Thinking of upgrading to an 8800GT

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Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
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Alright, so I've always been an ASUS fanboy, but I've heard good things about EVGA and BFG. I'm looking at the $200-230 range, and all three manufacturers have cards in that line. The two I'm primarily looking at are this ASUS and this EVGA. Does anybody have any firsthand experience with either card or know of a place where they are compared? I'm leaning towards the EVGA due to the factory overclock, but I'm not sure I want that, as a friend of mine recently got a 9 series OC'd card and had to underclock it to achieve stability.

I currently have an x1900 AIW, rest of rig in sig.

Thanks in advance!
 
DarkRogue

DarkRogue

Golden Member
Dec 25, 2007
1,243
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I was personally considering between XFX or eVGA when I was hunting for my 8800GT. Both allow you to mod your card and still retain your warranty, which was a big plus for me. "Mod" refers to overclocking and changing out the heatsink (because I was replaced it with an Accelero.) As long as you don't physically break the card in the process, it'll be covered.

XFX has double lifetime warranty so it adds resale value, whereas eVGA comes with the 90-day Step Up (120 days for the 9800 GX2) which allows you to upgrade your card to a newer one.

XFX's cards are currently slightly cheaper than eVGA's cards IIRC, and come with a free game. I ended up buying the eVGA card for the Step Up, whether I was going to use it or not.

Both are extremely cheap now after rebates (under $200.)

No idea on the Asus card though, but Google should help with reviews.

Edit:
As far as stability goes, I bought the cheapest eVGA card, the factory stock card @ 600/1800. It ran completely fine there. Then I added the Accelero, and overclocked it to their SSC level card (700/2000) which is also rock solid. So, I have an SSC for the price of a stock card.
 
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Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
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Hmm I didn't know about the doulble warrenty of XFX.. that's pretty awesome. I will most likely be relacing the heatsink as well. OK XFX just knocked ASUS off the table heh.
 
zephyrprime

zephyrprime

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2001
7,512
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Galaxy baby. Best power supply, voltage adjustments, high quality hsf, and above stock spec ram.
 
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CVSiN

Diamond Member
Jul 19, 2004
9,289
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XFX is the only brand I buy now.
their warranty and support is unbeaten.
and they make a darn fine card as well.


 
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Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
8,016
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Originally posted by: zephyrprime
Galaxy baby. Best power supply, voltage adjustments, high quality hsf, and above stock spec ram.
Click to expand...

Where can I find Galaxy cards? Newegg doesn't seem to carry them.

Originally posted by: happy medium
9600gt 125.00$ after rebate.
I'd get this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814133216

or this 8800gts 229.00$ after rebate/ free crysis


http://www.newegg.com/Product/...14130312&nm_mc=OTC-RSS
Click to expand...

The 9600 is a little lower than what I'm aiming for, but that gts looks pretty nice. I've already got a copy of Crysis but I've got a few friends who could use it :D

Edit: How would the 9600GT and the 8800GT stack up? I googled a bit but didn't find anything, and Tom's VGA charts don't have any of the 9 series cards listed yet.
 
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panfist

Senior member
Sep 4, 2007
343
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Originally posted by: Canai
How would the 9600GT and the 8800GT stack up? I googled a bit but didn't find anything, and Tom's VGA charts don't have any of the 9 series cards listed yet.
Click to expand...

Below 1680x1050 it won't make any difference. Even at this resolution or above, the only game you'd notice a difference is probably Crysis. The 8800GT will let you enable one more setting from medium > high or give you a few fps more. I just had to make the same decision and I went with an 8800GT. The last video card I bought was a x1900XT and it lasted me a good long while for $300. The 8800GT is about $100 less so why hold out?

I got the MSI 8800GT OC for $179 open box (they are available for $189 after rebate new) because it comes with a nice cooler, I didn't really care about the overclock too much. It's been shown not to matter really. The cooler is called a Zalman v1050, but it's not quite as beefy as the v1000 which I had on my x1900XT. It is adequate, my load temps are under 50.

Alternatively you could go with EVGA or BFG based on their 90 day trade up policy, or XFX based on their double-lifetime warranty (transfers to whoever the next owner is).

All of the other brands are basically the same. It's your preference. If one overclocks 5% higher than another you won't notice a difference in terms of gameplay experience
 
buck

buck

Lifer
Dec 11, 2000
12,273
4
81
Originally posted by: panfist
Originally posted by: Canai
How would the 9600GT and the 8800GT stack up? I googled a bit but didn't find anything, and Tom's VGA charts don't have any of the 9 series cards listed yet.
Click to expand...

Below 1680x1050 it won't make any difference. Even at this resolution or above, the only game you'd notice a difference is probably Crysis. The 8800GT will let you enable one more setting from medium > high or give you a few fps more. I just had to make the same decision and I went with an 8800GT. The last video card I bought was a x1900XT and it lasted me a good long while for $300. The 8800GT is about $100 less so why hold out?

I got the MSI 8800GT OC for $179 open box (they are available for $189 after rebate new) because it comes with a nice cooler, I didn't really care about the overclock too much. It's been shown not to matter really. The cooler is called a Zalman v1050, but it's not quite as beefy as the v1000 which I had on my x1900XT. It is adequate, my load temps are under 50.

Alternatively you could go with EVGA or BFG based on their 90 day trade up policy, or XFX based on their double-lifetime warranty (transfers to whoever the next owner is).

All of the other brands are basically the same. It's your preference. If one overclocks 5% higher than another you won't notice a difference in terms of gameplay experience
Click to expand...


I went with the evga 8800gt oc because of the trade up. Its been working great.
 
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Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
8,016
1
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I will actually be playing at 1360x768, and my goal is to get as high as I can in Crysis as well as to finally be able to max Stalker.

Originally posted by: BernardP
I would go with the Asus because of its superior Glaciator cooler. See how well this cooler works compared to other designs on the 8800GS on this HardwareZone page
Click to expand...

The cooler that comes with the board doesn't really matter... I'll be replacing it with the best aftermarket cooler I can get.

I'm definitly leaning towards the XFX, due to the lifetime warranty and being able to mod the card without voiding said warranty. I don't think any new cards are coming out in the next couple months that I'd be wanting to trade up to, so trade up isn't that big of a deal - I usually upgrade video cards every year and a half or so.
 
S

Shooks

Golden Member
Jun 19, 2001
1,428
0
76
I chose the MSI 8800GT OC because of the great stock cooler. No need for an aftermarket solution IMO, the card idles at 40C and never gets above 55C. And that's with the fan @ 30%
 
Engineer

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
Originally posted by: Shooks
I chose the MSI 8800GT OC because of the great stock cooler. No need for an aftermarket solution IMO, the card idles at 40C and never gets above 55C. And that's with the fan @ 30%
Click to expand...

Edit: Back up to $180.98 shipped.

For the time being, it's also $165.98 shipped after coupon, rebates and shipping from Chiefvalue (may change at any time). See Hot Deals MSI thread for details.

Edit #2: It's down and up and down and up. Was back down to $165.98 but now back to $180.98. YMMV.
 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
Originally posted by: Canai
I will actually be playing at 1360x768, and my goal is to get as high as I can in Crysis as well as to finally be able to max Stalker.

Originally posted by: BernardP
I would go with the Asus because of its superior Glaciator cooler. See how well this cooler works compared to other designs on the 8800GS on this HardwareZone page
Click to expand...

The cooler that comes with the board doesn't really matter... I'll be replacing it with the best aftermarket cooler I can get.

I'm definitly leaning towards the XFX, due to the lifetime warranty and being able to mod the card without voiding said warranty. I don't think any new cards are coming out in the next couple months that I'd be wanting to trade up to, so trade up isn't that big of a deal - I usually upgrade video cards every year and a half or so.
Click to expand...


9600gt ftw!
 
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Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
8,016
1
0
Alright one of the guys in the clan I'm in is selling one of this card for $350... Do you guys think that might be worth it or should I just save the money and go with an 8800gt?
 
T

thilanliyan

Lifer
Jun 21, 2005
12,064
2,277
126
I really like my Palit 8800GT card...nice cooler and OCs pretty well. Warranty is not as good as eVGA's, BFG's, and XFX's though. I'm not gonna keep my card for too long though so I don't care.
 
T

thilanliyan

Lifer
Jun 21, 2005
12,064
2,277
126
Originally posted by: Canai
Alright one of the guys in the clan I'm in is selling one of this card for $350... Do you guys think that might be worth it or should I just save the money and go with an 8800gt?
Click to expand...

Save the money or wait for the 9800GTX (Next week I think)...it'll be around the same price and unless you game at very high res it'll probably be faster.
 
DarkRogue

DarkRogue

Golden Member
Dec 25, 2007
1,243
3
76
Originally posted by: Canai
Alright one of the guys in the clan I'm in is selling one of this card for $350... Do you guys think that might be worth it or should I just save the money and go with an 8800gt?
Click to expand...

You said you were looking in the $200-230 range, and that thing is $350.. doesn't make too much sense to me.
That GTX is based on old technology (G80) whereas the 8800GT and newer cards are based on the G92/G94. The newer cards beat up on the old ones, are cheaper, consume less power, produce less heat ... what am I missing here?

Really, you should look at what your needs are, if you need the extra power of the 8800GT, go for it, else save some money and go with a 9600GT. If you /need/ the extra power, consider either the 8800GTS 512 (G92) which is coming down in price but offers only a slight boost over the GT, or wait for the 9800GTX that should be out soonish, but as the name implies, the GTX will likely be at the same price point as the 8800GTX, which might be out of your supposed budget range.

Again, it's your call, for price/performance, 8800GT and 9600GT are winners.
 
C

Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
8,016
1
0
Originally posted by: DarkRogue
Originally posted by: Canai
Alright one of the guys in the clan I'm in is selling one of this card for $350... Do you guys think that might be worth it or should I just save the money and go with an 8800gt?
Click to expand...

You said you were looking in the $200-230 range, and that thing is $350.. doesn't make too much sense to me.
That GTX is based on old technology (G80) whereas the 8800GT and newer cards are based on the G92/G94. The newer cards beat up on the old ones, are cheaper, consume less power, produce less heat ... what am I missing here?

Really, you should look at what your needs are, if you need the extra power of the 8800GT, go for it, else save some money and go with a 9600GT. If you /need/ the extra power, consider either the 8800GTS 512 (G92) which is coming down in price but offers only a slight boost over the GT, or wait for the 9800GTX that should be out soonish, but as the name implies, the GTX will likely be at the same price point as the 8800GTX, which might be out of your supposed budget range.

Again, it's your call, for price/performance, 8800GT and 9600GT are winners.
Click to expand...

Yeah I was just wondering if it would be worth it for me to wait a bit longer and save up a bit more to get the GTX, but I think you're right and one of the GT cards is right for me.
 
C

CVSiN

Diamond Member
Jul 19, 2004
9,289
1
0
Originally posted by: DarkRogue
Originally posted by: Canai
Alright one of the guys in the clan I'm in is selling one of this card for $350... Do you guys think that might be worth it or should I just save the money and go with an 8800gt?
Click to expand...

You said you were looking in the $200-230 range, and that thing is $350.. doesn't make too much sense to me.
That GTX is based on old technology (G80) whereas the 8800GT and newer cards are based on the G92/G94. The newer cards beat up on the old ones, are cheaper, consume less power, produce less heat ... what am I missing here?

Really, you should look at what your needs are, if you need the extra power of the 8800GT, go for it, else save some money and go with a 9600GT. If you /need/ the extra power, consider either the 8800GTS 512 (G92) which is coming down in price but offers only a slight boost over the GT, or wait for the 9800GTX that should be out soonish, but as the name implies, the GTX will likely be at the same price point as the 8800GTX, which might be out of your supposed budget range.

Again, it's your call, for price/performance, 8800GT and 9600GT are winners.
Click to expand...

9800GTX is already out and carries a 350$ price point.

multiple Fry's in multiple states have them on the shelves.
 
Denithor

Denithor

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2004
6,298
23
81
Originally posted by: CVSiN
Originally posted by: Canai
Alright one of the guys in the clan I'm in is selling one of this card for $350... Do you guys think that might be worth it or should I just save the money and go with an 8800gt?
Click to expand...

9800GTX is already out and carries a 350$ price point.

multiple Fry's in multiple states have them on the shelves.
Click to expand...

@Canai: with this info, I'll just bet your clanmate would LOVE for you to buy his 8800GTX for $350 so he can upgrade to the 9800GTX for free!

The days of the 8800GTX are over. Looking at many benchmarks shows the 8800GT offers about 90% of its performance at 1/2 the price and the 8800GTS-512MB will actually beat the 8800GTX in many games for just a little more cash.

Keep in mind that the 9800GTX is also G92 based and its only real advantage over the 8800GTS is faster memory for slightly improved bandwidth (which is actually good because that is the only weak point in the 8800GTS card, but also only affects it at ultra-high resolutions with AA/AF enabled).

Short story: you may be best served by getting an 8800GTS for ~$230 and be done with it.
 
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