[digitalwanderer]

And I really don't know what drivers to use on it, anyone wanna help clue me in?

I'm using XP and gaming a lot, I want to see for myself the difference 'tween my 9700 pro and the 5900nu.
(Well, actually it was just impulsive as hell and I'm still trying to figure out why I did it...but that sounds as good as any reason. *roll* )

[Evildeus]

The latest beta drivers seem to enable a better IQ but a bit less FPS

[digitalwanderer]

Originally Posted by Evildeus

The latest beta drivers seem to enable a better IQ but a bit less FPS

It's been sooo long since I even looked at nVidia drivers that I think the last set I used was the 43.09 set or so....what numbers are we talking about here?

[Evildeus]

61.**

[Crusher]

Let's put it this way, I'm using the 45.23 drivers on my GF4 Ti4200, and I'm thankful for every game I install that doesn't require me to update them to a higher version

[digitalwanderer]

45.23! THAT'S what I'm running my son's GF4 on, it's been so long since I put 'em on that I'd forgotten.

That was the last good set for the GF4, but the 5900 is going to be better with the newest ones eh?

Cool, time to play with some betas again. 8)

Thanks!

[pino]

53.03 is best driver for nv35 imho.

[oddfellow]

I upgraded from my R9600pro the other day, and got myself a nice Leadtek FX5900XT 128mb. It uses a single slot cooler, which was a must for me, as my rig is a small form factor Shuttle XPC. Despite being crammed into a tiny (and HOT!) space, it runs quite happily at 490/900, and is pretty damn impressive for game speed 8)

As for drivers, I just use the official 56.72's.
They seem fine to me in all my games.

[Pete]

If you feel like experimenting, dig, first try a pre-brilinear set, then try a bri-only set. I've no idea when bri was added, though.

[digitalwanderer]

pino- Thanks! Dumb question, are those pre or post "brilinear"? (Double-dumb question, the 5900 is the nV35?)

oddfellow- The XT is the one that's a little below the non-Ultra, right? (No harshing meant, I just honestly never really kept that close track of them. )

So you're saying the XT was a step-up from the 9600 pro? I'm wondering how it's gonna be in relation to me 9700 pro (380/360).

Pete- I'm getting this puppy pretty much purely for experimenting. 8) I don't think it will actually outperform my 9700, that's probably half the reason I'm getting it.

I'm really sort of panicking a bit trying to figure out how to re-arrange all my vid cards. Should the 9700 go into my wife's rig that has the 9600 pro in it? Or should I put it in my son's PC 'cause he actually games more?

It's a fun quandry to be in, I happily admit. I think I'll just keep 'em both for a while in my own rig and swap 'em back and forth...

[ANova]

The 5900nu is better then the 9600 Pro speedwise, but is inferior in image quality and DX9. The 9700 Pro is better in all catagories.

[digitalwanderer]

That's kind of what I was thinking from what I've read, but it'll be fun to try it out for myself and FINALLY get to see what the FX actually looked like/can do.

It's just one thing to read about a card and an entirely other to actually have one and play with it a while. I know that seems obvious, but it's just such a huge difference I ain't really got the words to describe it.

It usually takes me a few weeks to get comfortable/get a feel for a card, sometimes longer.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by digitalwanderer

I'm really sort of panicking a bit trying to figure out how to re-arrange all my vid cards. Should the 9700 go into my wife's rig that has the 9600 pro in it? Or should I put it in my son's PC 'cause he actually games more?

The easy and obvious solution is to sell me the unwanted one for a song.

[digitalwanderer]

"Sell one of my video cards" :?

The words are english and I know them all, but when you put them together like that and arrange them in that way they just make absolutely no sense to me!

[Pete]

Whoa, whoa, my mistake. "Sell" is such a harsh word. Think of it as giving it a new home. The operative word could be "give."

Eh, we need a raised eyebrow smiley. -_^

[digitalwanderer]

Originally Posted by Pete

Whoa, whoa, my mistake. "Sell" is such a harsh word. Think of it as giving it a new home. The operative word could be "give."

Now that I can understand, that's what I've done with my last 3 or 4.

I hate to see a good card go to waste on a shelf, y'know?

Unfortunately there's a pretty long line right now so I can't help ya out.

Eh, we need a raised eyebrow smiley. -_^

Why?

[oddfellow]

Originally Posted by digitalwanderer

oddfellow- The XT is the one that's a little below the non-Ultra, right? (No harshing meant, I just honestly never really kept that close track of them. )

So you're saying the XT was a step-up from the 9600 pro? I'm wondering how it's gonna be in relation to me 9700 pro (380/360).

The XT is basically a downclocked 5900. It's still the full spec NV35 chip; None of it's pipelines have been stripped and it retains the FULL 256bit memory bus. It is possibly THE biggest bargain to be had right now. It destroys the 5700-ULTRA, even though you can find it for less money, and is also capable of running at 5900-ULTRA speeds (well, mine is anyway ).

For reference, the 5900-N/U runs at 400/850
the 5900-XT however is supposed to run at 300/700 (though a lot of them seem to be clocked at 390/700 from the factory)

I've noticed that some of the newer 5900XT's have a simpler PCB, but mine is an early one and seems to have the ULTRA PCB. This could be why it overclocks so well.

Lastly, it was a definate step up from my R9600pro, well, in speed anyway. I/Q? well that's something entirely different

[oddfellow]

Originally Posted by digitalwanderer

So you're saying the XT was a step-up from the 9600 pro? I'm wondering how it's gonna be in relation to me 9700 pro (380/360).

To be honest, I don't think you'll gain much going from a 9700pro. :?
You'll probably gain a bit of speed, but you'll definately lose quality, and you'll notice it too.

If it's any consolation, your curiosity is not unique. Even upgrading from a 9600pro, I knew that I'd lose a bit of I/Q and PS2 speed/quality. I also knew that I should've waited and got a R9800XT when the prices drop, but I have to admit, I too was curious about these NV35's. I just wanted to try one, and see for myself if they really are the flaming car wreck that everyone makes them out to be. Now, after using one for a while, I have to say that they're not that bad, certainly not as bad as I expected, and for the price I paid I'm more than happy.

[digitalwanderer]

Originally Posted by oddfellow

The XT is basically a downclocked 5900. It's still the full spec NV35 chip; None of it's pipelines have been stripped and it retains the FULL 256bit memory bus. It is possibly THE biggest bargain to be had right now. It destroys the 5700-ULTRA, even though you can find it for less money, and is also capable of running at 5900-ULTRA speeds (well, mine is anyway ).

For reference, the 5900-N/U runs at 400/850
the 5900-XT however is supposed to run at 300/700 (though a lot of them seem to be clocked at 390/700 from the factory)

Thanks oddfellow, that clears up a lot and informed me.

So the 5900 Ultra, non-ultra, and XT the only differences 'tween 'em are clockspeeds then, right?

[Zod]

Well, actually it was just impulsive as hell and I'm still trying to figure out why I did it...but that sounds as good as any reason. *roll* )

A bit of an odd thing to have done. Use the latest official drivers. That what nvidia intends you to do. They work fine on my 6800 Ultra, apart from some minor (but irritating) bugs with nview.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by digitalwanderer

Why?

So you wouldn't think I was trying to weasel my way into a nice card.

Which I was.

[oddfellow]

Originally Posted by digitalwanderer

Thanks oddfellow, that clears up a lot and informed me.

So the 5900 Ultra, non-ultra, and XT the only differences 'tween 'em are clockspeeds then, right?

You got it, clock speed and ram size are the only variables 8)

[Zod]

Originally Posted by Zod

A bit of an odd thing to have done. Use the latest official drivers. That what nvidia intends you to do. They work fine on my 6800 Ultra, apart from some minor (but irritating) bugs with nview.

Wishful thinkiing from me last night - I meant 5900 Ultra!