Msi Starforce 815 or 820?

[Rayden]

These are both Gts cards, but i cna't find both cards on the MSI website.

$112
MS-8820 STARFORCE 820 GEFORCE2 GTS 32MB DDR 256BIT. 333MHZ RAM DVD, TV-OUT
$117
MICROSTAR MS-8815 STARFORCE 815 GEFORCE2 GTS 32MB DDR 256BIT 400MHZ RAM DVD

There isn't really much of a difference in price, so it seems the 815 would be a better deal. But i read somewhere that the 8820 was a pro and the 815 isn't. Here is that website.
http://www.ibuyer.net/rate_list.html?cid=269

Any comments or suggestions welcome.

 

[Rsoft]

I have an 815 and I've noticed some heat problems. Whenever I am in a 3D game my system reboots after about 3-5 min. Currently this is resolved w/an external fan aimed at the 815 until I get around to replaceing the heatsink/fan combo on the board...

CC

 

[Sketchy]

MSI's product page for the 820 is here. It's a GTS. There is no page for the 815. Maybe it's an older version of their GTS card? OCWorkbench's specs for the 815 are here. I would say just go for the 820 and OC it, since MSI actually has it on their page, it probably has better support, and the previous reply talked about cooling problems... does the speed of the RAM really make that much difference? Maybe they downgraded the RAM because of overheating?

Edit: I got it, the 815 was replaced in their product line by the 820, look at the bottom of this page.

 

[nj]

Ok there is some confusion here. I got burned on an 820, and I don't think anybody else should. Here's how it works:

The 820 is the SAME card as the 815. These are REGULAR GTS cards. SOME of the boxes of the 820 proclaims a bunch of computer translated english that makes no sense but adds the claim of 400mhz ram (5ns). This is called false advertising. It has 6ns. Maybe in the future they will add 5ns ram, or maybe they think people are stupid. Whatever the case, MSI wouldn't return my calls, nor answer my faxes.

So if you want a good GTS, go for either. You are not missing out on anything by getting the cheaper of the two. But know that retailers are confused, consumers are confused, MSI is confused and I see people asking about this almost daily.

At this time there is NO 32MB PRO version of the MSI.

EDITED MESSAGE: I just checked MSI's home site and it looks like they have officially replaced the 815 with the 820 and made the correct claims about it's ram speed. However, a lot of these little mom and pop shops have the other 820 box I was referring to.

BOTTOM LINE: They are both just GTS's

 

[nj]

Rsoft: It sounds like you have a faulty fan. Maybe it's not working right, or at even at all. Buy a blorb or send the POS back to where you bought it. That's not the norm when you buy a new card. Good luck if you have to deal with MSI tech, be prepared for a hold AND to use your own money for long distance.

Skechy: Ram makes a world of difference with the bandwith starved GTS. As one reviewer explained it, it's like you have a 400hp motor with a 2 gallon gas tank. The only thing different between a GTS and an Ultra (2 x the cost) is the 4ns ram (466mhz) on the Ultra. Look how well an Ultra performs compared to the GTS. There is also a clock difference on the core of the Ultra, but that's just a small increase at best.