The 3850 is a better deal than the 8800 gt but has bad drivers......

This one is only $210

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Neither the 8800 or the 3850 have the greatest drivers atm. Many 8800GT users are still having lock-ups and crashes in their games. That being said, I don't think you can go wrong either way.

If you're going to run at 1440x900 or below, then go for the 8800GT 256MB for about $200 or the HD 3850 for about $160-170. All driver issues will be worked out soon, at least they better be based on the shear volume of customers for both of the aforementioned cards.

Anyways, don't let it bug you too much. If you have to, flip a coin, you should be happy with either card = they will greatly exceed the capabilities of your integrated grahpics.  

$20 more buys me a 512 8800 gt.



well my native res is 1680x1050. But I can sacrice some res for more performence.



I heard that the 7.11 and 7.12 drivers for the 3850 stunk and that they are working on the 7.13 ones. I also heard that the 7.10 drivers did fine though.......



Too late I have been bugged by this question since November......  

7.12 drivers? Have I missed something??

What is wrong with my computer?

Erm 7.11 are the newest ATI drivers out atm. As for problems i've had hell with them but for a single card setup the 7.10 drivers work best or maybe the 7.11 with the crysis hotfix. Go 3850 over 8800. The 8800 does draw more money from your pocket it's that damn lure of slightly more power, but honestly a 3850 is great for the price.

You can't install the 7.11 drivers and the crysis hotfix because the crysis hotfix is just another driver.

If you read your details in CCC --> Information Center --> Graphics Software you will notice the Crysis hotfix is a modified 7.11 driver still. Just the way i typed it didn't sound clear i suppose. In my defence i have just finished a night shift  .

Righto, got ya. And I know what that's like, I had a night shift last night and another tonight. *sigh*

Roll on christmas, only 1 night left then 2 weeks of leave wahoo  . Hope you ain't working crimbo time.

Nope, I'm avoiding that. I still got tonight and saturday. Then I got enough cash for a HD3870 w00t!

You'll enjoy a 3870 from the x1950. I have the 1950 but 512 in my second rig, power hungry little devil  ( i went through 3 thats right 3 PSU's to get it going a Hiper580 wasn't enough!!). If i disable crossfire i still max every game i own bar Crysis so i'm sure you'll be grinning like a 'sane' person in an insane asylem  .

Not sure if it's really worth getting though. When is a really BIG upgrade from my pro coming along?

I won't be doing any SLI or Crossfire just a single card.



Sorry I must have gotten something confused.  

I just got the 3850 JUST RIGHT NOW and the 7.10 drivers refuse to install, but the 7.11 installs fine. Also, I keep getting an error related to MS Framework, WTF?

MS Framework error usually means you have to update the Microsoft .NET framework to the newest version.

You don't need .NET 3.0 I'm pretty sure, just 2.0 (the latest). Maybe vista needs 3.0, can't remember.

I saw a review of the 8800GT 256 version over at legitreviews, and they put it almost dead even with the HD3850 (they traded being on top in various games).

Since that's the case, I'd either go with the 3850 or the 3870, since one is a bargain, and the other performs better.

I think 2.0 is fine for Vista.
MS already has 3.5 out

3850 VS 88000GT(256) ??

like duh!! 3850!! here are the benchmarks.

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/607/8/

You don't need to install .NET on Vista for CCC. .NET 3.0 is included and it can run both .NET 2.0 and 3.0 applications. As for .NET 3.5, like its predecessor, just a superset of 3.0 so it can run 3.5, 3.0 and 2.0 .NET applications.

If the 8800GT 512 is only $20 more than the 8800GT 256 then your choice should be between the 8800GT 512 and the 3850.

lol still deciding, I think it was your first post here a few months ago that you asked about video cards..

PS I agree with ethel.

"http://www.legitreviews.com/article/607/8/"

Wow, just me that thought it strange, that they had so high settings even the GTX struggles at <30 frames?
If you crank up the settings so the amount of memory is used up, you will not even get a frame at that particular test.
Who says that a 256MB card should even attempt a benchmark at 19x12 with filters enabled?
I wouldn't recommend any card other then the Ultra or SLI/Xfire if even the GTX struggled.
Those benches just told me to go with a GTS 512 or higher.

It was a few months back and that was my first question. So I have been ''suffering'' with intergrated. Yeah I agree with Ethel too..... Sooooo if 200 bones is my limit and the 8800 gt 512 is over 200 then using deductive reasoning the 3850 would be the clear choice. I just didn't want any driver trouble, so I guess I will just grab a 3850.

Anyone know the best brand and place to purchase? I was going to get it off the Egg or Bestbuy.



What OS do you use?

Before everyone jumps to too many conclusions about the hd3850 being so much better than the 8800gt 256mb, the firingsquad review should probably be considered since they used newer drivers than legitreviews. The 8800gt 256 outperforms the hd3850 at 1280x1024 in nearly every game by large margins in some cases. The hd3850 is a great deal for the money, but for ~$30 more the 8800gt 256mb offers a noticeable performance boost that many consider worth it.

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/xfx_geforce_8800_gt...

physx7, I'm on Windows XP Media Center Edition.