NVidia 8800GT vs 8800GTS Worth the difference?

[garber]

I am in the process of building a new gaming computer system, and am going back and forth to figure out what I want in terms of graphics card. I have all the other components on order, or already in my possession...I will list them and maybe it will give some better insight into what I need.

- AMD X2 Brisbane +5000 (Black Ed)

- 2GB Corsair XMS2 RAM

- 480 Watt PSU

- 280GB West. Dig. HD

- Foxconn C51XEM2AA AM2 NVidia 590 SLI MoBo


The question I have is, is the 8800GTS worth the extra $100 over the 512MB 8800GT? Will I need a bigger power supply with the GTS? I would get the XFX version of the 8800GT off NewEgg and it is priced at $269.00, I just wanted to get informed opinion about this rig and what would be best. Thanks a lot in advance!

-Mike G.

 

[garber]

Nothin? Anyone? Just wondering if it is worth the extra $100....

 

[drysocks]

Noobie gonna say something here since noone else is. Based on what I've read on other threads, you don't give enough information.

 

[Guest]

Personally, I don't believe so. Its $100 for a few extra FPS. And I mean just a few.

What you could do is save that $100 and use it towards a new card in another year or so.

 

[Heyyou27]

Save the $100 and get the GT; I don't think you'll miss those 16 stream processors.

 

[mactronix]

From what i have read its not going to be worth it the only diff seems to be at higher resolutions and even then i dont think its worth the money.
Mactronix

 

[Pailin]

I went with the 8800GT option and Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 VGA Cooler

user reviews at: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-023-AR&tool=3

the supplied thermal tape I hear is a waste of time - so get some Akasa AK-TT12-80 Thermal Adhesive Tape for the S1's RAM sinks.

at standard speeds the GTS is only 10 - 15% faster than the GT. The extra cost just is not worth it

Once OC'd it will be dam close to GTS speeds.
and the GTS and GT both clock about the same I've heard...

 

[delluser1]

You can get a PNY 8800 GTS 512 from Fry's for $299 today
http://www.frys.com/product/5471769

 

[crazywheels]

drysocks what info do you need to. he just asked if the gts was worth the extra $100. I would have to go with no myself

 

[prodystopian]

I just got a GTS 512 and it's great, but I really wanted the dual slot cooler and didn't want to play around with installing an aftermarket cooler myself. Also, I was able to get an EVGA with Crysis for free which I couldn't do with the 8800GT at the time. I don't regret the choice, but the card's performance certainly isn't worth $100 more. The extra factors made the decision for me.

 

[leo2kp]

I'm getting one for the dual-slot cooler too.

 

[garber]

Great! Thanks a lot for the help. I have been building PCs for a while, and this one just stumped me. I like to ask people "in the know" before I got out and blow a good bit of money. I appreciate all of your replies!

-Mike G.

 

[ethel]

You can get a PNY 8800 GTS 512 from Fry's for $299 today
http://www.frys.com/product/5471769

For that price the GTS is the one to for.

 

[Guest]

I forgot to mention its nice having the dual slot cooler. Not sure if that + a few extra FPS still makes it worth it. But its another plus.

 

[drysocks]

There you go garber!
Most generally think it's not worth it.
$100 for a few more fps, better at higher resolution, larger cooler.
But at +$30.00 (See ethel's post), is it now "worth it"?

It appears to me to be a "pain threshold" issue mostly.

 

[yipsl]

There you go garber!
Most generally think it's not worth it.
$100 for a few more fps, better at higher resolution, larger cooler.
But at +$30.00 (See ethel's post), is it now "worth it"?

It appears to me to be a "pain threshold" issue mostly.

It all depends on how much cash is small change for someone. For me, a $100 difference is quite a bit. I couldn't justify the difference, so when I upgrade my son's Nvidia 405 chipset X2 4600+ system's PSU, I'll get him an 8800GT 512 when the prices drop in 2008.

Right now, the old Coolermaster PSU can only handle an 8600GTS. We all know that's a bad choice! So, I have to factor the cost of his new PSU into the mix when I replace his aging 7600GT.

I'm asking myself whether the 3870 is really worth it on our two 690G boards, or whether a 512 meg 3850 is a better choice? I play games too, but I don't care about a few fps when cost is factored into it. They already have decent Antec Neo and Truepower PSU's so that's not a factor there.

Overall, I think Nvidia's really screwing up with their naming conventions for the G92 parts. I don't think the new GTS are worth the extra cost and the old GTS just won't cut it compared to a 512 meg version of the 8800GT.

 

[talit]

Dont forget about your cpu bottleneck, just a little bottleneck, if you can afford it take the gts but if not dont worry about geting gt (512 of course) you dont lose too much and with the saved money buy the game you prefer.

 

[neisonator]

if you want speed and value at the expensive of noise and heat go the gt if you want speed quietness and low temps at the expense of your hard earned cash get the gts. my gts is sooo quiet idles at 52 c max 64 C

 

[TurdBurglar]

It all depends on how much cash is small change for someone. For me, a $100 difference is quite a bit. I couldn't justify the difference, so when I upgrade my son's Nvidia 405 chipset X2 4600+ system's PSU, I'll get him an 8800GT 512 when the prices drop in 2008.

Right now, the old Coolermaster PSU can only handle an 8600GTS. We all know that's a bad choice! So, I have to factor the cost of his new PSU into the mix when I replace his aging 7600GT.

I'm asking myself whether the 3870 is really worth it on our two 690G boards, or whether a 512 meg 3850 is a better choice? I play games too, but I don't care about a few fps when cost is factored into it. They already have decent Antec Neo and Truepower PSU's so that's not a factor there.

Overall, I think Nvidia's really screwing up with their naming conventions for the G92 parts. I don't think the new GTS are worth the extra cost and the old GTS just won't cut it compared to a 512 meg version of the 8800GT.

I believe the 8600GTS uses more power at idle than the 8800GT 512mb. The 8800GT barely uses more power under load. If the old PSU handles the 8600GTS, it would likely handle the 8800GT. Even a typical modern quad core system with an 8800GT 512mb won't use more than 277W under load. If it's too old, I'm sure it's a good idea to replace the PSU anyway...

 

[night_wolf_in]

Noobie gonna say something here since noone else is. Based on what I've read on other threads, you don't give enough information.

lol. WRONG. he provided enough info.

 

[Hatman]

Your belief is likely wrong, the 8600GTS doesn't even need a power connector.


I don't think the 800GTS 512 is worth it... the new cooler for the 8800GT solves most problems with noise/cooling for it it seems fine to me.


8800GT 512mb ftw.

 

[jwolf24601]

Your belief is likely wrong, the 8600GTS doesn't even need a power connector.


I don't think the 800GTS 512 is worth it... the new cooler for the 8800GT solves most problems with noise/cooling for it it seems fine to me.


8800GT 512mb ftw.

8600gts DOES require the power connector.

8600gt does NOT
__

8800GT is the best deal going right now, if you can find one...

 

[TurdBurglar]

Your belief is likely wrong, the 8600GTS doesn't even need a power connector.


I don't think the 800GTS 512 is worth it... the new cooler for the 8800GT solves most problems with noise/cooling for it it seems fine to me.


8800GT 512mb ftw.

Actually... the 8600GTS does require a power connector as I owned one. And the power requirements for it are right up there within 20-30W of the 8800GT under load. The 8800GT delivers a surprising amount of performance per watt. Google it...

 

[TurdBurglar]

http://arstechnica.com/journals/hardware.ars/2007/11/28/revisiting-the-power-consumption-of-the-ati-radeon-hd-3800-series

There you go, Hatman...

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

Not even remotely worth it, if every frame rate counts then get a gtx. It has much higher overclock gains than the gimped 256 bit cards.