Best graphics choice RIGHT now?

[amirisme]

Hi there! I know its not just me, but I bet everyone is just as irritated as me to hear that new graphics are coming up TOO soon? I mean, didn't it seem like the 3870 and 3850s just came out last couple of weeks? Now there's stories of a 3870 X2 in January. And whats up with that new nVidia card when the 8800GT JUST came out???

Anyway, enuf with THAT rant, now I'm from Malaysia and I want to build a new rig soon. Soon as in in 2 weeks time. No later, no sooner. So, my question is this, as of RIGHT now, what is the best graphics solution? A single/double 8800GT or a single/double 3870? Which of them would prove to be a better long (but not so long) term investment?

K, a 8800GT in Malaysia would cost you RM1000 (USD300) and a 3870 would set you back RM900 (USD270)... Not much difference right? So I guess the problem of high prices reach all the way to Malaysia as well... Oh well... Anyway, from what I can gather, if i were to go for a single card, the 8800GT is better, but a 3870 is better for Crossfire as it scales better. My budget can swing both ways. So as I said before, which would be the BETTER choice if I'm building my new rig in 2 weeks and I can't wait any longer?

Thanks for any comments!

 

[RPAaggieDude]

If you are going to use more than one graphics card, I would definitely suggest the 3870. That card in crossfire plus periodic driver updates is going to be a great performer! It is also cheaper, which is always nice.

 

[prolfe]

For me, it would depend on how long you want to keep the system, and what size screen you will be using (and by extension, what resolution you will game at). I've been an Nvidia fan for years, so my opinion may be a touch biased, but if you're going to run the system for a year or more, and/or if you're going to game at anything over 1280X1024 at high quality settings, get the 8800GT. Crossfire is not compatible with all games yet, and SLI does not provide fantastic results either, when you consider that you could save the $300 for another card now, and buy a better card in 8-12 months.

 

[wwwayne]

If your talking long-term (relatively-speaking in terms of PC hardware), a good rule of thumb is to adopt the close-to-latest-best-new-thing, though the goalposts have moved from time to time.

That is, for example only, if there's a worthwhile price drop not too long after something new hits the market. I don't always necessarily see that as the mathematical best bang-for-buck solution at any given time, considering that less recent releases are usually cheaper but also sooner superceded. Also if the theoretical best value doesn't measure up to the performance that you need now or in the forseeable future (again in your stated situation).

In other words, it will end up costing more if you spend too much less now and then again in 6-12 months than if you spend maybe 20-25% more now and be set for a couple of years. No need to nit-pick the numbers, I'm just illustrating a point.

If better supply of 8800 GT 512 stock and the release of the newest 8800 GTS 512 card causes GT prices to fall pretty soon, I would suggest an 8800 GT (if not an overclocked edition). At the moment the performance vs. price difference doesn't appear to favour the GTS, especially since early benchmarks suggest the outright gains are not much. The caveat is that hoprfully in the week week or so we'll see some more benchmarks with which we can cross-reference. If this more or less concurs with the review just posted at this site and more so if the 8800 GT does fall in price, even more so the GT I think.

Asking this at the exact time the 512 GTS is announced probably means better answers could be given in a week or two from now.

 

[ethel]

Which resolution do you play at?

How much can you get the 8800GT, HD3850 and HD3870 for in Malaysia?

 

[amirisme]

Hmm... Interesting... Sorry I forgot to tell the resolution I'm gaming at. I hope to game at 1680 x 1050 on a Samsung 206BW. Hope that helps. The price of the cards are as follows:

3870 - RM900 (USD270)
3850 256MB - RM700 (USD210)
3850 512MB - RM800 (USD240)
8800GT - RM1000 (USD300)

So, what would be the best choice gaming on 1680 x 1050 reso right now?

 

[ethel]

If you can afford it, get the 8800GT.

If not, the cards are all reasonably priced for their performance, so just work your way down until you find one at an acceptable price.

 

[thepinkpanther]

get the 3870 and then save up money for a while and buy another 3870! The only new thing in the 9 series (so ive heard) is the dx10.1 the 3870 already has it! Then when u get another 3870 you still might be able to trade punches with the 9 series.

 

[jwbb00]

I recently got a HIS HD3870 and have not been disappointed.

http://www.ncixus.com/products/27261/EAH3870/G/HTDI/512M/ASUS/

This is the ASUS version, (I got the HIS with Call of Juarez and The Black Box for $235 shipped). Prices have gone up a little but it is still cheaper then you have listed. NCIX had the card to me here in Ohio in 4 business days. On my system (see more info) scored 17,365 in 3dmark05, 11,447 in 3dmark06. Runs Crysis, COD4, UT3, TF2 very well.

Just my .02