which 8600gt?

[j0j081]

I have a friend who needs a new video card to put in her HP computer with a Q6600 but it only has a 300 watt power supply. She lives too far away to help install a new psu so I thought an 8600gt would be the best option. I found this XFX XXX edition on buy.com
http://www.buy.com/prod/xfx-ge...loc/101/204450360.html
According to the reviews it's not that much slower than a 8600gts which I originally had in mind but would require a new psu. Does this seem like a good one to tell her to get? I know there are 512MB ones as well are they faster? Her max res is 1280x1024 so I'm not sure she'd need it anyway.

 

[praveen]

I think, it totally depends on what she wants to do in her computer. If she wants to game (especially latest ones) from what I hear its best to for a 8800 card. If you want to go for the 8600 just for the PSU I don't think this decision is sound.

8600 v 8800

 

[j0j081]

yeah I know how much better the 8800 is in fact I will be getting an 8800gt for myself very soon but I don't see anyway possible she is gonna get a new power supply put in there. I would do it but we live too far away right now and only hang out a few times a year. She wants to play some of the newer games but not at a super high res because it's only a 19 inch 4:3 lcd.

 

[JBT]

I'd go Radeon 3850 for her then. It smokes an 8600GT.

EDIT: NM just looked at te price for 99 or 89 with GCO thats not bad a 3850 costs around 170 so it probably isn't worth the difference if she doesn't game all the time.

 

[clickynext]

The 3850 should only use roughly the same amount of power as the 8600GT. So if the computer is used for gaming, get that.

 

[s44]

Actually, the 3850 uses more than the GTS under load. You could roll your dice on this, or have her get this 512mb 2600XT which is noticably faster than the 8600GT for the same AR price (free shipping ends today), or just $85AR with the Newegg newsletter code (requires being on their email list; may also end today).

 

[AnonymouseUser]

For those suggesting other cards, the 8600GT does not need a 6 pin power connector like the 8600GTS, 8800GT, 2600XT, or 3850. Those cards will require a PSU upgrade.

Good card for $80 plus tax after rebate and free shipping.

 

[j0j081]

so is the 8600gt with 256 mb better than 512 then or what? I know that is usually true with the non high end cards.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: j0j081
so is the 8600gt with 256 mb better than 512 then or what? I know that is usually true with the non high end cards.

The extra 256MB RAM will not even be usuable on an 8600GT. Beware the cards with DDR2 RAM!

HardOCP tested an 8600GTS with 512MB RAM, and came to the following conclusion:

The simple truth is there are no gameplay advantages with having 512MB of RAM on a GeForce 8600 GTS.

Knowing that, there is no way an 8600GT will benefit from the extra RAM. It's a marketing gimmick.

Core clock will be more important, though higher clocked cards may also have a louder cooling fan. You may even want to consider a card with silent cooling ($95 plus tax (after rebate and $6 shipping)).

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
For those suggesting other cards, the 8600GT does not need a 6 pin power connector like the 8600GTS, 8800GT, 2600XT, or 3850.

No, the 2600XT has no power connector.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: s44

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
For those suggesting other cards, the 8600GT does not need a 6 pin power connector like the 8600GTS, 8800GT, 2600XT, or 3850.

No, the 2600XT has no power connector.

I stand corrected.

 

[j0j081]

Originally posted by: s44

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
For those suggesting other cards, the 8600GT does not need a 6 pin power connector like the 8600GTS, 8800GT, 2600XT, or 3850.

No, the 2600XT has no power connector.

that might have been an option but I used a 2600 briefly in my rig as an interm card and the drivers were horrible.