8800gt vs 8800gts vs 8800gtx

its time to upgrade my video card in order to run the new upcoming MMORPG Age of Conan. On their website they say that they recommend at least a 7950gx2 to run the game smoothly and seeing as how I only have a 256mb x1950xt (DX9 Card) I wanna buy a DX10 card to enjoy some of those new DX10 features in Age of Conan.

But after looking at some of the benchmarks for these cards it seems rather confuseing to me because it shows the 8800gt faster then the 8800gts in some benchmarks and the 8800gt is faster then the 9600gt by 20% as well, and the 9800gts and gtx are only like 5fps faster then their 8800gts and gtx predicesors.

Isnt the 8800gts and 8800gtx soposed to be faster then the 8800gt model? which card would you guys recommend?

Here are the best deals I found for each model

8800gt
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EVGA 512mb 8800GT $189.99 + free shipping - $30 MIR = $159.99 (90 day step up program included if 9800gt is awesome)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130318

8800GTS
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MSI 512mb 8800GTS $224.99 + $7.59 shipping = $232.58 -$30 MIR = $202.58

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127325

8800GTX
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BFG 768mb 8800GTXOCE $379.99 + 7.92 shipping = $387.91 - $50 MIR = $337.91

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814143080

it seems to me that the real battle is between the 8800gt and the 8800gts but I cant decide between the two, please help me decide :)

Here are the specs from neweggs site of the two I am looking at most

8800gt
=================
112 Stream Processors
Core clock : 600mhz
Memory Clock : 1800mhz
Memory Interface : 256-bit

8800gts OC
=================
128 Stream Processors
Core clock : 678mhz
Memory Clock : 1944MHz
Memory Interface : 256-bit

DO not forget that the amount of ram on the card makes a difference and the fact the 8800GT uses a different chip.

More here http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...gt,1714-2.html

Plus you might be interested in these power requirements.


8800 GT ____78W ² (512MB)
8800 GT ____50W ^ (256MB)



8800 GT OC ____86W ² (512MB 700/1025)

8800 GTS OC_____117W ² (640MB 576/1350)
8800 GTS _____106W ² (640MB)
8800 GTS _____103W ² (320MB)

the 8800gts from that link is the 320mb version vs the 512mb 8800gt

still i found some pretty interesting reads on there like this:

Quote:

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A little like the Penryn, the GeForce 8800GT was only possible because Nvidia has been able to use a new process. The G80's 90 nm process, the true father of the G92 on which this 8800GT is based (rather than the 80 nm process that was used on the 8600's G84), gives way to 65 nm. TSMC still can't use 45 nm processes on GPUs, but we need to keep in mind that GPUs' complexity (in terms of numbers of transistors) is higher than CPUs when you exclude their enormous L2 cache. The G92 thus integrates 754 million transistors; an 11% increase compared to the G80's 681 million. Yet, the number of computational units decreases; we go from 128 stream processors to 112, but we must keep in mind that, on the 8800GTS, only 96 of them are active. Accordingly, the number of texturing units increases from 48 to 56. Finally, thanks to the 65 nm process, the die's surface shrinks 33%, although its size is still twice as big as a G84.

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Wow so out of those 128 stream processors the GTS will only use 96 of them? no wonder it gets its *** kicked in benchmarks, i thought the extra stream processors were soposed to make it like 10% faster then the GT Model.

Quote:

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Given the time we had to write this review, we focused on DirectX 9 performances under Windows XP. As we've seen, the DirectX 10 mode on actual games isn't optimized and consumes a lot of GPU power for an often disappointing result, and isn't therefore really recommended for mid-range cards.

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So they dont recommend mid range cards like the 8800gt for DX10 games? but it uses up more stream processors then the GTS? whats the point of a DX10 card that isnt recommended for DX10 games?

Quote:

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In the end, Nvidia has taken its time, but offers an exceptional card with the GeForce 8800GT. For about $230 it nearly displays the power of a GeForce 8800GTX (under 3%) twice as expensive, with the only downside being a slightly lower memory capacity (512 MB instead of 768 MB) and a bandwidth 10% lower than that of a GeForce 8800GTS. However, in games, the latter is usually outperformed by 30% without filters (using the 320 MB version) by the GeForce 8800GT and the GTX is only 12% higher. We have to say that the transition to the 65 nm process meant the arrival of more than just a couple of G92 on a wafer. By the way, this chip boasts 754 million transistors. It's small, consumes less than a GeForce 8800GTS 320 MB, and the 8800GT is also quite silent despite its single slot cooling system.

---

Ack I wish they had tested out the 512mb version instead of the 320mb version... but anyhow here are some of the benchmarks for the most important games (the type ill be playing the most)

http://i32.tinypic.com/zo26h.png

http://i29.tinypic.com/fy1pnr.png

http://i30.tinypic.com/2zsafqf.png

http://i27.tinypic.com/1z6bo7d.png

I went with the 8800gt before they take out the free shipping and make me pay $8 shipping :lol:

I wanted a single slot cooling solution anyhow because I have my sound card close to my video card and dou slot cooling solutions rub up against my sound card

thanks for your help in helping me decide which card to get :t i was a little worried about getting a 8800gt and then regreting it later on but after hearing that the GT uses more stream processors and has more sharders its the better choice

- MN

I believe there is some confusion; the G80 chip has the 96 pipe lines
The 8800GT 512 uses 112 pipelines (partially disabled G92 chip) or 96 pipes if you get the 320 or 640 version (G80 chip)
The 8800 GTS uses the G80 chip in the 96 pipeline version or 128 pipelines with the G92 chip.

Unless it says on the benchmark exactly what the memory / chip number is the benchmark is pretty useless as the model number does not determine the chip, the memory or the number of pipelines. Is confusing..No?

The 512 8800GT is a very good card though (112 pipes)... congrats!

Enjoy!

confuseing indeed :P so many different GTS models lol

ah well too late to cancel it now its already in step 5, besides it did pretty well in the benchmarks (almost as good as the gtx for half the price) and it comes with the step up program in case the 9800gt is good.

thx for the clarification, I thought it had 128 pipes just that some were disabled or it didnt utilize them, but now i know there there are two versions of the 8800gts (one with 96 pipes and one with 128)

I think you did all right myself.

Glad that helped out.

LOL. I'm opting for the 8800GT myself. Not totally sure , only because i got a couple of others i'm looking at. One is a PNY superclocked 9600GT 512MB and it seems awesome in itself. I am looking at who makes it, fan design and function,and of course bus - clock speeds.

Below are a few of the options I linked to:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150253

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150252

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150253

I think one of these three are great choices. ( isn't this fun? )

I will be ordering ( i have to send them a check ) in about two days.

Nice benchmark info and other. The pipeline thing is important i guess, but the 8800GT does use the favored G92 chip,while the 9600GT is a bit newer,has higher open GL, and archetecture. It uses 96 PL's. not that much diff. it may use less power then a 8800GT also.

One thing... for me it seems users are pretty darn happy with XFX cards. They do look sweet and all. i go with typ. EGVA most of the time, but at this stage most makers are good these days. Some just have better fans or higher clock cards etc...

The warranties are better with some then others also as an added bonus. i really don't have need for an included game. I have enough already. ( widh they would give away R6 vegas 2 or Gears of War etc.. lol )

for the prices their at you would be crazy not to get one :) especially with how crappy the Geforce 9 series cards were (only a few fps faster then their Geforce 8 counterparts apart from the 9600gt)

Originally, I was also looking at the 8800GTS 320MB model, and still think for the low pricings and considering how well they perform, that is still a great card for someone who doesn't mind just a few FPS slower. It would be a huge upgrade from any card in my current class range. I kept thinking that logically, since i do play alot of games mostly, that another $30-50.00 would be a huge diff, in performance and also not needing to upgrade again for quite some time. It would overall, be the best card performer i ever had in a time period over the years.
Remember the ole 9800 PRO?, AND THE 5900 series cards years ago. We all thuoght those were something special.

For ref. to one of your questions.. I believe the 8800GT is faster then the 8800 GTS 640 model. Go figure. It sells for wayy more. Also, i remember 'Crazycrusher' posting that he had the GTS model and he replaced it with a 8800GT and saw noticable improvement.

How far we and the industry have come... :eek: :x :t

Bummer I was testing out my new video card today in the Age of Conan game movie and noticed it has Artifacts running across the screen ....

After reading the EVGA forums it looks like alot of people using their 8800GT series have issues with PCI-E 1.0 motherboards, artifacts, and the fan being locked at 30% unless you use Rivatuner.

I guess ill have to either RMA refund it to newegg and get an 512mb 8800GTS (G92) or RMA it to EVGA and wait who knows how long to get a new 8800GT that might have the same issues.

http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.asp?m=367278

check out all the post from people with 8800GT problems lol

http://www.evga.com/forums/tt.asp?forumid=11

I opted for a 9600GT 512MB in the end. it should be here Monday or Tuesday of coming week. MY worries, if any are the PSU I have, but i think it will be OK.

Sorry to hear that. I had read on a couple of reviews, for some of the EGVA mdel 8800GT's some had some issues. I think your right about the fan thing. I remembered that when i read it. That person said once he set the fan speed using that uitility, all was OK. you might want to update your bios also. Some MB's need that with these new cards coming out.

thanks, ill try doing that to see if it solves my problems

That EGVA tech guy ( jacob )seems to have the list of things, and was very specific. Seems to have the list of things to do that sounds right on. Did you do the things he listed? Also, it sounds like that card needs specific updated drivers. Did ya do that?
If so many others are having the same issues, and even the EGVA tech seems to know about them, then read all in that sec. link you gave, and try everything. Do them in exact order as he described.

If after all that i would RMA the card, and get a diff maker like XFX, Asus or some other. Seems that if a company sells a product, then they should be responsible for its working properly as advertised. Also, can't hurt to write ot them direct and inform them of yours and others issues and sse if they gots a fix.

I notice your using a 64 bit OS. maybe that needs special attention for this card. Normally from artifacting, it usually is the drivers.

Most other pieces of HW i normally never worry about much. Video cards are another breed of cat. I hope mine coming this week works like it should. Always a bummer when ya wait and have such hihg hopes, just to be let down a bit. Sorry MK. I have faith it will work out for ya in the end.