96 or 128 Stream Processors?

[Mandin62]

I am looking at buying a BFG 8800 GTS 640mb card. i am was just wondering what you guys think will be the difference now and in the future with the difference in stream processors. Will it make a huge difference when the DX10 games come out? It does seem to be huge as the 2900 XT has more then the GTX, yet it didnt seem to make a huge difference. any input would be great as i would like to purchase very soon. thanks.

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: Mandin62
I am looking at buying a BFG 8800 GTS 640mb card. i am was just wondering what you guys think will be the difference now and in the future with the difference in stream processors. Will it make a huge difference when the DX10 games come out? It does seem to be huge as the 2900 XT has more then the GTX, yet it didnt seem to make a huge difference. any input would be great as i would like to purchase very soon. thanks.

I think the difference between 8800GTX and HD2900XT comes down to architecture design rather than the number of shaders.

As for the GTS's 96 shaders vs the GTX's 128 shaders, the difference is there now, but it's not huge. Especially if you OC the GTS. Whether or not the difference is bigger in DX10 is yet to be seen, but I have a feeling that both cards will be to slow for true DX10 games.

My advice to you is to buy what gives you the most performance in your price range NOW, or wait till we actually get DX10 games to make your decision.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

If you're sporting a 24in monitor or higher then it's better to go with the GTX otherwise the GTS should be able to suit your gaming needs at lower resolutions. Even if you thought about 'future proofing' w/ the GTX, think that by the time any games to come out to show the difference between the 96 and 128 shaders there will be much faster cards.

 

[Mandin62]

I don?t really believe in trying to future proof since it is impossible. I am just tired of my 7900 GT. I feel limited in my ability to play at higher settings and well it bothers me. I advised a friend on a build recently and we went with the GTS and I have to say I have been impressed. The only game he can?t play with out chopping out is Unreal Tournament GOTY edition. Yeah that is the first UT. It sucks I know. But everything else it does flawlessly .

 

[Munky]

The steam processors are just shaders, and the more there is, the faster the card can process the math used to render modern games. It's no different than comparing a DX9 card with 20 pixel pipes to a card with 24 pixel pipes. The difference between 96 and 128 is substantial, and not even an overclocked gts can match a stock gtx at high resolution gaming. However, the gts will run modern games comfortably unless you plan on using a really high resolution like 1900x1200, in which case a gtx would be a better choice.

 

[RussianSensation]

8800GTX vs. 8800GTS vs. HD 2900XT

The difference is definately pretty substantial, about 20% or more over 8800GTS.

But the price difference is more than the performance difference.

 

[GundamSonicZeroX]

Originally posted by: Mandin62
I don?t really believe in trying to future proof since it is impossible. I am just tired of my 7900 GT. I feel limited in my ability to play at higher settings and well it bothers me. I advised a friend on a build recently and we went with the GTS and I have to say I have been impressed. The only game he can?t play with out chopping out is Unreal Tournament GOTY edition. Yeah that is the first UT. It sucks I know. But everything else it does flawlessly .

Try running the game with Software rendering. Also, if he has a Dual Core CPU, try setting the affinity.

 

[SonicIce]

Originally posted by: Mandin62
I don?t really believe in trying to future proof since it is impossible. I am just tired of my 7900 GT. I feel limited in my ability to play at higher settings and well it bothers me. I advised a friend on a build recently and we went with the GTS and I have to say I have been impressed. The only game he can?t play with out chopping out is Unreal Tournament GOTY edition. Yeah that is the first UT. It sucks I know. But everything else it does flawlessly .

use this patch
http://www.oldunreal.com/patch/OMP-UT-V0.2.exe

edit: oops linked to wrong file. fixed now.

 

[soybeast]

Originally posted by: Matt2

Originally posted by: Mandin62
I am looking at buying a BFG 8800 GTS 640mb card. i am was just wondering what you guys think will be the difference now and in the future with the difference in stream processors. Will it make a huge difference when the DX10 games come out? It does seem to be huge as the 2900 XT has more then the GTX, yet it didnt seem to make a huge difference. any input would be great as i would like to purchase very soon. thanks.

I think the difference between 8800GTX and HD2900XT comes down to architecture design rather than the number of shaders.

As for the GTS's 96 shaders vs the GTX's 128 shaders, the difference is there now, but it's not huge. Especially if you OC the GTS. Whether or not the difference is bigger in DX10 is yet to be seen, but I have a feeling that both cards will be to slow for true DX10 games.

My advice to you is to buy what gives you the most performance in your price range NOW, or wait till we actually get DX10 games to make your decision.

From what I've read, DX10 is more about efficiency than features. I think dx10 cards are actually supposed to run faster in dx10 compared to dx9. Of course, the current evidence would seem to point to the contrary. That could be a number of things from shoddy dx10 implementation to shoddy drivers. The only thing that's certain is that it's leaving everyone going "WTF?"