The OCNZ 7300GT review and what I think of it

[sinikk]

1. Where are these cards? Where can I buy them? At the top of the review it says "Provided by Nvidia". Ok, so Nvidia has these cards. I couldn't find a "buy" thing on their website. Or anyone elses. In fact, I was using Pricespy, Google New Zealand and ferrit.co.nz and couldn't anywhere to buy the Inno3d and Palit factory overclocked GDDR3 cards used in this review. They don't seem to be avalible in New Zealand, making this review - on an NZ site - very, very pointless.

Doom3 is perhaps one of the most anticipated games in 2004After the release of Doom3, HL2 is the hottest title for 2004 2. We were halfway through 2006 last time I checked.

However, even at the lowest operating frequencies, the 7300GT still looks very promising than the rival, ATi X1600Pro
3. I could take your work for it, and I have no dout that you're right - but actually testing one of these cards before making claims about it's performance would be nice (edit - or linking to a comparison). ATI's X1300 cards, which was looking like a very nice low-end buy, are also nowhere to be seen.

I think that while other sites are trying to seperate themselves from all the generic reviews out there, our local one is not even trying. In fact, most of the generic review sites out there provide much better, more intellegent reading.

[the triple P]

Pricespy is our friend. just search or look under the 7300 section.
They seem to be available for 'about' $180.

[the triple P]

http://www.nfc.co.nz/ProductDetail.asp?ItemID=V0000140&v=MS&c=

Here's the asus model.

[swiftynz]

And Leadtek...
http://www.ascent.co.nz/ProductSpecification.aspx?ItemID=346936

I agree that there is a lack of quality reviews here in New Zealand, however bagging OCNZ doesn't do anything to help the situation.

[IronH]

I think he was refering to the fact that there are no GDDR3 versions available in NZ. Those 7300GTs linked to above are both GDDR2 ones, which are generally clocked around the 350-400MHz core and 667-700MHz memory as opposed to the much higher clocked versions in the review. But anyway the ones available in NZ aren't much cheaper than a 7600GS, meaning the GDDR3 7300GTs are likely to be more expensive than a 7600GS, so if you're in the market for a card of that calibre/price, look at the 7600GS.

[the triple P]

Ah very true. But thats the problem with NZ, lack of market leads to highly specialist parts not been available. Lets face it importers will do their job to make money.
We just have to be astute enough to find the chinks in the armor and buy the best in our price ranges. ;)

[sinikk]

1. I was refering to the lack of GDDR3 ones, and also to the fact these brands are not even avalible in NZ (maybe Inno3d in a few places, but not palit). Should have made that clearer. The point is that OCNZ does not seem to be testing publicly avalible retail parts. It also seems vey odd to review a low-end, budget card without mentioning price.

2 .I don't really have a problem with the '2004' games. I just don't like how the same desciption is cut-and-pasted into every review. I don't think the desciptions for those games have been updated in a long time. Stuff like these out-of-date desciptions, not using the current logo on the graphs, the spelling of introduction as contruction, make the review look like not much time, thought or care has been put into it. It looks kinda "unprofessional".

3. And where are the OC'ed test results? How much of a preformance increase is gained by overclocking one of these? Can a 6600/X1600 be overclocked more, or less? How would these overclocked cards perform in comparison?

eg. For the Inno3d - stock core speed of 550, OCed to 605. 10% increase. Memory speeds went from 1400 to 1430, just over 2% increase. 95fps in Doom three at 1024*768, medium detail, no AA, no AF. Does this mean a 10% increase in framerate in this game with these settings, to 104-105fps? Or is it a 2% increase? Or is it a non-linear relationship, or limited by the CPU, or the memory? What about the palit card? It had lower stock memory speeds, but overclocked to almost the same. Does this make it a better buy? How can I tell when prices arn't listed? And why wasn't this stuff in the review? I shouldn't have to guess this by comparing default/OC'ed clockspeeds and framerates. And it is guessing it, because I don't do this stuff for a living, especally not at 11 pm.

bagging OCNZ doesn't do anything to help the situation. 4. Maybe not, but trying to provide some constructive crtittisism might. I really would like to see some good new-zealand based hardware reviews with stuff like prices in NZD, links to NZ retailers, commenting on avalibility in NZ, ect. Please, OCNZ, I really do want some good NZ hardware reviews. I am not trying to flame you. I truly do think that with some care put into the reviews, they could be a useful resorce for many people and not something ignored on the way to the forums.

I've edited my first post to be more specific.

[MercuryFree]

1. I was refering to the lack of GDDR3 ones, and also to the fact these brands are not even avalible in NZ (maybe Inno3d in a few places, but not palit).
Legend are rebranded Palit iirc

[IronH]

1. I was refering to the lack of GDDR3 ones, and also to the fact these brands are not even avalible in NZ (maybe Inno3d in a few places, but not palit). Should have made that clearer. The point is that OCNZ does not seem to be testing publicly avalible retail parts. It also seems vey odd to review a low-end, budget card without mentioning price.

2 .I don't really have a problem with the '2004' games. I just don't like how the same desciption is cut-and-pasted into every review. I don't think the desciptions for those games have been updated in a long time. Stuff like these out-of-date desciptions, not using the current logo on the graphs, the spelling of introduction as contruction, make the review look like not much time, thought or care has been put into it. It looks kinda "unprofessional".

3. And where are the OC'ed test results? How much of a preformance increase is gained by overclocking one of these? Can a 6600/X1600 be overclocked more, or less? How would these overclocked cards perform in comparison?

eg. For the Inno3d - stock core speed of 550, OCed to 605. 10% increase. Memory speeds went from 1400 to 1430, just over 2% increase. 95fps in Doom three at 1024*768, medium detail, no AA, no AF. Does this mean a 10% increase in framerate in this game with these settings, to 104-105fps? Or is it a 2% increase? Or is it a non-linear relationship, or limited by the CPU, or the memory? What about the palit card? It had lower stock memory speeds, but overclocked to almost the same. Does this make it a better buy? How can I tell when prices arn't listed? And why wasn't this stuff in the review? I shouldn't have to guess this by comparing default/OC'ed clockspeeds and framerates. And it is guessing it, because I don't do this stuff for a living, especally not at 11 pm.

4. Maybe not, but trying to provide some constructive crtittisism might. I really would like to see some good new-zealand based hardware reviews with stuff like prices in NZD, links to NZ retailers, commenting on avalibility in NZ, ect. Please, OCNZ, I really do want some good NZ hardware reviews. I am not trying to flame you. I truly do think that with some care put into the reviews, they could be a useful resorce for many people and not something ignored on the way to the forums.

I've edited my first post to be more specific. Do you pay money to read the review? No? - it's free, so quit ya moaning. If you don't like it don't read it, or better yet go start your own review site. Reviews take a hell of a lot of time, would you want to sit there through all those benchmarks, then change the resolution, rerun the test, then overclock the card, then rerun the test, then change the test and run it, then change the resolution.... then change the card, then rerun the test, then change the resolution... ***add tedium*** I'm sure Hans has a lot of other things he could be doing with his time. Be grateful for what you are given.

[sparkles]

Do you pay money to read the review? No? - it's free, so quit ya moaning. If you don't like it don't read it, or better yet go start your own review site. Reviews take a hell of a lot of time, would you want to sit there through all those benchmarks, then change the resolution, rerun the test, then overclock the card, then rerun the test, then change the test and run it, then change the resolution.... then change the card, then rerun the test, then change the resolution... ***add tedium*** I'm sure Hans has a lot of other things he could be doing with his time. Be grateful for what you are given.

Ease up there mate... Yer man is just trying to offer some constructive criticism there, which I think is a good thing. These reviews are there for everyone to be able to benefit from - us, as users who want to buy something, ocnz who are able to wholesale a large number of these products, or generate revenue through ads.

I've found Hans' reviews over the years to be rather helpful with my purchasing decsions. It's not to say that every review is perfect, and as with everything there is always room for improvement.

If sinikk had just come along and said xyz review sucks, and that model abc is so much better because it comes from manufacturer 123, then I could completely understand your reaction. But as there are some thoughts raised here that (to me anyway) make sense (reviewing products which people in NZ can actually buy would be a pretty major one), I think that you really need to tone it down a notch:

(image stolen from sa of course)

[IronH]

haha LOL, sure thing. :) nothing mean or untowards meant by it, just people that moan about stuff that doesn't cost them any time/money/effort on their part bug me. If you were either paying a subscription/supplying products/hosting/helping with the benchmarking etc etc, then I'd say you can moan about it. But yeah just my 2c. The end.

[sinikk]

just people that moan about stuff that doesn't cost them any time/money/effort on their part bug me

It just seems that this could be a very good review, but that Hans hasn't really bothered. And that bugs me. It seems as though he dosn't think it important enought to make an effort, or to actually think about why people would want to read his review, or reviews in general.

It seem to have been written with the purpose of having a review, not so that other people can make a judgment about the products. This shows itself in the lack of comparison. People don't want to know if it can do this many fps in these games, they want to know if it will be better or worse than the other options.

Do you pay money to read the review? No? - it's free, so quit ya moaning.

I pointed my web browser at his site and then spent 10-15 minutes of my time reading the review, which I didn't have to do. He provided a review, I took the time to look at it. So he dosn't have to provide a good review? I paid microsoft, and they didn't bother to provide me with a secure operating system. It's just trying to get profit without providing a good service, profit in money, page views and ad clicks, or in the ego boost that comes from having a proper hardware site that does its own in-house reviews.

This may just be why americans do good reviews.

[swiftynz]

Your second post was constructive criticism, the first wasn't. :)

I agree with many of your points, in fact I would really love to correct some of the grammar ;) but remember you're comparing big American sites with full-time staff to an enthusiast who does it in his spare time. To do things to the standard you want really requires a capital venture of some sort.

[sinikk]

Can someone please tell me I'm wrong? Anyone?

I really do want someone to argue against me, point out the hidden merits of the OCNZ reviews, tell me things will change, deny the problem, anything.

[imdying]

Nope, looks like you're the only one that cares. Funny that.

[ktulu]

If it really bothers you that much, you'd have started your own review site by now and done everything properly. You wont get any respect by sitting on your ass expecting everyone else to do everything for you.

[Chickenman]

Can someone please tell me I'm wrong? Anyone?

I really do want someone to argue against me, point out the hidden merits of the OCNZ reviews, tell me things will change, deny the problem, anything.

Umm... you're a ****?


Seriously, you should get a boyfriend or something so you aren't all angsty.

[Pistol_Friendly]

lol pwnt. srsly