8800GT 256mb for 1440 x 900 Res!!!

Yes a 8800GT 256 is fine foor that resolution however, if u can then get the 512MB version

Are the 256MB models even out yet?

and I run at 1440x900 with my 7900GS, in COD4 I get 60-90+ frames a second with great visuals.

My X1950pro handles COD4 very well too. Actually in all fairness it handles anything I throw at it within reason. But I guess Direct X 10 is here to stay so time to jump on that band wagon.

I have a 1440x900 LCD and I still went for the 512MB 8800gt. Some games already require 512MB to set textures to high, and I don't see this trend reversing as more dx10 games come out next year. Spend the extra and you won't regret it.

So the big question is 3870 or 8800gt...

3870 roughly 18% slower according to benchmarks but also about 18% cheaper too..

3870 works on X38, P35 and Amd 770 in crossfire, 8800gt does not work in Sli on any current
Pci 2.0 motherboards.

Anyone know when nvidia will release a new motherboard chip set?

3850 512mb will be out soon also.

Go with the 512MB dude , 8800GT is quite a revolution for its G92 Arcitechture, but if you strip it off all its memory it'll start being plain stupid.
I'm using 1440x900 , its not as little demanding as you might think, i was surprised to find it maye even less than 10-12 % more performance than 1600x1200 after running tests forcing that resolution.
My crysis is barely running on very high 2xAA (Only in multiplayer, I remove AA in camaign cause its slow as ****).

8800GT>HD3870>HD3850
Who has said 8800GT wont work because its PCI-E 2.0 ??!!!! 8800GT works fine with X38/P35/680i or other nvidia chipsets

remember, PCI-E 2.0 is backward compatible with PCI-E 1.0

I don't think anybody said that. I believe brewster0101 mentioned that the 8800gt will not work in SLI with any PCIe 2.0 motherboards currently on the market, which is the truth.

Don't buy a new card because it has dx10(.1) support. It's worthless. If you can play your games fine and don't need to, better hold your money and get a next gen card with better dx10 support. These cards are fine but they are going to drop a lot in price in the next few months, the new GTS will be out soon too, X2 cards with 2 gpu's on 1 board, the war is just starting.

It's also the big question, what will new games bring, more better sli/fire support? If the support gets better, 2 3850 cards become really nice for the price. Maybe 2 8800 GT's in SLI.

But my best advice is, if your card can run it without any problems, keep it and wait a bit longer. Do you need more then 60 fps in a game? Yes DX10 looks a bit better, but as there are still no DX10 only games I doubt it's worth the extra money to get vista and/or a new card.

There are currently no PCI-E 2.0 SLI motherboards but there are PCI-E 1.0 SLI motherboards which can handle 2 8800GT

http://www.hothardware.com/articles/NVIDIA_GeForce_8800...
Asus Striker Extreme
nForce 680i SLI chipset

Just my opinion but, I think you should just wait. I know it is temping to go out and buy a powerful card to push eye candy further but you do have the 1950pro. I mean, that should hold you off till lets say Jan-Feb and then you can buy the latest card or any other card as it should be priced a lot better then. Assuming you have money to burn, you can do as you please but judging by your e6300 and having 256mb in mind, you must be budget minded but its your call.

However, this is what I would do.  

Right, I didn't mean to imply that the 8800gt wouldn't work in SLI on any motherboards, just not on any current PCIe 2.0 motherboards. I assume Nvidia's new chipset in December will solve this.

Nvidia's new chip set? Where? When? What

Get the 512 one. It will probably show alot of improvement vs the 256

http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/MailHome.asp?datePublish=2007/11/20&pages=PD&seq=215

Doesn't really state much does it! But I will hang on now till this new ATI cards come around beginning of next year.

I still spend most of my time playing battlefield 2, which runs perfectly at all high settings.