Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > Graphics Cards > 8800 GT 256MB vs. 512MB
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nergo   05-23-2008 at 02:56:12 PM

Hello,

Wanted to see if I could recieve a little advice, I've been looking to upgrade my computer this week with the following specs:

AMD 64 3800+ 2.4Ghz
nVidia 8500 GT
1GB RAM

I purchased another Gig of RAM and I was looking at the 8800 cards. I found the following:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150252

Which at the time had a mail in rebate for 30$, of course the day I went to order it got taken off so I searched for a cheaper version of the same exact card and came across:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814125089

Because I was in a hurry to get to work, I just ordered right away only to realize when I came back home that it was 256MB and not 512MB which explained the big difference in price. Although it is OC'd.

My question is, how big a difference will it be from 512 MB to 256MB (Understandably both are huge upgrades from my current 8500GT) I just wanted to get some advice and determine wether I should return it and buy a 512MB for 60$ more, since im upgrading the gfx card and I wont do again for at least a year and a half or two, I want to do it right.


Thank you!

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deuce271   05-23-2008 at 03:04:34 PM
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Depends on your resolution. If you're gaming on a monitor bigger than 19", you're going to want to get the 512MB version.

Other than that, it depends on what games you intend to play. Some games with detailed textures really benefit from the additional memory.

------------------------------ Antec Nine Hundred, Gigabyte P35-DS3R, Intel Q6600 @ 3.2 Ghz, Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme, eVGA 8800GT 512MB, G-Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2-800 4-4-4-10, Seasonic S12 ATX 650W, Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA, 26" LCD Monitor (1900x1200), Windows XP Pr
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nergo   05-23-2008 at 03:03:07 PM
- 0 +

Yeah, I forgot to include that sorry... I run a 22" Widescreen monitor although usually never cap the resolution at 1650... I usually drop it to 1280 or so but that might be merely because of the lack of power my current set has

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nvalhalla   05-23-2008 at 03:07:16 PM
- 0 +

If you game on a 19in or smaller monitor you should be fine. If you use a 22in or larger you will have a litle lower performance. You will also sacrifice some post processing (AA, AF) performance by having a small frame buffer. Test it out, see if the upgrade works for you, newegg will tkae it back within 30 days if you don't like it.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/sho [...] i=3175&p=5

Here is a good comparison between the 512 and 256 versions.

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Maziar   05-23-2008 at 03:15:32 PM
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8800GT 256 VS 512 VS 1GB:
http://techreport.com/articles.x/14230

------------------------------ Q6600@3.4+ TT V1 Cooler,SAPPHIRE HD 4870X2,ASUS MAXIMUS FORMULA,4GB OCZ DDR2 800,LG W2452V 1920x1200
 Reply to Maziar
jitpublisher   05-23-2008 at 03:18:36 PM
- 0 +

nergo wrote :

Yeah, I forgot to include that sorry... I run a 22" Widescreen monitor although usually never cap the resolution at 1650... I usually drop it to 1280 or so but that might be merely because of the lack of power my current set has

 

Oh, yeah. I think you will definetly be happier with 512 meg of memory. Especially if you like to run any AA/AF at all. Best return/exchange the one you have.

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marvelous211   05-23-2008 at 03:33:31 PM
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256mb 8800gt is worse than 9600gt at that resolution. Beats the purpose having a powerful GPU.

------------------------------ Asus P5B vanilla with E6300 B2 stepping @ 3.5
4 gigs Gskill
8800GTS 756/1836/1037
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] ew-benches
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Sailer   05-23-2008 at 04:05:21 PM
- 0 +

nergo wrote :

My question is, how big a difference will it be from 512 MB to 256MB (Understandably both are huge upgrades from my current 8500GT) I just wanted to get some advice and determine wether I should return it and buy a 512MB for 60$ more, since im upgrading the gfx card and I wont do again for at least a year and a half or two, I want to do it right.


Thank you!



My advice is to send the 256 card back and pay the $60 extra for the 512 card. This is especially true since you say you won't be upgrading again for a year and a half or two. Otherwise, you'll be hating the 256 card in 6 months and wishing you hadn't been so foolish as to get it.

------------------------------ Evil lurks in the databanks as it lurked in the streets of yesteryear. But it was never the streets that were evil.

Over 50. Seen it, done it, can't remember it, but I miss it.
 Reply to Sailer
Bronze Graphics badge jay2tall   05-23-2008 at 04:07:39 PM
- 0 +

the 8800Gt 256MB is a horrible performer. The 8800GS will beat it out. The 8800GT 512 Is the one you want. I'd suggest one with a better cooler than stock though:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130357
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127329

Your single core 3800+ will hinder it a little bit as well, but I see you have it OCed so it might not be as bad. Might be worth picking up a dual core cheap somewhere.

Another gig of ram will also help alot.

------------------------------ Big Brother Rules with an Iron Fist
 Reply to jay2tall
arson94   05-23-2008 at 04:27:31 PM
- 0 +

Well running a single core chip I'm assuming 939, maybe even 754? which means still on DDR1. I would think that your CPU and RAM both are bottlenecking the 8800GT. I'd definitely get the 8800GT 512MB over the 256MB and then look into upgrading the rest of your components afterwards.

Reply to arson94
L1qu1d   05-23-2008 at 04:30:57 PM
- 0 +

The 256 is a waste of money, I'd definately go for the 512 no questions asked.
To me who ever bought the 8800 GT 256 really wasted that much money on a useless card.

Thats my opinion. :)


Message edited by L1qu1d on 05-23-2008 at 04:33:46 PM
------------------------------ Folding@HOME Team: 163116
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rodney_ws   05-23-2008 at 04:31:55 PM
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Has the OP said what PSU he's running?

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L1qu1d   05-23-2008 at 04:34:03 PM
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I doubt it would make a big diff if the choice is between the 2 8800 GT types, I mean even a 300 Watt can do it:P

If your going go for the 8800 GT 256, your better off looking at the 8800 GS or 9600 GT OC for sure;)

They are both cheaper in most cases and worth the money:)

------------------------------ Folding@HOME Team: 163116
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http://valid.canardpc.com/cache/banner/501789.png
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