A little assistance picking the right 8800GTX for me.

[Deanzo]

Hi guys,

Next week its time for me to get a new card, no more holding off for ATI's new unicorn.

(Unicorn = A mythical creature no one has seen)

Any how after reading lots of posts here it would seem most of you favour EVGA, that said there are 3 models available to me,

8800GTX, 8800GTX Super Clocked and 8800GTX K.O

Other than the core and memory being clocked up on the last two, which I can do myself is there anything else they have done to the bios etc to make me want to think about spending the extra money.

And just to scare you about price's here in New Zealand. (http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentlist.asp?t=6&parttypeid=68&b=EVGA)
8800GTX $1,097.61NZ = $840.11US
8800GTX Super Clocked $1,170.29NZ = $895.74US
8800GTX K.O $1,275.02NZ = $975.90US

And thats with the online discount :(

Sooo what would you recommend ?

[Drinkyoghurt]

buy it from ebay? man thats just waaaay too expensive, i'd bet it would be cheaper to let a euro(me perhaps) get one for you and send it over for like $650-700

but if you are getting it from there get the normal one and the oc it.

[aaronjb]

Wait a bit, if you can. I think you'll see an 8800GTX/GTS price drop in conjunction with the R600 release.

[||Console||]

Yea I would waite @ least untill may 14 for the r600 to drop the prices as well as the 8800ultra will be out .

[Deanzo]

Hey guys,

If you think they will be out on or about the 14th, I can and will hold off, I just dont want to wait much longer, you know what its like at some point you just have to hand over your money and have fun..

But going back abit, do you know if there's any thing better about the last two card I listed, other than the core and memory being clocked up ?

[WonderingSoul]

Those 7900GTs are still very nice. I'd say put a volt mod to it and crank up the clocks!!

[Deanzo]

Those 7900GTs are still very nice. I'd say put a volt mod to it and crank up the clocks!!

Its just that my 7900gt hates me, first one I had to RMA as I'd get artifacts at stock speed and the replacement artifacts at a small OC.

Its just time for a whole new one. Im not too cut up about it as its the first time Ive had a card that just wouldnt play nice at all..

[||Console||]

If it was me i would get the normal GTXs you are going to end up Overclocking it bast those slow speeds ne way so save your monney , They oc Nice .

[Deanzo]

On the normal GTX it has 86GB/sec memory bandwidth where as the other two say 96GB/sec.

Is that something that goes hand in hand OCing the core and memory speed, or is it something else.

[||Console||]

yes it has to do with over clocking it . When you over clock your it will go up as well . And by fkashing the bios you can change the spped of your shader as well, and make it faster again =)

[Deanzo]

Thanks mate, sound like the normal GTX is the one to go for.

[El<(')>Maxi]

Damn thats expensive! I can ship you one too if it helps Dean.

Now about the cards, the OC versions are basically tested to work at the higher clock speeds. They also have a BIOS which features higher shader clocks in addition to the higher core/memory clocks. So which way to go? Well from what I've seen most of the regular GTX's do clock easily to where these OC versions are running so chances are your fine with the non-OC version and you can simply BIOS flash it if you want the OC speeds at default. I have had three BFG GTX's and I'd recommend one of those if it's an option. The two normal one's I had both ran 660/1100 out of the box. The OC2 version BFG I have also ran the same max clocks but no higher.

[Deanzo]

Hey Maxi

Damn thats expensive!

I know, sux if you ask me but all pc parts are like that down here :(

Thanks guys for the offer to ship one for me, I'll look in to all the costs, I get a bit from Oz so not having any warranty is not that big of a deal.
But off the top of my head there will be shipping $50nz, import duty $20nz, customs transaction fee $20nz, GST $95nz and the bank here will rip me somewhere from $25 to $50 to send you the money, should end up around $235nz on top of what ever the card costs.

Coming back to the cards how hard is it to flash the bios and is there much risk ? you can see why not having a warranty is no big deal :)

I'll also see if any one here that I would use sell's BFG cards.

[Deanzo]

Well that same store sells BFG.

Prices are a little less other than the normal GTX which is higher than the OC :confused:

.........................EVGA...............BFG
normal GTX......$1,097.61........$1183.11
SC / OC...........$1,170.29........$1100.81
KO / OC2.........$1,275.02.........$1198.79......Note all in NZ $$$$

Mmmmm if I do buy it here $98 isnt alot to me, so I could just go with the OC2

[El<(')>Maxi]

That would be the safest way to go, hurry up an order already :D

[Deanzo]

Hahaha :p

Just got to look into shipping cost from the US and if the main store I use here in Christchurch can get the BFG card, they give me a discount but it's not listed on there site.

But I'll still hold off till after the 14th just in case the price drops, can but hope.

But you have sold me on the OC2.

[Hipcrostino]

Hey Maxi
I know, sux if you ask me but all pc parts are like that down here :(



Geez, tell me about it. A X6800 Intel cpu is about $1700 AUD atm.

Anyway, if you get EVGA, just remember that the "step up program" (which is a reason lots of people like them) is only available to Canadian and American EVGA customers. I'm not sure how the overclocking warranty is either. Plus we don't get RMA's here (at least in Auz, NZ is probably the same). You get warranty replacements though of course, but something actually has to be wrong with the thing. Most retailers charge you a fee if they find it is fault free. Anyway, all thats just a warning reminder about reading these forums which is mostly American.

That said, they are awesome of course!

Also i wouldn't bother with OC versions. Why? because all the cards a refeance and most will overclock as much if not more anyway. besides its a freaken GTX!! they are so fast you don't need too oc them anyway!

Bios flashing is easy, but you need the right programs and stuff. also a floppy drive. Either way, just use ATI tool or RivaTuner R2.01 to overclock with in windows, much easyer. Bios is more perminate.

[Deanzo]

Hey Hipcrostino,

Yep I know about no step up program and RMA's, I all so think we have the same law's and consumer guarantees Act when it comes to warranty replacements but when I post here I all ways just say RMA to make it easy.

When I order parts in Oz I use AUSPC and PC Case Gear, what other store do you know of that are good ?

It all so doesnt matter if they dont ship to NZ as I know a lot of ppl over there and can all ways have it re-shipped.

[nd4spdbh2]

AHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH Ati's new unicorn.... thats a GREAT saying.

its even better than Windows ME 2 (aka Vista)


just get the regular 8800gtx from evga (the "base" model if you will) as they all clock the same.

[Hipcrostino]

Nintek is the only other place i would recommend. they are expensive with somethings, and cheap with others. good service though, although they are in perth so it can't get much further away...

I bought all my Deltas from PCCG. and some other stuff.

[Deanzo]

Well just to end this thread on a high (before I start a new one :) )

I made up my mind....

And go this ;) :

Box:

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7588/p1030311er7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Box and Card:

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/4307/p1030312jn7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Do you know what the best thing is about a pc case.........The wife cant see the new things in it :eek:

[squashfx]

hahaha nice man....... get them benchmarks comming!