Video Card Comparison

[Ryuhei]

I'm making a new PC build and my budget for a video card is about $160. Being an NVIDIA man, I'm naturally looking at their mid range 8 series cards, the 8600s. What I'm finding is that they're having a hard time comparing to the higher end 7 series cards, and DX10 isn't really impressing anybody yet.

I think I've narrowed it down to a 256MB GeForce 7950GT from BFG, OC'd at 565MHz core clock (I'm pretty sure it can go higher) and a 256MB GeForce 8600GTS from EVGA, with a core clock at 675MHz (Presumably already OC'd, it's a GTS. Not sure how high it can go.) Both have GDDR3 memory.

What do you guys think? The 7950GT costs $200 but with a $40 rebate, while the 8600GTS is $165 with a $15 rebate. Which will give me more performance in games and media processing applications? Is there something else in the same price range I'm overlooking?

I'm hoping to place my order today! Just wondering if any of you had an opinion before I did. I may place it tomorrow, early, it doesn't make I difference I don't think, it being Sunday.

Edit: I guess if it matters, it's going into a system with 2GB of DDR2 667 RAM, a Core 2 Duo Allendale 1.8GHz, which I'm hoping to OC, and a 200GB SATA HD. The motherboard is par, but doesn't support SLI. If I decide to get a second video card in the near future I'll have to get a better mobo.

 

[Blackchaoshero]

256MB GeForce 8600GTS is my answer for this one, the difference in cash is going to be mroe visible than the difference in performance. also, you could try and google for benchmarking results on them for better info.

and just keep your mind open, ask your friends if any of them are planning on upgrading cards in the near future, you might be able to get a comparable or even better second hand one in good condition for the same or less. maybe an offer from you to buy it out would put someone over the fence to upgrade if they were already considering it. just keep it in mind, a friend lucked out that way recently

 

[Ryuhei]

From what I gather, some of the things done to cut the 8800 into mid range really cripple the card. One, for example, is that though the 8600s have considerably more pipelines, they can run through them with 1/4 the speed of say a 7950GT? I can't exactly direct a powerpoint on how a video card works, chip by chip, though, so don't quote me.

I couldn't really find a comparison with these particular cards. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough. Roughly though, from different charts at different sites, I got mixed results. I was hoping someone had some first hand experience with the two?

I don't have any friends who work with computers, haha. D:

_______________________

This is kind of irrelevent, but if any of you are looking to upgrade to a dual core (or even quad core!) Intel, look at the processor I'm getting.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115013

It's stock speed is 1.8GHz, but with just the provided fan and heatsink, you can OC it to 3.2GHz stable. 3.6GHz with some nice water cooling. A 3.2GHz Dual Core for $130? That's incredible. It easily competes with the stock highest end Dual Cores, and even some Quads.

 

[Ryuhei]

Where's the rest of the help? This is an MMO forum, you're all supposed to be nerds!

Anyway I copped out and am paying $100 more for an 8800GTS 320MB from EVGA. D: I don't know if my 480W PSU will be able to handle everything, though. Plus, it's almost 10" long..

 

[CmdrFly]

Where's the rest of the help? This is an MMO forum, you're all supposed to be nerds!

Well many of us nerds are also fanboys. If you weren't focussed on Nvidia I'd have bits to offer, but - for no apparent reason - I despise that company with every carbon-based molecular compound in my body and thus haven't been paying attention to anything of theirs since roughly 2002.

/humbug

 

[Ryuhei]

Lol, I have nothing against ATI, but NVIDIA's 6, 7, and 8 series is what I'm familiar with and can compare between. Also I love EVGA and their customer service and step up program.

What's the equilvelant in the X1X series?

 

[CmdrFly]

Eh heh... good question. I'm guessing 24/2600. However looking at price, a good X1950 Pro is between $200-300cdn. There used to be XTX parts which were ATI's flagship cards per model class (1800 1900 etc), but they've since disappeared thanks to the 2900 series being released.

ATI's current "strategy" of staying a step behind Nvidia would mean Nvidia's got something heavy in the barrel coming out soon though.

 

[Tok]

Eh heh... good question. I'm guessing 24/2600. However looking at price, a good X1950 Pro is between $200-300cdn. There used to be XTX parts which were ATI's flagship cards per model class (1800 1900 etc), but they've since disappeared thanks to the 2900 series being released.

ATI's current "strategy" of staying a step behind Nvidia would mean Nvidia's got something heavy in the barrel coming out soon though.

you sir, have the most amazing avatar in the world