Introduction

We've been looking at NVIDIA's 7800 GTX graphics cards lately, and the different vendor modifications have shown some impressive performance results. NVIDIA is still the reigning champion of graphics cards right now, and has been since the release of the 7800 series. While the 7800 GTX has more than proven NVIDIA's capabilities, it's also managed to make gamers on a budget cringe when thinking about buying one. With the lowest 7800 GTXs at around $500, many PC owners are finding it very hard to justify owning one, no matter how powerful it is.

But now there's some good news. Aiming for another group of consumers, NVIDIA has decided to release a slightly less powerful (and less expensive) version of the G70: the 7800 GT. This could mean lower prices for potentially not-so-much-less performance, and we're very interested to see what these cards are capable of.

We've already looked at how the 7800 GT ranks alongside the GTX and other graphics cards, including dual-card SLI setups, and you can take a look at the review here. We've seen how, performance-wise, the 7800 GT falls in between the 7800 GTX and 6800 Ultra, and in these next reviews, we will be looking at the different 7800 GTs and comparing them much like we did with the 7800 GTXs. There will be some changes, however, with fewer reviews that will cover more than one card.

In this article, the first of the NVIDIA 7800 GT reviews, we'll be looking at the XFX GeForce 7800 GT Overclocked. As with the 7800 GTX, we will be doing a series of articles focusing on individual aspects of each of the different vendor cards that we can get a hold of, and comparing them to each other as time goes on. We'll be looking at performance, as well as power load, heat, and noise levels, and also how the different cards overclock. As always, price will be one of the biggest factors in how these cards compare, and we'll be keeping you updated on price trends as we review each card.

The Card
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  • eetnoyer - Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - link

    There will be some changes, however, with fewer reviews that will cover more than one card.


    Followed immediately thereafter by another single card review. And with so many other 7800GT cards on the market already, they just couldn't find enough to do a round-up. Newegg currently has 13 listings in stock for 7800GT and Anandtech still can't manage to scrounge up enough. This site is starting to slide.
  • bupkus - Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - link

    Are there any games out yet that require this kind of rendering power?

    I only play UT2004, but with my new X800 and a new Venice @ 2.3GHz I'm rockin' right now at 1280x1024.
  • robere - Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - link

    I as well as 5 guys i know have a Dell 2405FPW that runs a native res of 1920x1200. I have a XFX 7800GTX ATH643700 SanDiego with 2G of RAM and currently run BF2 at 1920x1200 res with allmost everything on high and have a frame rate of 60-70. So when the next gen of games come out i am interested looking at SLI or next gen GPU. By the way BF2 at this res looks kick ass.
  • JNo - Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - link

    I have a 2405 too and apparently widescreen is NOT possible for BF2 (check out widescreenforums.com) as the FOV hasn't changed. So even if you're 'forced it', you are getting the same width, it's just chopped off some of the top and bottom from the gaming world, and then zoomed in a little (giving you a little better visual impact but some gaming disadvantage). Let me know if you believe otherwise as a hell of a lot of people would like to know...
  • Fluppeteer - Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - link

    Hi Robere,

    You may be able to answer a question... Can you tell me whether you have any
    problems if you run your 2405 from the single-link head of the 7800GTX? I gather
    the timings are quite tight to the single-link limits, and there have been
    reports of people struggling with the dodgy internal TMDS transmitters in
    the 6800 series. I'd like to know if nVidia have fixed this with G70.

    If the 2405 runs okay from that head (I'd expect it to work on the head with
    the dual-link head anyway, because the Silicon Image parts tend to be pretty
    clean) it presumably means nVidia have given their transmitter a redesign,
    which *might* mean the G70 could run my T221-DG5 properly (from both heads).
    It's kind of an expensive thing for me to find out without at least some
    indication that matters have improved. :-)

    (For people with less exotic - or at least, less discontinued - monitors,
    there are people considering Apple 30" display + Dell 2405 rigs, who would
    be equally interested in the answer.)

    Thanks!
  • Rudee - Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - link

    I agree with the reviewer's final words that those looking for a higher end card need not look further than a 7800 GT, especially if you are playing in resolutions of 1600 x 1200 or less.
  • Ozz1113 - Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - link

    Put it this way, I am upgrading from a 9500np modded to a 9700. I think you can wait a little longer from your 6800u ;]

    Too bad this review wasn't of the evga...not that it is all that much different
  • Dmitheon - Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - link

    Agreed, I'm more interested in the eVGA than any of the others right due to that Battlefield2 bundle or the free mobo offer.
  • robere - Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - link

    How about some SLI GTX/GT numbers? I have a XFX GTX and are intersted in what the GT can do in SLI.
  • ukDave - Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - link

    Ditto, SLI numbers please. GT vs. GTX.

    From what i've seen the gap should narrow meaning even better money savings when choosing the cheaper GT option.

    I have two Leadtek 7800GT's atm and the reason above is why i chose them.

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