deleted_account Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 Hello, I've been dabating for the past week on what kind of video card I should by. I narrowed down the decision to nVidia. However, there's so many to choose from. At first, I was going to go for the 7300GT, then I realized, that card is over 2 years old, I have so much to choose from still. Then I read the Final Cut 2 Suite System requiements, and realized they recommended something on the lines of 7800GT, when I made my decision to get the 7800GT, the new MBP just came out with 8600M support. Having that thought, I also realized that it would be possible that OSx86 may support an 8x00 series in the near future, but how soon? After reading a few posts, I've understood that we would need to obtain a kext from the new MBP that would allow this? I also noticed that an 8x00 series is less expensive compared to the 7900 series. So I went from the decisions with a ballpark price, 7300GT (~$75), 7600GT (~$125), to 7800GT (~$140), 7900/7950GT (~$190+), then finally 8600GT (~$145)/8600GTS (~$180) Your thoughts? Also, which brands are recommended and are not recommended? (I was told to stay away from BFG, MSI, Gigabyte.../Recommended: XFX, EVGA...) Thanks so much for your time. Your input is greatly appreciated. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcusthacker Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 i would invest in ither a 7300gs/gt or a 7800gt easy to install with diablok kext and has full QE CI ROTATION OPENGL i use a 7300GS and mine is a evga Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-378912 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synaesthesia Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 I say go for the 7800GT. Should be faster than the 8600 too. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-379014 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacSimilian Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 I just want to tell you the 8600 will soon be supported, because the new macbook pros have it built in. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-379106 Share on other sites More sharing options...
deleted_account Posted June 7, 2007 Author Share Posted June 7, 2007 I say go for the 7800GT. Should be faster than the 8600 too. really? again, i do not know that much about video cards, these are just numbers to me. what makes the 7800GT faster than the 8600GT, I noticed the 8600 takes quite a bit of watts of power. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-379176 Share on other sites More sharing options...
omfg Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 From a pure hardware perspective I see no debate in the answer: Get the 8xxx card. Admittedly drivers are still immature on the PC side, and (almost) non-existant on the Mac - but to me that just means that there's more yet to come from the current boards. But unless, you *must* buy the card *today*, then you should wait just a little bit longer to see how the Mac-compatibility holds out. It's highly probable that the 8x00 series will be supported in Mac - but we have no details at the moment. I'm hearing talk that Darwin can't use cards with more than 512MB. There's a lot of wait-and-see over the next few days. Personally - I've just received parts for a BadAxe2 / Q6600 machine for Final Cut Studio 2, and I'm sitting very patiently to see whether I should click that "Order" button on a 8800GTX. But for the time being, I'm going to survive with a 7600GT. (Which can be bought cheaply, and have a suprising resale value on ebay etc). EDIT: I just re-read your post, and realised that you're talking about the 8600GTS, not the 8800. It makes things much tighter. 7800GT should be a safe enough choice though, as another user mentioned. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-379179 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mifki Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 if you want to use directX 10 in windows, the 8xxx series supports it natively Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-379226 Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahbau Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 I say unless you specifically need the 8000 series for Directx 10 in Windows, go with a 7600GT or 7800GT. The numbers they use for cards don't really give an idea of speed. They're more for what features the card has shared among the series. The 7600GT is actually faster than an 8600GT! See review here. By the time you have some games that actually use some new features on the 8 series card, they will be cheaper and faster, so you can get one then. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-379251 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrazilMAC Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 How about the ATI X1950XT?? Its memory clock is faster than the 7800GT. I am also deadlocked when it comes to buying my video card for the system I am building. Which one should I GET?????? It will be used with Final Cut Pro. Thkss Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-379313 Share on other sites More sharing options...
EtherealRemnant Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 Nothing less than a 7900GT. I have an 8800GTS... hopefully to be supported soon... and it absolutely screams in games. Its a LOT faster than my previous 7900GT. By a factor of two times or more. The *600GT cards are ALWAYS a joke... they're ridiculously underpowered compared to their *800 and *900 counterparts. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-379338 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrazilMAC Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 So, between a Nvidia 7900 GTX 512 and a X1950XT, should I go with the Nvidia?? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-379340 Share on other sites More sharing options...
EtherealRemnant Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 I ALWAYS go with nVidia over ATI. ATI has mad overheating problems. ATI has crappy drivers. Enough to keep me away. The nVidia card will be faster than the X1950XT in most situations but not all. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-379355 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrazilMAC Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 Thanks! Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-379364 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandro17 Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 Also, which brands are recommended and are not recommended?(I was told to stay away from BFG, MSI, Gigabyte.../Recommended: XFX, EVGA...) XFX 7900GT here. Very satisfied. Also great Linux and OS X drivers. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-379383 Share on other sites More sharing options...
deleted_account Posted June 11, 2007 Author Share Posted June 11, 2007 now i'm down to deciding from an x1900xt to an 8600GT, however, i'd like to know more viewpoints. So please contribute your thoughts. thanks! Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-382108 Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahbau Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 The 8600GT is slow, and currently unsupported. If it's between those two, the X1900 XT will be much better. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-382170 Share on other sites More sharing options...
U.C. Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 X1900XT any day. My friend has the 8600GT, it is as good as a 7600GT. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-382356 Share on other sites More sharing options...
deleted_account Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share Posted July 18, 2007 Sapphire X1950XT or Asus 8600GT (< regardless of card being support yet or not) I'd like to know your thoughts! thanks for your time! ASUS EN8600GT SILENT/HTDP/256M GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Super Silent HDCP Video Card vs. SAPPHIRE 100186L Radeon X1950XT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 VIVO HDCP Video Cardl Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-410490 Share on other sites More sharing options...
koaxial Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 Get Sapphire X1950XT and install the jccool's driver (http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=37175). Fully supported in OSXx86 including the ATI Display Utilities. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-411016 Share on other sites More sharing options...
deleted_account Posted July 19, 2007 Author Share Posted July 19, 2007 Thanks for the reply. Seems like so many out there have been recommending nVidia, I was surprised to hear from an aTi response. I guess i'll make my purchase soon, unless otherwise. I believe x1950xt requires power straight from the power souce, do you know how much it may take? I'm running a 520w PSU, with about 4 hard drives, 4 x 120mm fans, 4gb Memory, 4 pci slots....hmm :/ Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-411170 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyberbooster Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 you need at least 40A on the +12V lines (not for singular line, the summ of all). The x1950XT drains A LOT of power. Anyway, I reccomend Nvidia. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-411229 Share on other sites More sharing options...
vbetts Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 Only go to the 8600 if you're going to run vista on side of Osx86. Or worried about DX10 effects in Vista. Other than that, the 7800 is faster, the 7900 is faster, the 7950 is faster, and it's not 128-bit like the 8600, where you can only get 1 exspensive version of the 8600 that's 256-bit. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-411299 Share on other sites More sharing options...
deleted_account Posted July 19, 2007 Author Share Posted July 19, 2007 Only go to the 8600 if you're going to run vista on side of Osx86. Or worried about DX10 effects in Vista. Other than that, the 7800 is faster, the 7900 is faster, the 7950 is faster, and it's not 128-bit like the 8600, where you can only get 1 exspensive version of the 8600 that's 256-bit. Interesting to consider....thanks for the reply vbetts. 7900s and 7950s seem hard to find, and if found, above $200. 7800 as well. I believe the x1950xt is 256-bit as well, is a 2600xt comparable in this matchup? Again, I don't play video games, I primarily work with graphics, motion, video editing.. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-411414 Share on other sites More sharing options...
justvisiting Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 Thanks for the reply. Seems like so many out there have been recommending nVidia, I was surprised to hear from an aTi response. I guess i'll make my purchase soon, unless otherwise. I believe x1950xt requires power straight from the power souce, do you know how much it may take? I'm running a 520w PSU, with about 4 hard drives, 4 x 120mm fans, 4gb Memory, 4 pci slots....hmm :/ Online power supply calculator: http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-411505 Share on other sites More sharing options...
deleted_account Posted October 15, 2007 Author Share Posted October 15, 2007 Is there going to be the same conclusion now that 8x00 series are up? Or most of you guys would still recommend at 7x00 anyway? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/53144-should-i-invest-in-an-8600gt-instead-of-a-7800gt7900gt7950gt/#findComment-471616 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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