[HELP] 8800GT versus 9800GT

[Ch3tan]

I've had cards from both over the years, I don't go by loyalty I go to whichever is offering me the best product at the best price.

And yes ctuchik performance does come into it, the card that is faster now in benchmarks tends to be the one that lets you turn all the fancy options on and play at a higher res for longer into the future.

As for reliability, I have never had a graphics card die on me.

Bad advice telling Bahu to go for anything but a 4850 or 4870 right now. It's like advising someone to not get a core2duo.

[Raven]

Same as Chet really, I used to use radions but I am now on my second Nvidia having just upgraded from a 365 (i think) to a 512 GTS and I am very happy with it, not had a single problem with it or the drivers. Not really had any problems with either actually except for the odd graphics glitch in Crysis with the older card.

Its nice to see ATI making a comeback the same way I hope AMD do in the processer wars and If i was to buy a new card today it would probably be an ATI.

[Sar]

The only Ati card I ever had was a Excalibur IceQ 9800 Pro. Did its job for a year and then burnt out. Otherwise, I've been a 3dfx->Nvidia loyalist throughout since 1996.

[Helme]

The thing with the 4800 cards is that they perform pretty much equal or better to the nVidia cards, but depending on cards 20-40% cheaper. So it's kinda stupid for your own wallets sake to not go with the card giving most performance for £ spent.

That and the fact that every G92 card seems to suffer from faulty manufacturing making nVidia lose money for the first time in 5years trying to replace all the cards.

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It's funny to see how many had "problems" with ATi cards tho and not a single one mention the total bullshit that is the GeForce4, 5 & 7 mid-series, it's really quite puzzling seeing people mention how every card they got from ATi seems to have broken, that's quite odd really. My older 9200 Radeon is still in use by my father, my other 9600 Radeon is still in use by my brother while I actually threw out my GeForce 7600 card because I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemies.

Yet I can understand why nVidia commands so much loyalty, the 8800 cards were good and still are good, the 4800 cards are basically ATi's 8800s.

In conclusion: Brand loyalty is the most stupid thing to have in a field that shifts monthly in performance. Go for the best priced product, and at the moment that is without a single doubt the 4850/70.

[Helme]

Something to add btw; I just read that the 4800 cards have outsold nVidia 200 series by a 4:1 ratio, and looking at the reports of problems online with the cards, I must say I'm having much trouble finding any. If that isn't proof enough how solid these cards I don't know what is.

[Kryten]

So far the only remaining issue is the fan speed one, which is easily fixed - lots of solutions around, i.e. using RivaTuner and the likes.

[clarkejust]

I have the 8800GT and vista 32 nvr had a single problem with it DX10 i play a lot of MMo.s and the combo suits me down to the ground had 7600gt sli before that have a sli mobo but just run 8800GT dont need a second atm