Debating between 3870,8800GT,2900PRO

[Da3vid]

Windows is to blame for that extra 256mb missing, not ATi. The x1600 is using its 512 as promised.


Well, I bit the bullet on the EVGA 8800GT from Newegg. When I saw the Sapphire 3870 available and the EVGA 8800GT unavailable this morning, I find myself wanting the 8800GT. When I saw it was backwards this afternoon, I went with my gut feeling and went with the EVGA 8800GT.

The reason I went with the 8800GT is that I don't think I will need to Crossfire two 3870s, and the new cards should be coming out in the next couple months... so if something really awesome comes out and my 8800GT isn't powerful enough, I can take advantage of eVGA's Step Up program. Ideally, I think it would've been better to just wait... but I don't have that kind of time. So, the 8800GT was my decision, despite the cheaper price of the 3870 and my board being Crossfire enabled... here's hoping I don't need to purchase ANOTHER fan for my case because of it

 

[cliffro]

Well I'm also running stock pro clocks 600/800. That could explain the difference in temps and power usage.

 

[Guest]

Personally, I'm never buying anything from ATI again. I have a 3870 and after less than 5 minutes in a game at 100% fan speed the chip hits over 100 degrees C. That is ridiculously hot, it was OK under XP but even with serveral driver updates it is consistantly hot with Vista. After consulting ATI's technical support I was told that in fact my card was not overheating and that their shipsets run cool and quiet. I can barely hear my TV over the fan in my card, which is especially irritating considering that it doesn't appear to even do anything.

My card being defective and possibly detrimental to other components in my PC is one thing, being told it wasn't in fact peaking at 105 degrees before my system disables it by ATI is another, seeing many others with the same issue with no attempt at a solution from ATI makes it unacceptable.