesystems.

Quote: Originally Posted by Ator I would actually recommend not getting a VF900 on the 1900XTX. For some reason, that thing overloads even Zalman's best air-cooling offering. This is based off of the experiences of other users from Xtremesystems.

Plus if he's going comletley top of the line, there wouldn't be room for the ageis card with aftermarket cooling installed i dont think.

Quote: Originally Posted by Cyno01 Plus if he's going comletley top of the line, there wouldn't be room for the ageis card with aftermarket cooling installed i dont think.

There would be room still...they use PCI slots. The DFI CF3200 has 3 PCI slots, so even with the video cards hanging over one of them, you can still put two cards in there (PhysX and Soundcard, for example).

Quote: Originally Posted by yosemite hello there, im currently in the process of buying parts for a build so here's the question i have, what's the absolute best video card i can get

Well, there is one other "Best video card" option, but it's not very practical... Quad SLI

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...900_gx2/1.html

They are almost impossible to find in retail, and only show real benefits at ultra high resolutions. The drivers are a bit buggy too.

Quote: Originally Posted by Ator There would be room still...they use PCI slots. The DFI CF3200 has 3 PCI slots, so even with the video cards hanging over one of them, you can still put two cards in there (PhysX and Soundcard, for example).

Ok, i was confused by the review of it on CAD yesterday, he said something about going between the cards, so i thought it went in one of those little slots. What are those for anyway, not to sound like a n00b, but my rigs only socket A and i've only built 3 939/PCIE systems...

Quote: Originally Posted by Cyno01 Ok, i was confused by the review of it on CAD yesterday, he said something about going between the cards, so i thought it went in one of those little slots. What are those for anyway, not to sound like a n00b, but my rigs only socket A and i've only built 3 939/PCIE systems...

The little slots are the x1 lane PCI-Express slots...very few cards are available that use them. There are slightly larger slots as well which I see on DFI Lanparty boards, and those are x4 lane slots. Of course, video goes in the x16 lane slots.

*EDIT* I personally wouldn't recommend Quad SLI because it requires so much CPU power that games run WORSE on it unless you really crank the resolutions and AA+AF. I'm talking 2560x1600 resolutions, BTW...1600x1200 runs better on dual video SLI, which is what I would much rather have in this case. X1900XT Crossfire beats Quad SLI in some cases...I think it's pathetic to be honest.

LINKS:

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/QuadSLI/1
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/vid...-quad-sli.html

Quote: Originally Posted by Ator I would actually recommend not getting a VF900 on the 1900XTX. For some reason, that thing overloads even Zalman's best air-cooling offering. This is based off of the experiences of other users from Xtremesystems.

Oh I didn't know that.

Ator, you're one away from 2K

i am super glad to see all the posts, i basically thought that may be the case, so i guess the gsu i have is the best im going to get, i'll prob. go with the ATI card, and yes i did mean on just the graphics card, just look at the link i have, it should have most info in general of the build im thinking of, just review it for anything you think im missing or have wrong, then let me know. and i do intend on using it for gaming purposes. as far as im aware my mobo i have listed should be fine, but let me know if otherwise. any other questions also can anyone recommend a really good static band, thanx.

Quote: Originally Posted by yosemite i am super glad to see all the posts, i basically thought that may be the case, so i guess the gsu i have is the best im going to get, i'll prob. go with the ATI card, and yes i did mean on just the graphics card, just look at the link i have, it should have most info in general of the build im thinking of, just review it for anything you think im missing or have wrong, then let me know. and i do intend on using it for gaming purposes. as far as im aware my mobo i have listed should be fine, but let me know if otherwise. any other questions also can anyone recommend a really good static band, thanx.

I would go with the CF3200 instead of the RDX200...the 200 has a buggy, underpowered southbridge which hinders performance and overclocking. It messed up DFI's reputation a bit.

Quote: Originally Posted by Ator I would go with the CF3200 instead of the RDX200...the 200 has a buggy, underpowered southbridge which hinders performance and overclocking. It messed up DFI's reputation a bit.

Plus the 3200 is a complete implementation of crossfire, with 16 pathways avaliable for EACH card, as well as not needing the external crossfire cable. The 200 seemed to be a stopgap to get crossfire out there ASAP.

thanx for all the info, i really appreciate it, i'll seriously look into it, its a good thing i didnt get that yet, but i have bought a few parts, but im trying to wait just a bit longer. but i dont plan on overclocking, and i may not even go with the crossfire option, but im still not set, i just dont think it's too much worth it but if otherwise let me know. im going to assume you mean the new cfx3200 by dfi, if so could you give a link to a review or something with details, like an online retailer as tigerdirect.com doesnt have it.

Buying top of the line hardware is only "Worth it" for 6 months, then the next gen comes out thats 15~25% faster and you are left with hardware that sells for 1/3 less than what you just paid...every where you look will be a sale and a rebate offer as they try and move this "Old Stock"

NVIDA and ATI typically release a brand new GPU "Plaform" at least once a year, and a "Refresh" within 3~6 months, depending on they are doing in the latest benchmark races that win the front pages.
It is usually just a bump in clock speeds (GPU and Mem) and possibly a few minor tweeks such as drivers, or possibly more RAM, but no major changes to the GPU "Core" or increase of pixel piplenes/shaders that would justify an upgrade from the first editions.

You have to watch the "Cycle" and see what brand and model is going to give you the most performance for the money, the X-1900XT was just released, so a 7900GTX is old news... NVIDA is getting ready to launch the next Salvo.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30624

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=31797

DX-10 and Windows "Vista" are also just around the corner so to speak, so any DX-9card you buy today will be 1 gen behind in Direct X.
My guess is you will be not be able to completely support every feature of future games like Unreal 2007, and of course, whatever comes out after that.

That doesn't mean it won't play fine on a current DX-9 card, just you miss out on some of the new goodies.

The war continues...

Quote: Originally Posted by $SOLID$ Necro Buying top of the line hardware is only "Worth it" for 6 months, then the next gen comes out thats 15~25% faster and you are left with hardware that sells for 1/3 less than what you just paid...every where you look will be a sale and a rebate offer as they try and move this "Old Stock" NVIDA and ATI typically release a brand new GPU "Plaform" at least once a year, and a "Refresh" within 3~6 months, depending on they are doing in the latest benchmark races that win the front pages. It is usually just a bump in clock speeds (GPU and Mem) and possibly a few minor tweeks such as drivers, or possibly more RAM, but no major changes to the GPU "Core" or increase of pixel piplenes/shaders that would justify an upgrade from the first editions. You have to watch the "Cycle" and see what brand and model is going to give you the most performance for the money, the X-1900XT was just released, so a 7900GTX is old news... NVIDA is getting ready to launch the next Salvo. http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30624 http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=31797 DX-10 and Windows "Vista" are also just around the corner so to speak, so any DX-9card you buy today will be 1 gen behind in Direct X. My guess is you will be not be able to completely support every feature of future games like Unreal 2007, and of course, whatever comes out after that. That doesn't mean it won't play fine on a current DX-9 card, just you miss out on some of the new goodies. The war continues...

trust me, i know how fast hardware can become obsolete, but i figure i might just be able to ugrade once every year or two. but thanx for the help.

Quote: Originally Posted by yosemite thanx for all the info, i really appreciate it, i'll seriously look into it, its a good thing i didnt get that yet, but i have bought a few parts, but im trying to wait just a bit longer. but i dont plan on overclocking, and i may not even go with the crossfire option, but im still not set, i just dont think it's too much worth it but if otherwise let me know. im going to assume you mean the new cfx3200 by dfi, if so could you give a link to a review or something with details, like an online retailer as tigerdirect.com doesnt have it.

Bam!

Quote: Originally Posted by Cyno01 Bam!

i actually saw that, but none of the reviews were actually helpful, i think its great but i need to know if there are any issues, plus i wont be messing around with the bios anytime soon, so will that eliminate any problems i may have or what?

Quote: Originally Posted by yosemite i actually saw that, but none of the reviews were actually helpful, i think its great but i need to know if there are any issues, plus i wont be messing around with the bios anytime soon, so will that eliminate any problems i may have or what?

Anandtech
Tweattown
VR-Zone
Extremetech

Hope that helps

thanx for all the help, i'll look into those.