What are these "Mainstream" cards I keep reading about?

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Synomenon

Synomenon

Lifer
Dec 25, 2004
10,547
6
81
Ok, I've read a number of threads here where people mention "mainstream" 8x00 series DX10 cards being released this month or next. What are they talking about? Single slot 8x00 series NVIDIA cards?
 
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Twsmit

Senior member
Nov 30, 2003
925
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Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
Ok, I've read a number of threads here where people mention "mainstream" 8x00 series DX10 cards being released this month or next. What are they talking about? Single slot 8x00 series NVIDIA cards?
Click to expand...

They will almost certainly be single slot, eventually they may even be small form factor as well.

Specifically the 8300 and 8600 series cards. They will probably be on a smaller manufacturing process than the current 90nm and will therefore be cheaper to produce, cooler running and require less power to operate.

 
Synomenon

Synomenon

Lifer
Dec 25, 2004
10,547
6
81
Kind of disappointed that they're only going to be 128-bit. Also, it looks like these cards will max out at 256MB? I guess I'll go with the EVGA 7950GT on Newegg.
 
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Roguestar

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2006
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Hah. If you're buying a 7950GT instead of an almost equal price DX10 card you're a fool in my book. Getting a "mainstream" (read: mid-range, affordable) DX10 card will most likely still outperform most DX9 cards due to their superior architectural design and needless to say they will support DX10 instead of wasting your money on a previous-generation card you'll need to upgrade within the year if you want to enjoy games like Alan Wake, Crysis and UT2007 the way they were meant to be. Frankly, the eventual release of mid-range and more variations of mid-high range cards is a godsend for the consumer as the market will be flooded with more variation, more choice and therefore lower cost and less price skimming.

If a 256MB card does not fulfil your needs (ie: gaming at a higher resolution than 1280*1024) then the 320MB 8800GTS is the nearest option. Obviously the greater your demands the higher up the scale you're going to have to go; you don't often see mid-range cards with the same amount of memory as the top of the line (unless they've just had loads of extra memory tacked on to sell the big numbers to chumps).
 
Synomenon

Synomenon

Lifer
Dec 25, 2004
10,547
6
81
My monitor is 24" (1920x1200). I have a Shuttle XPC. One PCIe x16 slot and one PCI slot. I need the PCI slot so I can't get those huge, dual slot cards. I need something with more than 256MB of memory though. The 7950GT that I got (EVGA 512-P2-N637-AR) is $244.99. The cheapest 640MB 8800GTS is $359.99. These are both eVGA cards. I like eVGA because of the warranty and trade up program.

The 7950GT is 256-bit and GDDR3. The mainstream 8x00s are 128-bit and GDDR3. Does the DX10 vs. DX9 thing make the 8x00 a better performer? Anyone know?
 
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Roguestar

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2006
6,045
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The 7950GT that you got? As in, you bought it already? Well, kudos for sticking to your guns and don't fear the buyer's remorse now, but if I were you I'd have waited for more cards (or got a 320MB 8800GTS). Good choice on EVGA though, the trade-up program is a good safety net, all being said.
 
Synomenon

Synomenon

Lifer
Dec 25, 2004
10,547
6
81
I bought the 7950GT already, but Newegg has a 30 day return policy. If I see an 8600GTS next week that I like, I can still return the 7950GT. The 256MB memory limit is something that each manufacturer can change apparently. Hopefully, EVGA can release an 8600GT with at least 512MB though it will still be only 128-bit.
 
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igloo15

Senior member
Jun 2, 2004
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Should of waited as soon as new cards come out and ATI's stuff come out in like a month all the current cards are gonna fall in price i wouldn't doubt you will be able to find a 8800gts 640mb for 300 dollars and a 320mb one for 240. Unfortunately by the time they drop in price you will probably be past the time of return that card you have!
 
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Roguestar

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2006
6,045
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"should have". It's "should have". Not "of".

Sorry, but that really gets me and it's so common. People think it's "should of" because when speaking it's abbreviated to "should've".
 
Synomenon

Synomenon

Lifer
Dec 25, 2004
10,547
6
81
It also really bothers me when people says "should of" instead of "should have".

Anyway, I have older cards around here so I'm going to return the 7950GT today. I don't like ATI cards. No logical reason why either. Just biased that way.
 
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Griffinhart

Golden Member
Dec 7, 2004
1,130
1
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Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
My monitor is 24" (1920x1200). I have a Shuttle XPC. One PCIe x16 slot and one PCI slot. I need the PCI slot so I can't get those huge, dual slot cards. I need something with more than 256MB of memory though. The 7950GT that I got (EVGA 512-P2-N637-AR) is $244.99. The cheapest 640MB 8800GTS is $359.99. These are both eVGA cards. I like eVGA because of the warranty and trade up program.

The 7950GT is 256-bit and GDDR3. The mainstream 8x00s are 128-bit and GDDR3. Does the DX10 vs. DX9 thing make the 8x00 a better performer? Anyone know?
Click to expand...

The shuttle case is really nice I built a system with one a couple of years ago but they really do limit what you can put in the expansion slot. That form factor is so nice though.

The 8800GTS is a much faster card though. Even without the DX10 stuff, it's simply a better card. Part of it is the Unified shaders. Unfortunately, not much is know, benchmark wise, what the deal with the lower end 8x00 cards. It's very possible that some will be slower than the 7950 but it's also possible that some will be faster. All will have DX10 support. That may be important if you plan to upgrade to Vista for future games before you plan on upgrading your video board again.

 
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Roguestar

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2006
6,045
0
0
Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
I don't like ATI cards. No logical reason why either. Just biased that way.
Click to expand...

:confused:

You could at least wait and see. Even if they're crap they'll drive the nVidia cards down in price.
 
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Roguestar

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2006
6,045
0
0
May, I think. Reading an article on DailyTech and some info from a guy on OcUK who got a retail copy for review, it seems that (from what we're told before NDA) the R600 is shaping up to be something very special...
 
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Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
0
0
You better re-read that 30-day return policy - I can't believe that the Egg would allow a full refund on items for which there is no reason to return except in a sealed box. If they did, they would take it in the shorts these days...

.bh.
 
Synomenon

Synomenon

Lifer
Dec 25, 2004
10,547
6
81
I've read and re-read the return policy and it doesn't' say anywhere that they take a restocking fee, but if they do have one I'm fine with that. ZZF has an 8600GTS in stock for only $189.99.
 
Synomenon

Synomenon

Lifer
Dec 25, 2004
10,547
6
81
So which one should I get:

EVGA 256-P2-N765-AR GeForce 8600GTS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130086

720MHz core clock
2100MHz memory clock
256MB of memory using 128-bit GDDR3
33.6 GB/s Memory Bandwidth


or


EVGA 512-P2-N637-AR GeForce 7950GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130066

600MHz core clock
1450MHz memory clock
512MB of memory using 256-bit GDDR3
46.4 GB/s Memory Bandwidth

---------------

I have an Intel C2D e6600 on a Shuttle XPC w/ a 975X chipset, Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit, 4GB of DDR2 667 RAM, a Dell 2407WFP (1920x1200 res.).
 
Synomenon

Synomenon

Lifer
Dec 25, 2004
10,547
6
81
I'm not really trying to decide between the 8500 or 8600, I'm trying to decide between the 8600 and 7950.

Yes they will fit. People have been putting 8800GTXs in the same model XPC I have, though they have to sacrifice their PCI slot.
 
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