View Full Version : Many brands of 8800GTX cards - How do I choose?
A quick Google and I see several brands (flavors) of the 8800 GTX GPUs out there. The price range is pretty broad as well ($500-800). Are the cards really that different? Can some of you help me understand what I should be looking for when trying to choose a 8800 GTX GPU? I don't think I'll be running SLI any time soon. Here's a list I compiled from a real quick Google.
Asus
BFG
Evga
Foxconn
MSI
XFX
PNY
right now basically the cheapest and the best warranty is all you need.
some cards are overclocked to 625/2000
the stock gtx is 575/1800 I think most should OC to 625/2000 easily with stock cooling.
My favorite is eVGA for many reasons, best RMA, step up program and lifetime warranty.
BFG offers a lifetime warranty as does XFX
Basically find the best price you can for one and go for it.
Anandtech did some benchmarking of all the 8800s offered back in November -
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2873
One Bull
02-09-07, 08:08 AM
I don't trust the review, it's too easily affected by a good clocker. The cards are all made by the same design. They should oc somewhat the same. Especially the early cards of november.
So the Evga clocks gpu and performs the best of all? The only thing you have proven is that a good gpu oc is more valueble then a good mem clock.
Just go by the cheapest brand with good service.
terran2k
02-09-07, 08:19 AM
the brands I noticed that seem to use better chips are BFG, XFX and eVGA, my next video card will be either BFG or XFX
MadMan007
02-09-07, 08:35 AM
As far as I know all 8800s were and are made by the same OEM (Asus I think?) and then re-badged, so in theory oc'ing is purely luck of the draw. The only exception would be post-production speed-binning or alternative cooling but even then all the cards come from the same general production batches.
Jetster220
02-09-07, 04:18 PM
My vote is for eVGA, they have the best warranty and the step up program is awesome. Plus they just make a good quality card.
phantasm
02-09-07, 09:15 PM
I've heard great things about eVGA and BFG. I just bought an eVGA card, haven't installed it yet though.
Rickster
02-09-07, 11:22 PM
What is this stepping up program that eVGA offers? As far as i know i've bought my 7900GT from FORSA and its not any different from other brands. Performs the same.
Swatman
02-09-07, 11:27 PM
I personally use EVGAs
phantasm
02-10-07, 06:36 AM
What is this stepping up program that eVGA offers? As far as i know i've bought my 7900GT from FORSA and its not any different from other brands. Performs the same.
The step up program allows you to take the pruchase of a video card and apply the value of it to a new video card within 90 days of the original purchase.
So say you bought an 8800GTS but decided you really wanted the 8800GTX, you could enter the step up program and pay the difference for the GTX. You also send back your old card essentially trading it in.
protocol_droid
02-10-07, 12:15 PM
Yeah, evga is great for that. I stepped up from 7800gt's to 7900gt sli. Unfortunately it can only be done once. I can't ask for carnival rides though. T'would be nice to upgrade to 8800's now, but can't. Warranty with evga is fantastic as well.
68Injunhed
02-10-07, 01:01 PM
eVGA, all the way.
Goshawk
02-10-07, 01:27 PM
eVGA, too many reasons to list :)
~ Gos
ChinStrap
02-10-07, 02:11 PM
i have been very happy with my eVGA, i vote eVGA aswell.. :)
:beer: Ok folks. It looks like it will be eVGA for me. Now for my next question.
When I read the reviews it looks like the 8800 GTX is a much faster card then the 8800 GTS. My question is, will I really notice the difference? If I have the GTS am I not able to run games with all of the features at their highest settings?
I have a Antec P150 case and will have to modify the drive cage in order to fit the GTX. I'm wondering if it will be worth it, or if the GTS will be just fine. I like playing Far Cry, MS Flight Sim, G3 Flight Sim and a couple others.
Darn GTX, I wish it was a 1/2" shorter. I'll have to grind away at one of my drive bays, or drill out all of the rivets, turn the drive bay 90 degrees and remount to the case. I'm not opposed to doing this - after all, it's just a case.
Spoudazo
02-11-07, 08:27 PM
With your processor you'll notice the difference between an 8800gts and 8800gtx, I'd say. :)
Now go OC that CPU! I'm running 3ghz on the stock fan, what's your excuse. :P
PaciFIST69
02-13-07, 10:03 PM
Facts:
Evga: Lifetime warranty, step up program, warranty not voided by aftermarket cooling (!)
BFG: Lifetime warranty, good tech support, usually good extras bundled with card
XFX: Double lifetime warranty (if you sell the card, the new owner also gets a lifetime warranty), coolest looking heatsinks
That last one wasn't a fact http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/rhyneb/biggrinbounce.gif
Tell me if I forgot anything
ViperJohn
02-14-07, 01:33 PM
right now basically the cheapest and the best warranty is all you need.
some cards are overclocked to 625/2000
the stock gtx is 575/1800 I think most should OC to 625/2000 easily with stock cooling.
My favorite is eVGA for many reasons, best RMA, step up program and lifetime warranty.
BFG offers a lifetime warranty as does XFX
Basically find the best price you can for one and go for it.
Yep go by price as the warranties on the big boys is pretty much the same. I haven't seen a
standard clocked 8800GTX yet that would not clock OC up to XFX "XXX" speeds out of the box.
They will be a faster card than the "XXX" as well as an OC'ed standard card will be running a
108Mhz higher shader clock when OC'ed to 625Mhz.
Viper
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