New Graphics Card

[DamonHignett]

I am getting a new graphics card and I would like some recommendations for a card that doesn't go over my budget of £120. I am currently thinking about the nVidia GeForce 8800 GS.

[silent]

i to am thinking of a new card and this budget. i'm tempted by this one:

Gecube HD 3850 Pro 512MB GDDR3 Overclocked Edition Dual DVI PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

looks good for £110 all in.

scan have an ati branded for £102 del but not overclocked.

[DamonHignett]

Its got a 2 slot cooler and my motherboard only has 1 graphics card slot

[DamonHignett]

And its too big

[silent]

only needs one slot. the cooler takes the next slot on the back plate away but only uses the 1 pci-e slot and not 2 pci-e slots. if that makes sense.

[DamonHignett]

Oh, I see

[Webby]

The cooler on that Gecube is pretty good, I have the 3870 version and its silent up to 55% fan load then its audible still quiet enough up to 65% 70% is on the edge of annoying (especially as it cycles up and down on my card as it hovers around 70oC) but the 3850 shouldnt get as hot so this shouldnt be an isue for you

[DamonHignett]

Nah, i'm going to stick with the GS

[DamonHignett]

Unless if something good pops up in the next month

[Mit321]

Damon maybe you should look at some benchmarks, then you can decide...

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Nah, i'm going to stick with the GS

Remember that all the 8800GS reviews pit overclocked models against STANDARD clocked HD3850 512mb cards. The standard clocked 8800GS which you suggested is clocked at 580mhz for the core instead of the 680mhz for the overclocked versions which are tested.They also have memory which runs at 1400mhz instead of the 1700mhz.The HD3850 cards they use have a normal clock of 670mhz and NOT the overclocked cards which have been suggested in this thread. The Gecube card for instance has a 720mhz clockspeed and 1800mhz memory. It also has aftermarket cooling which is quieter whereas the XFX 8800gs card has a fan which runs at full speed and is noisy

Basically the reviews are comparing overclocked 8800GS cards which cost around £130 against standard clocked HD3850 512mb cards. Since an overclocked HD3850 with aftermarket cooling costs £110 and is faster in most things it is
simply a better choice. In Bioshock, Call of Juarez and Crysis the HD3850 512mb will win over the 8800GS even if the latter is an overclocked model according to the reviews I have seen!

[DamonHignett]

I changed my mind, I'm going with the HD3850

[silent]

i ordered the 3850 card. delivered next wk so finally i can play bioshock, meo:airbourne and kane and lynch.

[Mit321]

I persuaded him lol by showing him benchmarks lol, the 3850 pro came out tops by quite alot..

[Pob255]

we've had this one before on the 8800gs thread.
The 3850 512mb does seem to beat the 8800gs on most benchmarks, but not by a great deal.
Getting 5-6fps higher when both are around 60fps is not actually going to be very noticeable.
So price, make, cooling and other such factors are going to be more important.

Must say I've been very very tempted by that GeCube card it's a better cooler than the stock one and at a very good price.

I might get tempted away from nvidia and back to ati

EDIT: Damb it! I was looking at the GeCube 3870 before but it seems to no longer be listed.

[Webby]

Ebuyer now remove items with no stock so just check back regularly and hopefully hey will get some more in.

Its a great card haven't pushed mine past its stock overclocked settings as I dont play anything that has run slowly etc.

Now just waiting for the F@H client for it to arrive it will be "soon" but its going to be soon for the last couple of months :S

Only issue I have with it is that when playing games a full load it gets to 70oC which is on the edge of a fan speed change so it cycles up and down the fan speed which is slightly annoying. I could just set up a fan speed table in Rivatuner or Ati tool but just haven't got round to it yet. As i said before the fan in inaudible (in my TJ-08 not the qietest of cases) up to 55% and then is perfectly livable with up to 65% then you get the 70% cycling which is annoing but the sound level isnt really that bad just the cycling that makes you notice it more than normal.