Confused about graphic cards

[Baroo]

I am currently building a new rig(Click me!) and am considering the three cards below. I am just confused cause it seems the 8800gt seems the fastest. I know it's overclocked out of the boxed. but i'm comparing it to top of the line and OC'd cards from EVGA. i'm going with EVGA cause their steup up program might be a good thing, since we are on th verge of 9900 vcards. Also, if I get the 8800 series, I'll SLI them.

here's what I am confused about.:


the 8800GT spec:
Performance
NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT
720 MHz GPU
112 Stream Processors
400 MHz RAMDAC

Memory
512 MB, 256 bit DDR3
2000 MHz (effective)
64.0 GB/s Memory Bandwidth

Interface
PCI-E 16x
DVI-I, DVI-I, HDTV-7
SLI Capable

Resolution & Refresh
240Hz Max Refresh Rate
2560x1600 Max Analog
2560x1600 Max Digital

The 8800GTS spec:

Performance
NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTS
678 MHz GPU
128 Stream Processors
400 MHz RAMDAC

Memory
512 MB, 256 bit DDR3
1944 MHz (effective)
62.2 GB/s Memory Bandwidth

Interface
PCI-E 16x
DVI-I, DVI-I, HDTV-7
SLI Capable

Resolution & Refresh
240Hz Max Refresh Rate
2560x1600 Max Analog
2560x1600 Max Digital


Links:

Originally posted by: Baroo
I was looking at 2 of these: http://www.evga.com/products/m....asp?pn=512-P3-N808-AR

but the gts looks nice too: http://www.evga.com/products/m....asp?pn=512-P3-N845-AR

here's the 9800GX2specs:

Performance
NVIDIA 9800 GX2
675 MHz GPU
256 Stream Processors
400 MHz RAMDAC

Memory
1024 MB, 512 bit DDR3
2100 MHz (effective)
134.4 GB/s Memory Bandwidth

Interface
PCI-E 16x 2.0
DVI-I, DVI-I, HDMI
SLI Capable

Resolution & Refresh
240 Hz Max Refresh Rate
2560x1600 Max Analog
2560x1600 Max Digital[/quote]



Like I said I'm confused, the 8800gt looks the fastest. But the 9800gx2 seems like it should be able to beat the 8800 series.. the 9800gx2 seems like a lot of money for a slower cards. Like i said I just don't get it.

 

[ther00kie16]

9800GX2 is basically 2 9800GTX in 1. 9800GTX is basically same as 8800GTS 512MB with slightly higher clock speeds. I don't know of a 8800GT that comes at 720MHz stock; highest is 700MHz while reference is 600MHz. 8800GT has fewer stream processors than the 8800GTS so it's a bit slower. With 8800GTS at ~$200, that's the best bang for the buck unless you want to overclock one of those $150 8800GT that comes with a good heatsink on newegg to match the performance of a 8800GTS at stock. Also, there are new cards coming out in a month so if you are looking for high-end, you should wait until then.

 

[ther00kie16]

Oops, double posted cuz internet crapped out.

 

[Baroo]

Originally posted by: ther00kie16
9800GX2 is basically 2 9800GTX in 1. 9800GTX is basically same as 8800GTS 512MB with slightly higher clock speeds. I don't know of a 8800GT that comes at 720MHz stock; highest is 700MHz while reference is 600MHz. 8800GT has fewer stream processors than the 8800GTS so it's a bit slower. With 8800GTS at ~$200, that's the best bang for the buck unless you want to overclock one of those $150 8800GT that comes with a good heatsink on newegg to match the performance of a 8800GTS at stock. Also, there are new cards coming out in a month so if you are looking for high-end, you should wait until then.

first, you are following me from the general hardware thread. Hehe.

second, the 8800gt from EVGA claims 720 speeds, I copy and pasted it from Evga's site. and that's why i'm partial confused. I knew about the Stream Processors, but wasn't sure if 16 Stream Processors would push the gts over the gt.

 

[Northern Lawn]

When the new 9900 cards come out (not sure I can wait) are they going to be cheap or super expensive, like $600+ range? If they are going to be something new and cheap like the 8800GT I might wait but I got a real problem, usually, buying cards when they first come out. But it seems like the nvidia technology is out pacing cost.

 

[Lithan]

That 8800gt is clocked really high, it'll prolly be about even with that gts in most stuff. Course the GTS has more headroom to overclock further.

 

[gtsing]

I wouldn't really worry too much about the clock speeds and stuff when you're comparing cards - they don't mean much (to me anyways). All you need to know is that the 9800GX2>8800GTS>8800GT. I'd wait for the new cards if I were you though.

 

[Baroo]

Originally posted by: gtsing
I wouldn't really worry too much about the clock speeds and stuff when you're comparing cards - they don't mean much (to me anyways). All you need to know is that the 9800GX2>8800GTS>8800GT. I'd wait for the new cards if I were you though.

Yeah, I wasn't sure how they would perform in the realworld. just looking at the numbers they look all about even. but I see a lot of love for the GTS.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Only 8800 GT from EVGA that I can see clocked at 720mhz to begin with is the superclocked akimbo, which is just a tad cheaper than an 8800 GTS that would be able to outperform it.

 

[ajaidevsingh]

Get the 9800 GTX its really god for the price with the overclocking...!!!

Only get 9800 GX2 if you play on high resolution!!!

 

[ShadowFlareX]

The 8800GTS would definitely rock and last longer. But with the GT200 just around the corner, best to wait a bit. Even if the GT200 is crazy priced, the current cards could potentially go down in price a little.

 

[MrPibb]

Just curious where does the 8800GTX fit in with the rest of the pack?

 

[Baroo]

the 8800gtx is a nice card. Hard to find, newegg has one, but nowhere else i looked.

http://www.tomshardware.com/ch...0%2C1567%2C1622%2C1617

 

[krnmastersgt]

The 8800 GTX and Ultra are still the strongest single gpu cards for higher than 1680x1200 res, even the GX2 could potentially lose to them thanks to the cheaper memory bus. But up to 1680x1200, the 8800 GT, GTS, 9800 GTX all beat it.

 

[Baroo]

yeah, for now i'm at 1680x1200, but will be going to 1900x1200 when I get a new monitor.

 

[Throckmorton]

Some games do use more than 512mb, so look into 1gb 8800GT cards