Radeon or GeForce?

[pharma]

Hi. I'm building a new rig based on an Intel Q9300, 4 gig DDR2 ram, Asus P5E (x38) mobo and was wondering which PCI-e card to go for (probably in the (Radeon) HD 3870 range). Is there much difference between the chipsets? I need dual DVI (for two monitors) and use the rig for DV editing more than gaming. Thanks for any help.

 

[BassBomb]

how much do you game? is price a huge concern?

I'd aim for 9600GT

If you want to be cutting edge I'd wait for the next gen

 

[pharma]

Not a lot, as I say I do more video editing and I like the look of the 3870 as it has two DVI's and VIVO (video in and out). I'll go and look at the 9600GT now. Thanks

 

[pharma]

9600gt or 8800gt??? Whats better?

 

[cubeless]

8800gt is 'better'... overall it's faster... but for what u r doing the 9600 is probabably fine and is lower power and cooler...

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: pharma
9600gt or 8800gt??? Whats better?

8800GT is a little bit faster, but it's certainly not necessary for DV editing. Frankly, you don't need anything mroe than a 3650 for editing.

edit: $78 and it comes with witcher! :laugh:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127331

 

[ajaidevsingh]

Get a Ati 36xx card cheper and best for VE!!


EDIT: DId not read hampster's remark, i agree to wht he said!!

 

[pharma]

Thanks for the advice guys but heres the thing...My prospective mobo is an Asus P5E, which says supports 'Crossfire' . I don't get it. Does that mean it excludes Sli? In other words it prefers Radeon? So why should I be looking at a GeForce card when I should be looking at a Radeon one????

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: pharma
Thanks for the advice guys but heres the thing...My prospective mobo is an Asus P5E, which says supports 'Crossfire' . I don't get it. Does that mean it excludes Sli? In other words it prefers Radeon? So why should I be looking at a GeForce card when I should be looking at a Radeon one????

It will accept one Geforce card just fine...it just doesn't support more than one Geforce, however, it does support single as well as dual radeon cards.

There are tons of people running those boards with a geforce card...just not more than one.

 

[pharma]

Thanks hampster, that makes sense. But I guess to future proof it would be cleverer to start with a 'crossfire' card, even if a single one. BTW, if a card says 2 x DVI out does that mean I can run 2 monitors with an extended desktop? Thanks again.

 

[biostud]

if you want to future proof, crossfire and SLI is not the way to go. Better get a single new card once you need more graphics power.

Here's a review of the 3650, as you can see the 9600GT and 3850 is quite a bit faster in gaming.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...isplay/msi-hd3650.html

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Video editing? 3650 is the way to go.

Gaming? Crossfire two 3850's, which is the same thing as a 3870x2, just on two cards, and $150 less.

 

[bryanW1995]

actually, that would be the same as a 3850x2.

 

[sem1966]

best buy has visiontek 3870 oc edition for $129.99 start June 1 very hot deal.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
actually, that would be the same as a 3850x2.

The specs on a single portion are closer to the 3850 than the 3870.

Same stream processors. It uses GDDR3 like the 3850 rather than GDDR4 like the 3870, and the memory is clocked nearly the same.

3850 + 3870 = Same core, different memory buses.

The 3870x2 uses GRRD3, its really two 3850's on one board.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Scholzpdx

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
actually, that would be the same as a 3850x2.

The specs on a single portion are closer to the 3850 than the 3870.

Same stream processors. It uses GDDR3 like the 3850 rather than GDDR4 like the 3870, and the memory is clocked nearly the same.

3850 + 3870 = Same core, different memory buses.

The 3870x2 uses GRRD3, its really two 3850's on one board.

3850 + 3870 = Same core, same memory buses (both 256-bit)

3850 is just clocked lower (and/or binned lower).

The 3870X2 is 2x3870 GPU's. Clocked at standard 800MHz or above.

The 3850 standard GPU clock is 668 with some companies offering factory o/c'd models
but rarely over 750MHz.

P.S. What is a "single portion" ?

Thanks.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: angry hampster
It will accept one Geforce card just fine...it just doesn't support more than one Geforce, however, it does support single as well as dual radeon cards.

There are tons of people running those boards with a geforce card...just not more than one.

Actually, you can run two nVidia cards on any Crossfire board, you just can't SLI them.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: angry hampster
It will accept one Geforce card just fine...it just doesn't support more than one Geforce, however, it does support single as well as dual radeon cards.

There are tons of people running those boards with a geforce card...just not more than one.

Actually, you can run two nVidia cards on any Crossfire board, you just can't SLI them.

don't confuse him...

@keys & scholzpdx: 3870x2 typically has the core clocked at 850 instead of the 775 that 3870 comes at. the higher core clock makes up for most, if not all, of the reduced memory bandwidth resulting from the ddr3.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: Scholzpdx

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
actually, that would be the same as a 3850x2.

The specs on a single portion are closer to the 3850 than the 3870.

Same stream processors. It uses GDDR3 like the 3850 rather than GDDR4 like the 3870, and the memory is clocked nearly the same.

3850 + 3870 = Same core, different memory buses.

The 3870x2 uses GRRD3, its really two 3850's on one board.

3850 + 3870 = Same core, same memory buses (both 256-bit)

3850 is just clocked lower (and/or binned lower).

The 3870X2 is 2x3870 GPU's. Clocked at standard 800MHz or above.

The 3850 standard GPU clock is 668 with some companies offering factory o/c'd models
but rarely over 750MHz.

P.S. What is a "single portion" ?

Thanks.

I meant portion as one of the two GPU's.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: angry hampster
It will accept one Geforce card just fine...it just doesn't support more than one Geforce, however, it does support single as well as dual radeon cards.

There are tons of people running those boards with a geforce card...just not more than one.

Actually, you can run two nVidia cards on any Crossfire board, you just can't SLI them.

don't confuse him...

@keys & scholzpdx: 3870x2 typically has the core clocked at 850 instead of the 775 that 3870 comes at. the higher core clock makes up for most, if not all, of the reduced memory bandwidth resulting from the ddr3.

Yeah, you're right. The 3870X2 offerings vary in core speeds. Anywhere from 825MHz to 850 MHz. 3870's range anywhere from 775MHz to 851MHz. (I'm just looking at newegg ATM).