8800GTS vs. 8800GTX

I am looking to buy an 8800GTS or GTX and I can't seem to decide whether I should save up a little more cash to get the GTX or just go ahead with the 640 meg version on the GTS.

I currently play world of warcraft and supreme commander. I have intensions of playing Crysis when it comes out as well as some of the newer games.

I have a 19 inch lcd flatscreen. I generally game at 1280x1024 and don't really feel the urge to up the res...

The vid card would be paired with a C2D E6600. It would be placed in an Antec Sonata II, which I know that the GTS fits ok but the GTX may be a tad too big and I may have to sand or cut something inside.

I want silky smooth gaming, but from what I read, the GTS pretty much does that and performs so well that the GTX is overkill unless you are gaming or doing HD stuff at 1900x1200 or higher resolution (something I will never do).

What do you guys think is the best price/performance. If overclocked, can the GTS approach GTX performance? I am just trying to see if the extra 250 dollar price tage is worth it. Thanks!

More graphical horsepower is always good. If you can afford the extra $250, then go with the GTX.

But if you're looking for the best bang-for-your-buck, wait for nVidia's next release cycle (rumored to be in April). It's rumored they'll be releasing 8600 and 8900 models... not only will the new products be something you may want to look at, but it will also cause the prices of the 8800 models to drop. You may want to wait a month, and revisit this question at that time.

If you plan on playing the games on 19" 1280x1000 res, 8800GTX would be a waste. If you plan on upgrading the LCD to 20" or larger to run on 1600x1200 or 1680x1050, I'd get the 8800GTX.

I definitely would not pay 550-600 dollars for a video card at this time, since we are so close to the new cards coming out, probably within a month they should start rolling out.

I also think a high end card will be a waste of money for you as long as you have the 19 inch monitor. In some games an overclocked GTS can approach a stock GTX but it depends on the game and in general there still will be a big difference.

If you have to have the best by all means wait until May when ATI's new card is out then go from there. As far as Crysis, it really is up in the air right now as noone knows for sure how this generation of cards will play it. Based on what I have seen, I really dont think a 8800 gtx will be able to play it with all the features turned on and at high res.

Now here is the other question... I should try for the 640 meg version over the 320 meg right? Or is that another question of higher resolution...

That is another question of higher resolution--at 1280x1024, 320MB card will perform very similar to 640MB, often with no difference at all. And if you overclock the 320MB version, it will even outperform the 640MB version by a significant margin.

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Originally Posted by phexac

That is another question of higher resolution--at 1280x1024, 320MB card will perform very similar to 640MB, often with no difference at all. And if you overclock the 320MB version, it will even outperform the 640MB version by a significant margin.

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What about at 1680x1050? I'm about to pick one of these two up as well. Will the 640 provide better experience for longer than the 320 will? I don't plan on upgrading my video card soon after I buy so longevity is key.

Thanks!

If you can afford it, and plan on going to higher resolutions in the future, go with a 640MB version. They are slightly more expensive, but also show slightly better performance at high resolutions with a lot of AA/AF turned up.

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Originally Posted by Fig

What about at 1680x1050? I'm about to pick one of these two up as well. Will the 640 provide better experience for longer than the 320 will? I don't plan on upgrading my video card soon after I buy so longevity is key.

Thanks!

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Hey Fig! How's it going in CA? :)
As for your question, yes, if you can afford it, go with 640 MB version for sure...

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Originally Posted by proxops-pete

Hey Fig! How's it going in CA? :)
As for your question, yes, if you can afford it, go with 640 MB version for sure...

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Awesome, thanks! I'll pick up the 640mb version then. It's going to be quite an upgrade going from a 9700 pro and 2.4A P4 to a 8800GTS and E6600 C2D. Can't wait!

Cali is alright. Just busy with work and closing escrow on a house (first time buyer) and trolling sharkeys ;). I tell ya what, buying a house has been crazy stressfull for me. I think I've aged 10 years in the last 4 months.

yeah I think I will go 8800GTS 640meg. Grats on that too Fig, looks like you will be doing a similar upgrade to me. I keep thinking that I should try to swing an 8800gtx, but 200 bucks more than even the 640 gts is just a bit steep for me... Especially if it won't really help me out any unless I am running max settings at real high resolutions.

I think the next thing that I need to decide is whether to give my Antec smartpower 2.0 450 watt psu a chance, or say screw it and get one of the Rosewill 550watt or an Enhance 500watt psu... Smartpower 450 is supposed to have 32 amps on the 12v rail, but I am concerned about it. Supposedly the GTS needs 26-28 amps and the GTX needs 30+.

I think I can swing the 450 with that 8800gts, but if I go GTX, not only will it cost me a bunch more cash for the card, but I will most likely have to get a newer PSU which will cost me another 60-100 dollars.

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Originally Posted by Valden

yeah I think I will go 8800GTS 640meg. Grats on that too Fig, looks like you will be doing a similar upgrade to me. I keep thinking that I should try to swing an 8800gtx, but 200 bucks more than even the 640 gts is just a bit steep for me... Especially if it won't really help me out any unless I am running max settings at real high resolutions.

I think the next thing that I need to decide is whether to give my Antec smartpower 2.0 450 watt psu a chance, or say screw it and get one of the Rosewill 550watt or an Enhance 500watt psu... Smartpower 450 is supposed to have 32 amps on the 12v rail, but I am concerned about it. Supposedly the GTS needs 26-28 amps and the GTX needs 30+.

I think I can swing the 450 with that 8800gts, but if I go GTX, not only will it cost me a bunch more cash for the card, but I will most likely have to get a newer PSU which will cost me another 60-100 dollars.

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I know whatcha mean. That extra $200 is almost half again the price of the 640 and I just can't justify it. I'm getting pretty much new everything so I have to get a new PSU anyways, but still. Good luck with your upgrade!

i dont think even an 8800gtx will handle crysis at native res and max features.. it will be oblivion all over again

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Originally Posted by proxops-pete

If you plan on playing the games on 19" 1280x1000 res, 8800GTX would be a waste. If you plan on upgrading the LCD to 20" or larger to run on 1600x1200 or 1680x1050, I'd get the 8800GTX.

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i have to disagree. i've got a 1900xt and i've heard that argument for that as well. now i can play most everything i have at 1280x1024 at a very nice constant 60fps, but my performance really drops if i start adding 4xfsaa with some games. with more graphics horsepower, it's not an issue. besides, with stuff like crysis coming out, you probably need every bit of graphics power that you can get just to run a game smooth without turning everything down while at 1280.

If you have the money it will never hurt to get the most powerful card, but as I said earlier, it is one of those times where more powerful cards are getting ready to come out so I wouldnt spend a fortune right now.

Ultimately we still dont know how the 8800gtx will do with crysis or the other new games that will be coming out later so it is a risk at this point to buy a 600 dollar card.

My honest opinion with that monitor would be to get a 8800 gts 320mb. In most games it performs as well at lower resolutions as the 640mb. Again though 640mg may be beneficial with the new games at lower resolutions. The 8800 gts are now being sold as low as 260 dollars after rebate and it comes with Supreme Commander. Sell Supreme Commander if you dont want it or already have it and you have an awesome card that cost you about 240 dollars which is about 400 dollars less than a gtx. Is there even a game out there right now that will even really benefit from a 8800 gtx at 1280 x 1000 as compared to a 8800 gts?