Final Thoughts
The EVGA GeForce 8800GTX KO and Foxconn GeForce 8800GTX overclocking version cards performed flawlessly under the test suite. Both bring more performance with the guarantee the manufacturer will cover them while operating at or under their factory overclocked speeds.
Foxconn provides a three-year warranty from the date of purchase. EVGA goes even further by providing a lifetime warranty as well as an advanced RMA (return merchandise authorization) program. This program gives registered customers the guarantee that EVGA "will repair or replace the defective parts free of charge (no refunds)." People who register their card within 30 days of purchase can assign an account to charge. EVGA will then charge the account for the product and reverse it when the RMA card is received. This "cross shipment" allows the consumer to get a replacement card right away. All the customer will pay is the shipping charge to return the bad product to EVGA. In the advent of a new card launch, EVGA also allows customers to upgrade their cards within 90 days of purchase for the difference in price between the old and new card.
| Card | Cost |
|---|---|
| EVGA 8800GTX KO | $650 |
| Nvidia GeForce 8800GTX | $570 |
| Nvidia GeForce 7900GTX | $470 |
| Foxconn 8800GTS OC | $400 |
| ATI Radeon X1950XTX | $370 |
| XFX GeForce 8800GTS | $340 |
| BFG GeForce 8800GTS OC 320 | $330 |
| Sapphire X1950 Pro Ultimate | $170 |
In addition to the features on offer, you have to look at what each card will cost, of course. The EVGA KO version is the top model, but comes with a hefty price tag. If you want to make sure your card is going to work as long as you own it then EVGA offers a piece of mind that many do not. BFG offers a lifetime warranty as well but does not offer a cross shipping arrangement. EVGA customers can purchase the next day plan for an additional $30 and are assured they will have a replacement card the next business day. That is the boutique experience and if your wallet can afford it, I would recommend it.
While you might not get all of the toys with the Foxconn warranty, it is solid. However, the cost for a Foxconn card is below that of most of the competition. Currently, the card is $10 less than the comparable EVGA model and $40 less than the BFG model. The deal gets even sweeter as the card has a $40 mail-in rebate if the card is purchased before March 31. That makes it $10 cheaper than an ATI Radeon X1950XTX.
While these cards are intended for those seeking for performance above cost, there are many other models and makes on the market. Inside information says that there will be another refresh of Nvidia models within the next few months. But if you cannot wait for some future event, these two cards will get you to the peak of performance now.
