8600GT 512Mb or 8600GTS 256Mb?

[igurman]

I would like to buy a new graphics card to run the best games on (the 8800 and such prices are unacceptable), some say I should get a 8600GTS 256Mb because the performance are better, and some say I should get the 8600GT 512MB because the Mb is higher and it'll run games in a better way, the 8600 512mb card does not even appear in toms charts.. please help me decide and choose the best one for high gaming.

maybe I should even get the X1950? how much is it better than the ones above? please help me I want a concrete answer, what's the best card of the three?!
thanks

 

[fatcat]

I'd go for the GTS, chances are that the 8600 GT will cause bottleneck way before it can use the 512 mb properly.

 

[thepinkpanther]

i got the 8600gts and it stinks, barely plays crysis on high settings with very low resolution (below 1024 x 768, although it plays bioshock on high) No point in getting the 8600gt 512 mb because it wont play the "best games" at high resoultions. x1950 has better dx9 performance and 8600's cant do good dx10. My friend advised me to get the 8600gts over the x1950-7900gs and i made a mistake dont do what i did. 8600gts plays timeshift at 18-30 fps on max settings @ 1280 x 1024 no aa...wish i got the x1950.

 

[pauldh]

i got the 8600gts and it stinks...
My friend advised me to get the 8600gts over the x1950-7900gs and i made a mistake dont do what i did.

8600GTS is better than a 7900GS IMO. The GF79's are lousy at some of the new games. Yeah the 1950 pro is better, but not alot better. Anyway, look at UT3 and be happy you didn't go 7900GS.

Your card beating the 7900GTX and 7950GT:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3128&p=4

Your card crushing the 7900GT and GS:
http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=693&p=5

Edit: And since you mention Crysis, your card beating the 7900GT and 7900GS in Crysis:
http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=698&p=2

 

[pauldh]

OP, what games do you play or hope to play? Is FSAA important to you?

In general, X1950 pro >= 8600GTS >> 8600GT. If you mention some specific games we may be able to tell you for sure what is better and supply links as proof.

BTW, to add to the links above, COD4 is another upcoming games the GF7's look to struggle at. X1950 pro 50% faster than a 7900GT: http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/call_of_duty_4_demo_performance/page3.asp

 

[rolli59]

I would select a GPU based on operation system x1950 for win XP no dx10 support. 8600GTS or 2600xt for Vista dx10 support.

 

[homerdog]

256MB should be enough for an 8600gt. You might be forced to lower a texture setting every now and then, but as long as you're not cranking the AA I don't think you'll see much difference between 256 and 512.

 

[starcraftfanatic]

neither, get the 8600 GT 256MB, the GTS isn't worth it performance wise, and the GT won't use up all the memory before it goes to slideshow framerates.

 

[fatcat]

i got the 8600gts and it stinks, barely plays crysis on high settings with very low resolution (below 1024 x 768, although it plays bioshock on high) No point in getting the 8600gt 512 mb because it wont play the "best games" at high resoultions. x1950 has better dx9 performance and 8600's cant do good dx10. My friend advised me to get the 8600gts over the x1950-7900gs and i made a mistake dont do what i did. 8600gts plays timeshift at 18-30 fps on max settings @ 1280 x 1024 no aa...wish i got the x1950.

The 8600 GTS is certainly not a top of the line GPU but the fact that it doesn't play crysis on high setting doesn't say much. This game is tough on any GPU even the top dogs. I wouldn't have recommended the 8600 GTS a few months back because it was not a very efficient solution considering the price but now it's pretty much on par with the 1950 Pro as far as price and performance are concerned.