The Best Gaming Graphics: January 2008

[muk]

Detailed graphics card specifications and reviews are great - that is, if you have the time to do the research. But at the end of the day, what a gamer needs is the best graphics card within a certain budget.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/01/03/the_best_gaming_graphics/index.html

 

[SEALBoy]

Another nice article. Personally, I'm recommending the HD 3850 512MB over the 8800GT 256MB because 256MB just isn't going to cut it at with new/upcoming games even at relatively low resolutions when AA is cranked up.

And the tier chart at the end has been mislabelled.

Also, would it be possible to add SLi/CrossFire configurations to the tier chart?

 

[ratbert]

8800 GTS (G92) was mentioned, but is not in the hierarchy or vga charts. Wassup wi dat?

 

[predaking]

8800 GTS (G92) was mentioned, but is not in the hierarchy or vga charts. Wassup wi dat?

it was. the table is messed up

[fixed]
Geforce Radeon | 8800 GT, 8800 GTS 512MB, 8800 GTX, 8800 Ultra
8800 GTS 640MB | HD 2900 XT, 3870[/fixed]

While it should be

[fixed]
Geforce | Radeon
8800 GT, 8800 GTS 512MB, 8800 GTX, 8800 Ultra |
8800 GTS 640MB | HD 2900 XT, 3870[/fixed]

 

[bornking]

I still prefer the 8800gts 512...but the article was well written...cudos.

However If I may say, the 1GB version of the 8800GT was not there...surely for the $$$ and for large screens that is the best choice no?

 

[caamsa]

Nicely done.

What do you all think of the 2900 Pro which is going for about $150.00 bucks right now on New Egg. I am trying to restrain myself from an impulse buy.

 

[SEALBoy]

For $150 a 2900Pro is an excellent buy, especially because it comes with 512MB of RAM. Should handle high resolutions/detail better than an HD3850 256MB.

 

[enewmen]

I will also like to see the VGA charts updated with some DX10 games (crysis, etc).
Also, some it looks like some benchmarks have video cards on older PC while other video cards are in newer PCs. Oblivion for example in the VGA chars show thye 8800GT at 32fps @ 1600x1200. In the 8800GT review, it looks like the 8800GT gets 84fps @ 1600x1200.
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/10/29/geforce_8800_gt/page9.html
It looks like they are both outdoor/max renderings and I am sure there is some detail I'm missing. But something is still way off.

There may be a lot of extra work to re-benchmark all those old cards on NEW PCs on games/apps that didn't exist when the card came out.

I'm personally not really excited about the 8800GTs & 3870s & low-end cards. But I can see the article very useful for people that need a card today.

 

[prodystopian]

I think the 8800GTS (G92) should be listed in the $300-$500 range. I chose it because of the fan. I didn't want to reinstall a cooler on my video card, so I payed a bit more and got a dual slot cooler.

 

[FinrodFelagund]

I buyed a 8800 GTS 512MB... i feel like a dumbass now... nah just kidding I think I got a good deal for it since it came with crysis and the fan is way better than the 8800 gt. It cost me 359.99 in amazon

 

[SEALBoy]

it was. the table is messed up

[fixed]
Geforce Radeon | 8800 GT, 8800 GTS 512MB, 8800 GTX, 8800 Ultra
8800 GTS 640MB | HD 2900 XT, 3870[/fixed]

While it should be

[fixed]
Geforce | Radeon
8800 GT, 8800 GTS 512MB, 8800 GTX, 8800 Ultra |
8800 GTS 640MB | HD 2900 XT, 3870[/fixed]

Actually, I think the 8800GT, 8800GTS 512MB, 8800GTX, 8800Ultra make up a class to themselves with no ATi counterpart, and the 8800GTS 640MB goes with the HD 2900XT and HD 3870.

Cleeve can clear this up for everyone...

 

[caamsa]

Yep waiting for Cleeve to do his next intstallment on AGP cards.

AGP Platform Analysis, Part 3: New Cards, Single-Core Systems and a few dual cores for good measure.

Take that 2500+ and over clock it to a 3200+ ;-P

That is of couse if he can get his hands on a 3850 AGP card.

 

[cleeve]

However If I may say, the 1GB version of the 8800GT was not there...surely for the $$$ and for large screens that is the best choice no?

From the benches I've seen the 1GB 8800 GT is almost always equal to the 512MB version, except in very rare and specific cases. I suppose if you're after a specific title at an ungodly resolution it might be worth the extra money, but that's a bit too restricted for me to endorse it as a better buy.

 

[cleeve]

Actually, I think the 8800GT, 8800GTS 512MB, 8800GTX, 8800Ultra make up a class to themselves with no ATi counterpart, and the 8800GTS 640MB goes with the HD 2900XT and HD 3870.

Cleeve can clear this up for everyone...

The 8800 GT 256MB is quite a bit slower. This is what it should have been:

Geforce - Radeon
8800 GT 512MB, 8800 GTS 512MB, 8800 GTX, 8800 Ultra
8800 GTS 640 MB - HD 2900 XT, 3870
8800 GT 256MB, 8800 GTS 320MB - HD 2900 PRO, 3850 512MB
3850 256MB

 

[begformercy]

Good reviews, I am missing the possibility to upgrade direct X 10.xx. In the Dutch gfx-fora people are saying the 8800GT cannot be upgraded to 10.1 and the HD3870 can.... how's that for a brainteaser.. or not?

 

[begformercy]

Yeah, sorry bad language/phrases etc.. You're right. But I think 10.1 will follow soon. No drama whatso... I think. But to be sure I just ordered a HD3870.OC/512 MB 209,- euro's]. )

 

[cardez]

Where do you get these ~$120 Radeon X1950 PROs??

 

[cleeve]

Where do you get these ~$120 Radeon X1950 PROs??

Newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131056

 

[SEALBoy]

Where do you get these ~$120 Radeon X1950 PROs??

Like Cleeve pointed out, online. Not at retail stores where they are literally twice that.

 

[cardez]

Interesting. Thanks!

 

[caamsa]

Well what do you know about that...


A 3850 AGP


http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/01/07/sapphire_takes_radeon_hd_3850_to_agp/1