Video Card opinion with a 400$ budget

[Blacklash]

The below review includes a stock 8800GT and a X1900XTX which is slightly stronger than your card. Find your resolution you play, or one close to it, and browse all the benches.

http://www.techpowerup.com/rev.../HD_3870_Atomic/6.html

In titles like WiC, DiRT, Crysis and Lost Planet, the 8800GT would definitely be worth the upgrade. If you're satisfied with your card's performance in all the games you currently play, keep it.

 

[DPOverLord]

Would I have an issue running the 3870X2? Or would you reccomend going for the cheaper alternative and upgrade to something better over the next year

 

[DPOverLord]

Anyone else have input? Cant decide ARRRG

 

[taltamir]

man this thread is ANCIENT!

I will go with (actually I just purchased it 5 minutes ago) a 8800GTS 512MB now for 300$... this XFX one specifically with its transferable warranty. And when the GF9 FINALLY arrives sell it on ebay (transferring the warranty) and buy a new single card.
I wouldn't saddle myself with any SLI or xfire, and the reason I go with the GTS over the GT is because I think it will devalue less as far as resell is concerned.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150261

 

[DPOverLord]

Whats the Differents between the GTS, XXX and Ultra?

 

[bryanW1995]

I recently upgraded from the same 1950xt 256 that you have now. It's a nice card but I saw a very significant performance improvement jumping up to a 3870. An 8800 GT is the closest equivalent to the 3870 that nvidia has. It's actually 10-20% faster than the 3870 in most instances. The 8800GTS is a slight improvement on the 8800gt, it has 128 sp's vs 112 and comes stock at 650 mhz vs the 600 mhz of the 8800gt. In most benchmarks at 1920x1200 or lower the 8800gts 512 meets or beats an 8800gtx in performance. Also, the 8800gt/gts 512 are based upon 65nm tech instead of the 90nm that the 8800gtx and ultra use, so they run cooler and use less power. Keep in mind if you're going for the 8800gts that the 512 mb version is the new and improved one. They used to have an 8800gts 640 that was based upon the 90nm core. Avoid the 640 at all costs! Finally, you have the 3870x2 which is, surprise, 2 3870's on one pcb. By most estimates it is 8-10% faster than an 8800 ultra, which was the performance king for quite a while.

prices are roughly as follows:

3870 ~ 200
8800gt ~ 200
8800gts 512 ~ 270
3870x2 ~ 450

by the way, your x1950xt 256 is probably closer to an x1900xt 512 in performance than it is to an x1950xtx. that 256 mb of ram, especially in that old architecture, is extremely limiting. what res do you game at?

 

[DPOverLord]

Bryan,
Thank you so much for this response, this is exactly what I was looking for. I have been looking at the BFG OC2 768MB and everything. I run my games at 1600x1200 on my 22" iiyama CRT. I avg 30-40 FPS at this res in most games. However, I was looking for something significant. From what I am reading it seems the best way to go is with an 8800 GTS 512MB. I considered the 3870 but for 200$ more are you really getting something that much more significant? You know? I tend to play Sup Commander, HL2, Doom3, Tf2, C&C3.
What do you think?

 

[betasub]

Yes, much more significant.

Yes, we know.

Just choose one already. All give greatly improved performance in your listed games at 1600x1200.

 

[Apocalypse23]

I am seriously considering a 825mhz Radeon 3870 x2 . Any of the 825mhz speed 3870x2s are incredibly high performing. Think about it, you pay almost 500$ CAD for a high end product with 2 GPUs in one, it outperforms every card out there in 1920x1080 or higher resolutions, it's still got better drivers to be released and doesn't even give you the hassle to get it overclocked. Overclocking video cards is just overkill in my opinion and they don't last very long. BUY the Asus 3870x2 and get your goodies, you get a free little leather cd wallet, and company of heroes opposing fronts with the package. BEST DEAL if you ask me. And your getting 1GB of video memory, thats hardcoring any other card out there for that much. I honestly thing ATI is the way to go. And besides, I kinda like these new 3870x2s. I am going to sell my older 8800 gts and get a 3870x2 soon.

Heres the link PS - don't bother with the lower rated 725Mhz 3870x2 from cheaper brands like visiontek and diamond, go for Asus.

http://www.ncix.com/products/i...%2F1G&manufacture=ASUS 500$ CAD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814121228 $459 US

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: DPOverLord
Bryan,
Thank you so much for this response, this is exactly what I was looking for. I have been looking at the BFG OC2 768MB and everything. I run my games at 1600x1200 on my 22" iiyama CRT. I avg 30-40 FPS at this res in most games. However, I was looking for something significant. From what I am reading it seems the best way to go is with an 8800 GTS 512MB. I considered the 3870 but for 200$ more are you really getting something that much more significant? You know? I tend to play Sup Commander, HL2, Doom3, Tf2, C&C3.
What do you think?

I answered your pm with the gts info, but you might be better off getting one of the 8800gt cards over at hot deals. 2 days ago they had a galaxy for $188 and an xfx for $206. I'd probably spend the 206 for the xfx and just oc the living shit out of it, you'll get better performance than you would out of a stock 8800gts 512 and you'll save yourself $60 while you're at it. If you're unable to find any reputable-brand 8800gt cards for under $220 then spring for the EVGA $265 AR 8800gts 512 that I sent you from newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130325


edit: the bfg 8800gt for ~ $200 is gone, but msi has an 8800gt OC to 660 for $215 shipped at newegg right now. hot deals still has some crazy deals in the $180-$190 range on off brands, but those are definitely buy at your own risk cards.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Apocalypse23
I am seriously considering a 825mhz Radeon 3870 x2 . Any of the 825mhz speed 3870x2s are incredibly high performing. Think about it, you pay almost 500$ CAD for a high end product with 2 GPUs in one, it outperforms every card out there in 1920x1080 or higher resolutions, it's still got better drivers to be released and doesn't even give you the hassle to get it overclocked.

You can get 2 8800GT's for under $400, which make them cheaper than a 3870X2 *and* they will be faster!

Once I realized that the 8800GT's had fallen below $200, I concluded that the 3870X2 is a poor value in comparison to two of them in SLI.

 

[bryanW1995]

not necessarily. you are stuck buying an nvidia mobo if you want to go sli. Strangely, if you're running an amd cpu then the nvidia mobos are pretty nice, but with intel the 680/780i leave a bit to be desired when compared with p35/x35/x38 mobos. Also, you can go cheap on an intel mobo with, say a p35 ds3L for about $90 and then feel like you can splurge on a solid video card, maybe even a 3870x2. As many others have mentioned, the 3870x2 is best for either boards that don't crossfire or people like me with a good p35 board that want better graphics performance.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
not necessarily. you are stuck buying an nvidia mobo if you want to go sli. Strangely, if you're running an amd cpu then the nvidia mobos are pretty nice, but with intel the 680/780i leave a bit to be desired when compared with p35/x35/x38 mobos. Also, you can go cheap on an intel mobo with, say a p35 ds3L for about $90 and then feel like you can splurge on a solid video card, maybe even a 3870x2. As many others have mentioned, the 3870x2 is best for either boards that don't crossfire or people like me with a good p35 board that want better graphics performance.

You should check out the new article on the main page...they have a new AsRock 650i board that can run the Penryn at 4ghz with 8gb of RAM and dual 8800GTs in SLI. :Q

I didn't catch the price of the board, but AsRock stuff is usually cheap as chips.

 

[bryanW1995]

yeah, I just read that article. the mobo is only $105! That's a great deal, but keep in mind that ANYTHING that is penryn-capable should run an e8400 at 4.0 ghz. I didn't mention this earlier, but part of my argument for 3870x2 over 2x8800gt was that you can use your CURRENT mobo to run one. That mobo is a nice option for somebody who has been holding out for c2d though.

 

[bluehaze013]

Originally posted by: SickBeast


You can get 2 8800GT's for under $400, which make them cheaper than a 3870X2 *and* they will be faster!

Once I realized that the 8800GT's had fallen below $200, I concluded that the 3870X2 is a poor value in comparison to two of them in SLI.

Not cheaper and not faster really all things considered. 3870x2 440 dollars at Newegg throw in an Abit IP35 for 100 bucks and you've got 540 dollars invested and should easily be able to overclock a q6600 to 3.6ghz on a p35 board to overcome the slight advantage in performance the 8800GT's have actually ending up with better performance out of the 3870x2.

Compare too 2 8800GT for 400 dollars +SLI Mobo 680i 250 dollars your price is now 650 dollars for the SLi setup and saying the 680i boards suck is putting it nicely LOL rare to get 3.6ghz on a q6600 with this board reliably because they don't overclock well and they are not very stable not too mention all the money you'll be wasting on ram when your 680I overvolts it and fries it. Been there done that and won't have anything to do with Nvidia mobos ever again.

However if you are not going to OC and are just running everything stock then I agree the 8800GT's and SLi mobo would probably be the better choice, but who spends all this money on enthusiast gear and then doesn't overclock? Not me!