8800GTS on 1680x1050

[NoKtEm]

Does anyone have any experience running a 8800GTS on 1680x1050 resolution? I am trying to decide between the 320mb or 640mb version... it's not that I can't afford it, but it's really hard for me to justify buying a 350+ dollar video card :(

haha so does it really make that much of a difference? I heard 1680x1050 is pretty much JUST at that turning point where people pretty much have to get the 640mb version. Really what I'm looking forward to is Crysis and all those other DX10 games =P I've heard conflicting reports about this, what do you think?

[Rattle]

I do

go for the 640

especially if you like AA

[deathman20]

320Meg is on the edge of memory swap even for some of todays programs. I wouldn't really recommend it unless your at 1280x1024 or lower. We don't know how DX10 will affect whats buffered into the video ram. As well DX10 opens the road for higher resolution textures and if you want to view them you got to consider that its all going into the video memory, and the more in the end will be the better.

512Meg i'd say is a minimum for a real gaming rig for video ram today.

[NoKtEm]

thanks for the responses, I guess my bank account is really going to take a hit next month

Does anyone know if there's going to be a price drop when the april 18 cards get released?

[deathman20]

Only time you can forsee a major price drop is maybe, maybe when ATI releases there cards, but thats about the only time I can think nVidia would do such a thing.

[NoKtEm]

oh well then, seems like the R600 is never coming out =P

[stereo555]

Another vote here for the 640mb version @ 1680X1250 . For Crysis you'll want more eye-candy ; so for that reason alone the 640mb one would be a better choice (and most likely for any DX10 games) .

For the differance in price between the two (after MIR about $60 in most cases) I think its well worth the extra cost .

[ChinStrap]

I’ll be bandwagon here and vote for the 640mb version as well. I tell ya she handles DX9 like it’s her job – I can’t wait to see what DX10 brings.

I just hope a 640 mb gts is going to be enough balls to run crysis @ 1440x900 with the candy levels I want. :rolleyes:

[grayg]

For me it was a more easier choice to the 320mb version, it was on special offer which made it about £75 (about $150) cheaper than the cheapest 640mb version.

[Rattle]

For me it was a more easier choice to the 320mb version, it was on special offer which made it about £75 (about $150) cheaper than the cheapest 640mb version.


saving money isnt gonna make it better at 1680x1050

with todays game anything over 1280x1024 512 is min

[68Injunhed]

640mb here. I run 8xQ AA, and 16x AF, all details in games maxed out. Runs great. I have it OC'd with Riva to 625(621 actual)/900.

[Airbornederekc]

i would go for the 640 meg version. if your are going to invest some money in a graphics card you do not want to be sorry. there is a saying that i follow. if you dont have it your going to need it.

get the 640 meg and be happy knowing that you got something thats gonna kick ass.

[ajrettke]

The 640 definetly because newer games are pushing the envelope like always. In a year the 320 will be crippled since it lacks the memory. Also in a year if you sell your old hardware the 320 cards will probably take a decent hit in demand also.

[rantanamo]

I'm using the 320 on one system and nothing has come close to keeping it from running totally smooth in Vista with everything turned up and playing games @1680x1050. I never had problems with the 7900GS @ the same res either. I think some just like every little detail there is, regardless of whether they can see it or not OR the human eye can actually tell the difference. You'd be more than fine with the 320.

[deathman20]

I'm using the 320 on one system and nothing has come close to keeping it from running totally smooth in Vista with everything turned up and playing games @1680x1050. I never had problems with the 7900GS @ the same res either. I think some just like every little detail there is, regardless of whether they can see it or not OR the human eye can actually tell the difference. You'd be more than fine with the 320.

Check your video ram usage by using http://www.nonatainment.de/web/Default.aspx?tabid=62 FYI this program doesn't work within Vista.

If its not maxing it out then you can be safe for now, but if it is you might not notice now but there will be significate hit to the frame rates.

[LabRat23]

Very nice program. I didn't know anything like that was around.

One question: I see it has system memory listed also but for me atm its only 52Mb, which doesn't make sense. Any idea where the 52Mb figure is coming from? My system memory usage according to task manager is 1.2GB. Card memory is at 134Mb.

[NoKtEm]

Maybe it's actual system memory and not system memory + virtual memory (just a guess though.. )

[deathman20]

Very nice program. I didn't know anything like that was around.

One question: I see it has system memory listed also but for me atm its only 52Mb, which doesn't make sense. Any idea where the 52Mb figure is coming from? My system memory usage according to task manager is 1.2GB. Card memory is at 134Mb.

I forgot what it means. I'd test it but well, sorta hard when it doesn't work with my OS.

[LabRat23]

I forgot what it means. I'd test it but well, sorta hard when it doesn't work with my OS.


No biggy. I'm pretty sure the card memory is right. Still an awesome program. Thanks.

[UglyChild]

Honestly, by the time a good DX10 game comes out, the prices will drop a good amount on all cards. Buying a card now just to future proof your pc, is a big waste of money.

Just wait.

[NoKtEm]

I was thinking the same thing lately actually, but then I would have to buy a cheap PCIE card for now since my current card is a Radeon 9800 pro AGP card. This does not leave me with much room to play around, if I buy a $100 video card I better hope the cards will drop at least $150 in price to make it worthwhile...

so many decisions =(

[UglyChild]

If you dont have PCI-E motherboard and still using AGP, then you have to spend even more money.

But you can get a PCI-E video card for $30.

Whats the rest of your system is like?

[NoKtEm]

I have an athlon XP 2800+ (from 6 years ago =P ) but planning on buying a new E6600 when the price drop rolls around

[UglyChild]

Ok, so you still have a AGP system.

I think, the best thing to do, is build the whole system at once. If you keep buying one part at a time, lets say over a period of 6months. Then you could have just waited 6months in the first place and saved a lot of money.

Soon or later youll have to spend that big lump of money, its up to you when you want to do it. Just done sit around and wait for each part to drop in price.

[PingSpike]

While I agree that buying these cards just for DX10 is kind of a waste, since there aren't any DX10 games out now, I snagged one for its DX9 performance. I don't really have any plans to move to vista but nvidia has better linux drivers(and/or support) and now they're ahead of ATI in performance per buck too.

[The Wicker Man]

The 320 version runs anything out there just fine.......

I run everything at 1600*1200 as high AA and AF as is allowed, all video options on as high as they go, without issue or stutter....

F.E.A.R is might purdy at 1600*1200 maxed eye candy......;)



Snag an EVGA, then you can step up in 90 days.....

[PhobMX]

yup, i got the 320mb because my monitor is 1280x720... im perfectly happy with it (if fukin vista drivers would support this resolution)