Which graphics card shall i get?

[David]

I could spend the extra £100 but is it really worth it?

Either a

BFG 8800 GTX OC2 768mb - £300

or

BFG 8800 GT OC2 512mb - £200

...i looked on tomshardware and they run quite close, but it doesn't give any directx 10 game benchmarks and since i'll be using it for crysis and stuff i wondered what you guys thought.

(I Don't want SLi before you mention it!)

 

[H182]

Isn't there a GTS, which is inbetween prices but almost as good at the GTX.

 

[David]

GTS is worse than the GT on the benchmarks... ?

 

[Saner]

The new GTS I think he means

 

[Andy.]

GT I reckon. Would save some cash for the next upgrade!

 

[The Hoff]

8800GT 512MB - Not sure why you're quoting £200 for one though, there's plenty to be found for less:

This for example - http://www.shop.bt.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=4XKB

GTX is pointless since the GT was released.

 

[H182]

My bad, I was getting the GT and GTS mixed up.. Not worth getting the GTX for the price/performance difference.

 

[David]

yeh i was thinking about getting the BFG one preoverclocked as you get lifetime warranty and good customer service too. i saw this one.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-053-BG&tool=3

 

[David]

also....that BT shop is identical to dabs...even has same stock and prices, weird.

 

[The Hoff]

Clocking a card is a piece of pish though, lifetime warranty is 'nice' but in honesty how often do you keep your card for longer than 2/3 years?

Also worth noting that DX10 games won't run well on ANY of the current crop of cards, so don't waste your time with worrying about DX10, we'll all need a huge upgrade to support that, unless of course you consider 5-15FPS playable?

I'd say buy cheap, with DX10 being pushed 2008/2009 we should see a new much improved crop of cards.

Indeed BT Shop=Dabs

 

[David]

apparently people are running crysis on high using GTX models...

 

[The Hoff]

Using DX9 or DX10?

 

[JackoR26]

Ive got mine on high with a GTX and dx10

 

[David]

DX10 - about 10 people on overclockers all swear by them.

 

[The Hoff]

At what resolution though?

 

[David]

doesn't mention it on the reviews, but im' guessing 1280x1024 minimum. No one runs less than that these days.

 

[martynh]

New cards from ATI are out now as well

http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/472/16/

 

[David]

Yeah dx10.1 but aren't they pants though ? i thought the benchamrks were a lot lower tyhan the current nvidia ones.

 

[The Hoff]

Love to see what their specs were against the scores on Crysis benchmark.

 

[thecremeegg]

Yeah dx10.1 but aren't they pants though ? i thought the benchamrks were a lot lower tyhan the current nvidia ones.

Nope the 3870s are really good cards, same speed as GT and cheaper too. Theres also a 3870X2 coming out in a week, which is basically two 3870s in corssfire on one board. Not sure on prices but people are thinking under £300.

Theres also a 9800GX2 coming out, which is pretty much two 8800GTs strapped together on one board, thats likely to be stupidly expensive though.

I'd recommend gettin an 8800GT/3870 until the new cards come out in the next month or so

 

[dk]

also....that BT shop is identical to dabs...even has same stock and prices, weird.

BT bought Dabs a few months ago.

 

[Gareth]

Ive got mine on high with a GTX and dx10

are you running Crysis with all the settings maxed? or is that not possible with the GTX?

 

[David]

i heard the nvidia aren't even going to bother supporting 10.1. Heard they were waiting to go straight to dx11 :/

well if u go tomshardware and look at the benchmarks all the ATI are nowhere near the top ? maybe they're not included yet.

 

[David]

ok so say i got with the GT, which is best you guys think? anyone got an EVGA?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-045-EA&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1008

or

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-053-BG&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1008

 

[The Hoff]

eVGA is a great brand for aftersales support, they're the only company to offer a 2x Lifetime guarantee, so the person you sell it to is also covered - must help resale.

But...if you still want to buy the most expensive brands then for price alone I'd choose the BFG.

 

[David]

nah, i would go with the EVGA on the basis it's got significantly higher core and memory speeds, just not heard of them before, always had BFG or XFX.

 

[The Hoff]

Not heard of eVGA?

They're a bit player these days.

Ignore the clock/core speeds they're nothing you won't achieve within 5 minutes of OCing it, and BFG/eVGA won't void your warranty for any OCing anyway.

Your call, but you asked for my opinion, and given the two you posted it's BFG.

 

[Gareth]

I've got an EVGA motherboard which has some issues, but their GFX cards are supposed to be very good.

 

[David]

understand your point hoff, but, given that the BFG is preovclocked i thought i'd be able to push the evga further. I had heard of them, just not bought from them.

 

[Gareth]

the offer of EVGA support is good, but be warned in my experience the majority of their support is in the USA, the availability of adequate support for the EU/UK is questionable IMHO.

 

[David]

hmmm might stick with BFG then tbh, they're really good even in uk.

 

[wozzaa]

Sack the GT get this instead.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-059-BG&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=927

Cheaper and faster. One of the new GTS's which are currently the best cards nvidia sell until the GTX gets refreshed.

Old GTS's have 320 or 640mb of memory. The newer fast ones have 512mb and are the cards to buy right now. Well priced and faster than the GtX.

 

[David]

looks good that actually..

 

[pete.grant]

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-035-GI&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1008

 

[Andy.]

Dont evga gave some buyup scheme too so that you can upgrade your card in time?

 

[Adams_16v]

iv just got the 8800GTX 756mb and it is very very good!

 

[David]

tbh i was looking at the benchmarks on tomshardware for the GTS and they're awesome for the money. Supposed to be better than the GT and it's the same money on overclockers tbg. Its even outperforms the GTX is lots of places

 

[Aberclio182]

Go with evga , they offer 90 days buy up scheme, meaning if a new card comes out you just pay the difference to change. I have one of the older 8800 gts's from them and not had a problem with it.

 

[David]

thats pretty handy. wish i could trade in my current BFG now! pfff

 

[David]

thats pretty handy. wish i could trade in my current BFG now! pfff