Help me to choose a graphic card

[umeshnk]

Hi,

I have three options

8800GT, 2900XT or HD3870. Which is best value for money?

Thanks

 

[pauldh]

What are the prices? Personally I'd probably forget about the 2900XT unless it is significantly cheaper. The 8800GT 512MB beats out the HD3870 in almost all games. Do not buy a 256MB 8800GT.

It would also help to list you games, system specs, resolution, etc.

 

[umeshnk]

E6550, ASUS P5K, 4GB RAM are my specs. I play most of the games with good graphics. Hoping to play GRID. resolutions like 1152x864 would be enough. Would like to have 4x AA though. Currently I have a 1600XT. No Nvidia or ATI lover. Just going with PRICEERFORMANCE. . 8800GT cost around 400US$ here. HD3870 is closer but less.

 

[arson94]

Well the 3870 has onboard 5.1 or 7.1 sound through HDMI if you can use it at all. Plus, they just released new Catalyst drivers that improve the performance of the 3870 in an ass-load of games. Between the 8800GT and the 3870, I'd go with whichever you can find cheaper. Then again, if you already have an Nvidia chipset why not stick with the 8800GT. If you have an AMD or ATI chipset, I'd stick with the 3870. I personally like the SAPPHIRE Toxic 100225TXSR from Newegg. It's currently $149.99 after a $20 MIR and $10 off with code EMCAFCJAD. But again, I'd go with which ever is cheaper between the 8800GT and HD3870 and depending on your current motherboard's chipset.

--Arson94

 

[stabgotham]

You can get an XFX 8800GT for $169.99 right now. See below. That's a great price. The cheapest 3870 is about $154.99, but like the other poster said, the 8800GT wins out in most situations. Thats not to say that the 3870 isn't a good card...it is, it just isn't as good as the 8800GT in most (not all) situations.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150280

Quick question, what processor and power supply do you plan to use with this video card? That's very important to know.

 

[dirtmountain]

It may not have an effect where you live, but with the new ATI and GeForce graphic cards coming out within the next few weeks, it may be a good idea to hold off buying a new card right now...just for a few weeks. It might have a large impact on the prices of the cards you're looking at.

 

[umeshnk]

I got the price of HD3870 as 280US$. Compared to 8800GGT which is 400US$ HD3870 is cheaper. What do you guys say? Here what happen is when a new card get introduced old cards get unavailable to buy. We don't have much choice other than to buy when it's available.

 

[pauldh]

$280 vs $400, this 8800GT owner would then go for the HD3870 for sure as it's the better bargain.

A few ?'s.
What games are you playing, what resolutions? What are the system specs? Power supply?

 

[umeshnk]

Looking forward to buy a PSU as well. The only recognized brand we have is ASUS. I play most of the games with good graphics. Hoping to play GRID. resolutions like 1152x864 would be enough. Would like to have 4x AA though.

 

[arson94]

Where the hell do you live?

 

[pauldh]

(Ashamed to admit), I had to look that up myself. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombo

 

[pauldh]

The 8800GT would often be better and more capable with 4xaa. But the HD3870 is pretty potent and that resolution is low. With those prices, I just couldn't buy the 8800GT for $160 more unless seeing a specific game that matters to me has serious issues playing nice with the HD3870.

 

[arson94]

Oh I see, it's off the coast of India. Damn, ****'s expensive over there huh? Yea, for the price difference, definitely get teh 3870. Hell, it would probably be cheaper for you to give me money to buy one here and ship it to you. It would be much cheaper for you and I could still even make a few dollars from it. How much could it be to ship a video card to India lol...?

 

[stabgotham]

Oh I see, it's off the coast of India. Damn, ****'s expensive over there huh? Yea, for the price difference, definitely get teh 3870. Hell, it would probably be cheaper for you to give me money to buy one here and ship it to you. It would be much cheaper for you and I could still even make a few dollars from it. How much could it be to ship a video card to India lol...?

Seriously...take this man up on his offer. $400 for an 8800GT?? You Indians are getting ripped off!