For a while I was pretty much set on getting XFX's all passive 7950GT card, but I found out that a X1950Pro can be had for much less, and has just as good if not better performance (especially in Oblivion, which is my biggest concern).

My big problem is that apparently there are buttloads of 7900 or 7950 reviews but not many X1950 reviews, atleast not recent ones...

I'd prefer a factory oc'd and heatsink modded card if possible, the card I liked most from the few reviews I found was the "ultimate" X1950Pro from Sapphire, but newegg doesn't have them, atleast...not anymore...? Any (reputable) places I can find this?

Sorry, lots of questions...been out of the loop for gfx cards for a while...

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE Radeon X1950PRO 100176L HDCP Video Card - Retail

Newegg

I dont know to much about ATi but I have two 7950GTs, they are realy great cards

Quote: Originally Posted by killert Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE Radeon X1950PRO 100176L HDCP Video Card - Retail Newegg I dont know to much about ATi but I have two 7950GTs, they are realy great cards

I was actually referring to the "ultimate" version sapphire put out, that was prevoltmodded (i believe) , and had a zalman cooler...

I know you are thinking "what a wuss, mod it yourself!" but after a few bad products, I've come to love warranties...

I found it on ebay, but all I see are OEM ones (so they don't have decent warrenties)

Its not about X1950PRO's when XT's are this much.
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE Radeon X1950XT 100186L VIVO HDCP Video Card - Retail

Quote: Originally Posted by Zaltan Its not about X1950PRO's when XT's are this much. Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE Radeon X1950XT 100186L VIVO HDCP Video Card - Retail

Nice find, my big concern is that I have a X850XTPE with that same cooler...and frankly I hate it! Anything with the newer or aftermarket coolers would be better.

Edit: Enjoy that new rep block!

I dont think you'll find any X1950XT's with aftermarket coolers, I think theres some crazy ATi rule about it.
Newegg.com - ZALMAN VF900 – CU 2 Ball VGA Cooler - Retail
Newegg.com - ARCTIC COOLING Accelero X2 Fluid Dynamic VGA Cooling Fan with Heatsink - Retail

Quote: Originally Posted by Zaltan I dont think you'll find any X1950XT's with aftermarket coolers, I think theres some crazy ATi rule about it. Newegg.com - ZALMAN VF900 – CU 2 Ball VGA Cooler - Retail Newegg.com - ARCTIC COOLING Accelero X2 Fluid Dynamic VGA Cooling Fan with Heatsink - Retail

...Well, the last card I did have I took apart for fun and they didn't make anything of it when I sent it back as defective...(correlation maybe?)

Quote: Originally Posted by Gzim ...Well, the last card I did have I took apart for fun and they didn't make anything of it when I sent it back as defective...(correlation maybe?)

Woops sort of misphrased that. I meant that all X1950XT's will use that cooler. There won't be any retailing with say the Zalmans on.

We have a review of the X1950Pro PCI-Express on PCApex, and we will have one of the AGP version coming in the next week or so.

Well I have an X1950 Pro, and it's pretty decent. Gets me 10500 in 3dmark 05 @ stock clocks, and runs FEAR like a charm. Not much overclocking to be had on them though - ATi seem to have pushed the components pretty hard already.

Sapphire is releasing dual crossfire x1950 PRO
its bascically the ATI version of the 7950GX2
1GB GDDR3 (2x 512MB GDDR3 chips on one board) and can do quad-crossfire
I wanna see if its just a fluke and a waste of money because it just bottlenecks like the 7950GX2 did

they will be out next month for $399

I was reading through some of the reviews on Newegg about the X1950Pro 256mb, people were saying it has overheating problems. Not just one or two, quite a few actually. That would stear me away from this card. I would get a card that gets mucho praise.

EDIT: (YEAH FOR THE NEW REP BLOCK!! Thanks Guys).

I have a hard time justifying spending ANY coin on a DX-9 card at this time, unless u need it NOW, or are on a super tight budget.

The 8800GTS is around 400$ now, while hardly a budget card..it seems like money well spent in the long run.

Very soon, the 8800GT will be out at the 300$ price point, and the 8600 series cards soon after, they will be 250$ or less.

Geforce 8800 GTS 320MB aims for February

Pixel shader 4 and other features of the G-80 archictures designed for DX-10 (New, more effecient types of Shaders in general) will allow better overall game performance than todays DX-9 cards even with non DX-10 games, even if the benchies are the same or a bit lower than the cards you are looking at!

Of course ATI has new offerings in the DX-10 market, it's just a matter of when they launch.

ATI R600 is Radeon X2x00 series

More graphics card "Rumors"

Welcome to the Inquirer Graphics Page

Quote: Originally Posted by reflux Well I have an X1950 Pro, and it's pretty decent. Not much overclocking to be had on them though - ATi seem to have pushed the components pretty hard already.

Thats what X1900GT's are good for. They use the same core and memory just clocked lower. And mine was £90.

Quote: Originally Posted by $SOLID$ Necro I have a hard time justifying spending ANY coin on a DX-9 card at this time, unless u need it NOW, or are on a super tight budget.

I suppose I could invest into other components...perhaps a raptor or something...

Thanks all, +rep to all (atleast those I will when I can...)