Looking For A Vid Card.

[aadamszc]

Ok, maybe some of you have seen my post in homebuilt. Either way, the story is: I am planning to build a new PC, and I am thinking that I would like it before December.

Anyways, I am needing a GPU. My budget is just about 250-300 dollars. Give or take a $10 or so. The way things are looking right now I am going to go with the 8800gts 320mb. I honestly cannot really afford the 640mb. However, I have been hearing things about upgrades to the 640, a phasing out of the 320, and the introduction of the 8800 gt 256 and 512mb. Since I am not looking to build right now, but towards December, I can wait for these cards to come out.

My question is: Should I wait for these cards to come out? If they actually do phase out the 320mb, then I will not have that choice anymore. I don't want to be stuck with a potentially worse but less expensive version(8800gt 512mb) or have to go to a better, more expensive version(8800gts 640mb). I realize that nobody really knows what is happening with the prices or the specs, but If I could get some speculation.

Thank you,
-Adam

P.S. I will not be building in October. I will be able to build November 1st at the earliest.

 

[lakedude]

Lakedude's 2c

The 8800GTS-320 is a great card. More memory is nice but really only useful at higher res with larger textures. The HD2900pro is really nice for the money in this price range but may already be sold out. You might want to jump on the 2900pro if you can find one for around $275.

Talk about the future is nearly pointless. With the 2900s selling out there may be a temporary shortage of cards in your price range but eventually cards will be better and cheaper and use less power. You can count on a die shrink and updated drivers at some point. By December? Who knows?

All I can say is that if the 2900pro is sold out the 8800GTS-320 is the only card in your range right now.

 

[mactronix]

I feel your pain this kind of question haunts us all at some point all i have heard is that the ATI ones are meant to be out 15th Nov http://www.vr-zone.com/articles/RV670_is_Radeon_HD_3800_Series/5358.html
Mactronix

 

[aadamszc]

Yeah, it's such a hard decision. I guess I just have to realize that the decision is ultimately mine. I will either be able to reap the benefits or suffer the consequences.

 

[pauldh]

If you are building in December, don't buy a 320MB GTS now. With the 8800GT and the HD2950's (or HD3800's) coming out, this price point is bound to offer a better card than the current GTS 320MB. Plus, Crysis will come out and current new titles looked into more and you would hate to find out between now and your new build that 320MB GTS is tanking in Crysis or a game you hope to play. Alot of changes brewing between now and December...wait a bit.

 

[justinmcg67]

Wait for the 8800GT, coming out I believe the 29th of this month, give or take. Suggested retail price of $250+, so it's in your budget, and, it's one hell of a card.

 

[aadamszc]

kk, thanks. I am going to wait for the 8800 gt at least. However, I have heard that there is a significant drop in shader pixels in the 8800 gt. The same place I read that(honestly, don't remember) also said that shader pixels were one of the most important things in games these days.

 

[Hatman]

Most places seem to think that itll have more SP's then the current 8800gts.


Where you read it had less would be interesting to know. Might be some useful info there.

 

[aadamszc]

I'll try to look for the site, but when I said that it would have less, I meant the new 8800gts(that will apparently have 112).

 

[justinmcg67]

Nothing is really official yet. So don't make a purchase pending on some info you heard on a random website; one you can't even remember nonetheless.

 

[aadamszc]

True, but If I do purchase an 8800gts 320MB right now, and I find out that there is a cheaper, better version in less than 10 days...then I would kick myself. Not to mention, I cannot actually start building the system until after the 8800 gt will come out.

 

[lakedude]

True, but If I do purchase an 8800gts 320MB right now, and I find out that there is a cheaper, better version in less than 10 days...then I would kick myself. Not to mention, I cannot actually start building the system until after the 8800 gt will come out.

Waiting is a good idea.

The 8800-GT looks like it will be just a hair slower than the 8800-GTS btw.

 

[lakedude]

3dMark results for 8800-GT:

http://my.ocworkbench.com/bbs/showthread.php?p=421955

Looks nice, single slot, 65nm:

Specs:

 

[aznstriker92]

Ok, maybe some of you have seen my post in homebuilt. Either way, the story is: I am planning to build a new PC, and I am thinking that I would like it before December.

Anyways, I am needing a GPU. My budget is just about 250-300 dollars. Give or take a $10 or so. The way things are looking right now I am going to go with the 8800gts 320mb. I honestly cannot really afford the 640mb. However, I have been hearing things about upgrades to the 640, a phasing out of the 320, and the introduction of the 8800 gt 256 and 512mb. Since I am not looking to build right now, but towards December, I can wait for these cards to come out.

My question is: Should I wait for these cards to come out? If they actually do phase out the 320mb, then I will not have that choice anymore. I don't want to be stuck with a potentially worse but less expensive version(8800gt 512mb) or have to go to a better, more expensive version(8800gts 640mb). I realize that nobody really knows what is happening with the prices or the specs, but If I could get some speculation.

Thank you,
-Adam

P.S. I will not be building in October. I will be able to build November 1st at the earliest.

Wait for the HD3800 series or 8800GT. and after they both come out, read reviews and decide which is better.

 

[aadamszc]

Waiting is a good idea.

The 8800-GT looks like it will be just a hair slower than the 8800-GTS btw.

When you say it looks like it will be slower, do you mean the current or the new gts?

Regarding your specs picture, those are for the new gts? That is what it looks like.

Either way, thanks for the info. ^.^

 

[lakedude]

When you say it looks like it will be slower, do you mean the current or the new gts?

Regarding your specs picture, those are for the new gts? That is what it looks like.

Either way, thanks for the info. ^.^

When I say slower I mean than the current GTS based on 3dMark (2005) scores. The link to the 8800GT scores show the new GT getting a 2005 3dMark score of 14,679 compared to around 15,300 for a current 8800GTS-320. My 320 is factory oced from 500MHz to 580MHz so I imagine it gets close to 16, 000 3dMark05s. I'll bench it late tonight when I get home to verify.

I think the pic is of the 8800GT.

I thought the 8800GT specs were in the chart, my bad. Not sure what is in that chart

After more reading it looks like the GT is faster in 3dMark 03 and 06 than the current GTS-320. For some reason the GT does not seem to like 3dMark 05. Sorry if I threw you off, I'm just learning this stuff as we go. It is all preliminary anyhow at this point.

The GT is clocked faster and has more processing units so it should be faster at everything??

 

[overlandpark4me]

Slickdeals.net has a link for a XFX GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB for 250 a/r (30 dollar rebate)that comes with lost Planet if that game interests you. Might hit someone's sweet spot. DDR3 card fyi

XXX is 10 bucks higher

 

[bliq]

It's never a great idea to buy a machine part by part over time as prices fall as you're waiting for the last piece to begin your build. Better to sock that cash away somewhere and go big all at once.

In any case, even if Nvidia announced the end of the 8800GTS 320 tomorrow, there will be cards in the channel for at least a month or two before they get rare enough to start getting expensive.

 

[aadamszc]

Thanks for the advice all.

@lakedude: No big thing, but a chicken wing. =P

@overlandpark4me: Thanks for the heads up, but I'll probably wait and see.

@bliq: Well, luckily I haven't started purchasing any parts yet. I figure I will buy them on like black Friday or something. If I'm waiting until mid-November to see what is coming out, why not? I am not actually getting the money for this build until OCT. 26th =P