Dual Slot 8800GT or Vanilla 8800GTS 512?

[gamephile]

I'm looking to take advantage of the upcoming Nvidia releases and buy either one of these cards:

EVGA 512-P3-N800-AR GeForce 8800 GT - $185 -$30 MIR = $155
(I have the PDF for the $30 off, the current rebate is only $5.)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130357


ECS N8800GTS-512MX GeForce 8800GTS $220 -$50 MIR = $170
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814134037


I only have a 430W NeoHE and when I overclock my CPU for gaming (2.2 -> 3.2Ghz) I'm worried about the extra power draw of the GTS (On the order of 30-50W during load)

Also I trust the EVGA brand more than ECS. Anyone want to weigh in here? Specifically their warranty differences.

So, 5-15% more performance for 15 dollars but a worse track record and warranty. Worth it?

 

[gpse]

get the ECS 8800GTS 512, the card is physically built by Nvidia, ECS just provides the warranty.

 

[Tempered81]

It's true about the card being a reference board, although I have not heard anyone say any particularly good things about ECS products.

Your last line is the real question. 15 bucks for a little more performance and chance it with your old Psu? Id go with the gts, and I'd bet it would still overclock a bit as well.

UP to you, both are nice choices!!!!

 

[Throckmorton]

EVGA has the good warranty and also is known to be a good brand. AFAIK, reference cards aren't actually made by nVidia.. So presumably ECS actually builds their own, and ECS is known to suck.

 

[Tempered81]

throck is right, ECS does suck. I'd still go for it just because of the extra 16 Shaders, and vcore and mhz.

 

[SolMiester]

I wouldnt chance either of those cards with that PSU and an OC'd cpu.....but its your money!

 

[gamephile]

The NeoHE 430 has 3 12V rails with a max of 16A on each rail. I wish I knew how much amperage draw the overclock costs. Also if this site is to be believed then my situation doesn't seem that bad.

 

[ja1484]

Only 15 bucks difference? GTS 512, easy.

 

[TejTrescent]

I wouldn't chance the ECS card, even if it is a better model.

 

[gamephile]

By your sig I'm guessing you've had some...bad experiences?

 

[gamephile]

Aghhhh, now it's between the EVGA and this MSI.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...7325&Tpk=msi%2b8800gts

$180 after rebates but a better warranty than ECS. Not nearly as good as EVGA.

I'm going crazy over this and I don't know why!

The EVGA could probably be overclocked to bring it in line with the MSI without having to up the fan speed that much. Then again there's no guarantee of overclocking headroom. This is easily the most indecisive I've ever been about a computer part and I feel ridiculous.

Grrr.

 

[solog]

Originally posted by: gamephile
The NeoHE 430 has 3 12V rails with a max of 16A on each rail. I wish I knew how much amperage draw the overclock costs.

Don't forget that you have 32A or 384 watts max out of all your 12V lines combined

 

[taltamir]

third alternative... an 8800GTS 512 by someone reputable...

 

[SolMiester]

Originally posted by: solog

Originally posted by: gamephile
The NeoHE 430 has 3 12V rails with a max of 16A on each rail. I wish I knew how much amperage draw the overclock costs.

Don't forget that you have 32A or 384 watts max out of all your 12V lines combined

Thx, that was what I was trying to get at......

 

[Extelleron]

I don't think PSU will be too much of an issue as long as your CPU isn't serious overvolted and you don't have 10 HDD's. I ran an Opteron S939 + X1900XT 512MB w/ an FSP 450W power supply without problem, and I'm pretty sure the X1900 takes up a bit more power than a G92 GTS.

For $15, 8800GTS is worth the premium. ECS is a bit iffy, but graphics card quality doesn't depend on the brand too much, as everything follows a reference design. If you have trouble though I don't know how easy it will be to deal with ECS. You'd have to ask someone who has purchased one of their cards and.

If you are worried about the brand, then this MSI 8800GTS is only $10 more: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127325

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: gpse
get the ECS 8800GTS 512, the card is physically built by Nvidia, ECS just provides the warranty.

Neither nVidia nor ATI build their own cards. It's built by ECS themselves.

 

[gamephile]

Thanks for all the help guys. I hemmed and hawed way, *way*, too much on this before going with the MSI 8800GTS.

Bottom line, it'll be faster out of the box and will no doubt have overclocking headroom, power requirements nonwithstanding. Worst case scenario, it draws too much and I have to undervolt it and slow it down until I get a better PS. Well ok, that's not the *worst* case but let's not go there.

Myocardia, where/how do you know that ECS makes their own card? The general assumption is that they're all the same reference board, but I have no idea either way, I'm generally curious.