GIGABYTE GeForce 8800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3

[Rumpel Tumskin]

I currently have a AMD dual core 3800 CPU and a Nvidia 7900GS video card. I have come into some money and was thinking about getting this card. Would it be a good upgrade from my 7900GS? Also, I am running Windows XP and have no intention of buying Vista any year soon. The card is a DirectX 10 card. Do you HAVE to run Vista?? If not then how does it work, is there a DirectX10 for XP??

 

[Syntax Error]

For DirectX10, you have to run Vista. The good thing is that DX10 doesn't really offer much new, and you're not missing much by not going to DX10...Crysis in DX9 looks excellent enough. Besides, not a lot of cards (if any) reliably play DX10 games at the framerates of DX9 games, so going DX10 will lower your framerates for little gain in discernible image quality and graphics improvement.

 

[Rumpel Tumskin]

Cool, glad that I won't need Vista. Anyone know anything about this card? Is it a good upgrade?

 

[Syntax Error]

Well, depends on how much you can get the 256MB version and how low you can find the 512MB version for. Some think that the 256MB of VRAM won't be enough to carry on for later games (such as Crysis, it eats up a LOT of VRAM...almost maxing out 512MB, I hear). It boils down to how much you save by getting the slightly less capable 256MB version as opposed to the 512MB 8800GT.

If the difference of prices is like $20, I'd just go for the 512MB version, to be honest. It's been kicking ass for me, at least!

 

[Lazlo Panaflex]

Yeah, what Syntax said. Spend a little more on the GT & get a lot more performance for your wampum. Check this out:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3175&p=5

 

[sutahz]

What resolution do you play at?
is your 7900GS not giving you the performace you'd like? Got the upgrade itch? What games do you play/want to play?
Its true, DX10 doesn't do much. Water looks a lot better though.

 

[Rumpel Tumskin]

Right now I am mainly playing Lord of the Rings Online and the native res of my monitor is 1280 x 1024. The game runs kinda twitchy with my 9200 so I have to turn some of the settings down.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: Rumpel Tumskin
Right now I am mainly playing Lord of the Rings Online and the native res of my monitor is 1280 x 1024. The game runs kinda twitchy with my 9200 so I have to turn some of the settings down.

LOTRO DX10 vs. DX9 Comparison

Not sure what titles the others are playing, but there is a significant and noticeable difference in a lot of titles with DX9 and DX10. But its true that DX10 also results in a massive performance hit on current generation hardware, specifically dynamic shadows/lighting in DX10.

You should see an excellent increase in performance with LOTRO with an 8800GT 256MB at that resolution. Any higher like 1680x1050 and I'd look into at least a 512MB version. Just something to keep in mind if you're planning to upgrade your LCD sometime in the near future.

 

[Syntax Error]

When I see those screenies, something in me tells me that the game could render the "DX10" graphics in DX9, but is deliberately holding it back, like Crysis does with "Very High" settings.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: Syntax Error
When I see those screenies, something in me tells me that the game could render the "DX10" graphics in DX9, but is deliberately holding it back, like Crysis does with "Very High" settings.

Yep, it could, but not without even bigger hits in performance.