Just picked up a BFG 7800GS ( after running a 9800XT ) and I have to say
f*** YEAH !!!
COD2 looks absolutley f***ing amazing! (playing through again with details at max)
BF2 also improved noticeably with smooth frames and high quality terrain textures etc

If you can't be assed upgrading a whole motherboard to PCI Express (and subesquent CU in some cases etc), then this truly is the card of choice for a massive improvement in frames (an purtiness). Again, well worth it if you can't afford the whole PCI-Express upgrade or even if you just want to get the best out of your decent AGP powered board

Got it from Computer Alliance for $599
U-Mart & GayDude have a diff brand (XFX 7800GS - which I've never heard of before so I'm not touching ) for $540

$$?

If you want to double your framerate on a slower card in COD2, just change to DX7 mode. Seriously, all you seem to lose is bloom and the slightly prettier dx9 fog, which can take you from 40 to 90fps+ (on a 9600XT @ High on 1280x1024) allowing you to have a much better multiplayer experience :)

But .. bloom is good. 7800 is good.

I hate the fact that people can run these games on DX7 an make use of card tweaks that can potentialy exploit a game
If you can't play the game as it is an was meant to play, then don't. I'm of the opinion that when you play it like that your not only detracting from your own immersive game experience, that your also detracting from other peoples experiences when you can get a distinct graphical advantage over them by not being hindered by the same visual effects (eg smoke thickness etc) that EVERYONE should be experiencing

However

But .. bloom is good. 7800 is good.

I agree tho
Bloom = Good =)

^ Dude, the difference in smoke quality is very subtle. We had to take 2 screenshots in the exact same position on the two DX modes to be able to spot the difference ... hence we had no objection to dropping to DX7 mode.

Though I do agree with your point in general. In Valve's games, the guys who have HDR off have a clear advantage over those who have it on. I hope they make it mandatory in their next engine.

yeah that is a bit sus.

Yes, tis a great card for those still running AGP-equipped dinosaur computers :P

PS. XFX is a great quality brand that has been around for ages, just not so long in Aus.

last edited by orbitor at 15:34:23 23/Feb/06

AGP equipped dinosaur computers?

Most people cannot afford to constantly upgrade there computer. I would not consider AGP to be dinosaur technology yet. Your getting ahead of yourself there imho. Since I do run an AGP card and cannot afford to purchase a new pci express mobo and components i am offended by your comments.

Yeah I saw that the XFX was "a leading partner in the USA" cept I'm always sus on any company that has its own reviews and rate themselves as "one of the leading" etc.

The BFG lifetime warranty is nothing to be sneezed at though and was also a determining factor in my purchase (I intend for my current box to be my second box in the near future). Don't know if XFX have the same warranty period.

BFG LIfetime Warranty =

BFG Technologies is proud to warrant the original purchaser of the graphics card included in this package ("Product") that the Product will be free from defects in material or workmanship for as long as the original purchaser owns the product, when given normal wear and proper usage. This warranty is valid if the product:

>> Was not damaged while being installed.

>> Was not damaged by software or hardware from a company or individual other than BFG Technologies or by motherboard incompatibility.

>> Was operated in accordance with BFG Technologies specifications, instructions and any technical support directions.

>> Was not modified or damaged by overclocking, tampering, user error, accident, disaster, abuse, misuse, power supply, power application, alteration, repair, modification, a fix or replacement by someone other than BFG Technologies.

>>

Third party products, such as motherboards and other system components using this Product are not be covered by this warranty.


BFG Technologies' liability under this warranty, or in connection with any other claim relating to the Product, is limited to the repair or at BFG Technologies option, the replacement of the portion of the Product which was defective in material or workmanship. This warranty does not apply to any software component.

You assume the risk of loss in transit and the returned Products shall be the sole property of BFG Technologies. BFG Technologies warrants the repaired or replaced Products will be free from defects in material or workmanship.

EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY STATED ABOVE, BFG Technologies MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WHETHER OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE, OR OTHERWISE ON THE PRODUCTS, OR ANY PARTS OR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR OTHER LABOR FURNISHED.

BFG Technologies reserves the right to inspect and verify the defectiveness of any product returned. Please allow 48 hrs processing time once item has been received by BFG, and 3-5 days for shipping of the replacement product (shipped ground).

give Orb his bait back Tiny

give Orb his bait back Tiny

Isn't that the way though?
You go fishing an all the Tiny ones bait your hook

Yes, tis a great card for those still running AGP-equipped dinosaur computers :P

Rubba-Chikin and I basically have -idtentical- computers, except his 6600GT is PCIx and mine is AGP.

The difference in frame rate is practically nothing.

last edited by Loki at 16:40:13 23/Feb/06

crikey, even whacked a :P on the end and they still take the bait hook line and sinker...besides, dinosaurs are kickass.

last edited by orbitor at 16:46:06 23/Feb/06

It's cheaper to get an AGP card than to upgrade your motherboard, cpu and PSU just to have PCIe support. Actually, the latter is freaking lame unless you were planning to upgrade your PC for more speed anyway.

I have a Barton 2500+. Instead of upgrading, I overclocked it to 3200+ and am holding off an upgrade till the AMD quad-cores make an appearance later this year (hopefully). MMmm quad.core.

Not replying to orbitor or anyone in particular, but just stating an opinion.

last edited by parabol at 16:46:43 23/Feb/06

One crappy thing is you pay more for the 7800GS (AGP) than you do for a 7800GT (PCI-E) - to the tune of nearly a hundred bucks, and you get signficantly worse performance :(

^ True, but a new mobo+cpu+psu (as I have mentioned) will cost significantly more than the $100 you'll save by switching to a PCIe graphics card.

It's a loss for people with AGP, but we can at least minimise the losses :)

^ /me agrees with parabol
Hell, I'm still running a 3.0Ghz Intel on a 533mhx bus =).

Next machine will in all likely be a AMD 4800 (or round that ballpark)
From reviews though, there doesn't appear to be significant diff between the BFG 7800 GS and the XFS (the XFX Extreme editions appears to be directly comparable to the stock BFG version)

* Normal aspect ratio
* Model detail: High
* Texture detail: High
* Shader Detail: High
* Water Detail: Reflect all
* Shadow Detail: High
* Vertical sync: Disabled
* High Dynamic Range: Full (when available)

http://images.tomshardware.com/2006/02/13/nvidias_geforce_7800gs_becomes_a_better_buy/image040.gif

http://images.tomshardware.com/2006/02/13/nvidias_geforce_7800gs_becomes_a_better_buy/image041.gif

http://images.tomshardware.com/2006/02/13/nvidias_geforce_7800gs_becomes_a_better_buy/image042.gif

Here's a BF2 review on the XFX version

And another site

http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/graph_videoC.html?test=COD2&d1=48.3&d2=56.3&d3=41&d4=35.6&d5=34.8&d6=79.9&d7=47.8&d8=49.1&d9=53.8&d10=45&lab1=XFX 7800GT&lab2=Asus X1800XT TOP&lab3=Gigabyte X1800Xl&lab4=XFX 7800GS AGP Extreme Edition&lab5=EVGA 6800GS C/O&lab6=2x XFX 7800GT&lab7=ATI A-I-W X1800XL&lab8=ATI A-I-W X1900&lab9=ATI X1800XT&lab10=Silent 7800GT


last edited by HERMITech at 17:11:14 23/Feb/06