Really need advice on my next gpu

[AndrewJ]

On Wednesday I shall have £200 max £250 burning a hole in my pocket for a DX10 high end gaming gpu.

Now I'd love to come in around £200, and leave the extra for beer money and some munchines.

But I am totally confused which is best, I prefer the GTX but the GTS has alot of power in it's own. But the prices lean towards the GTX since it's a few quid more for a GTX?

So far I am stuck on

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

XFX 8800 GTX bargain price.

And

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

Gainward 8800GTS.

Both good for the price, but I lean to the GTX as the superior card, am I right?

Or is this one worth the cooling risk

EVGA GeForce 8800 GT 512MB KO GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (512-P3-N805-A1)

[rufeo]

It depends really on what resolution you'll be playing games at. The gtx will perform better than a gts at say 190x1200 with aa on as well.

btw found this

BFG GeForce 8800 GTS OC 512MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail

You could try and overclock it as well, from what I've heard an overclocked gts is pretty much on par and beats the gtx by a bit in some games.

If I were going to choose between the gt that you posted and the gts I'd go for the gts I've just found, not only is it cheaper and faster but the dual slot cooler means less noise and lower case temps.

[staffsMike]

I wouldn't get a crazy overclocked GT with the stock cooler, I don't trust it at all.

The GTS on ocuk seems the best compomise. They have the POV, BFG and Leaktek at that price so you have a few flavours to choose from but obviously the BFG offers the best warranty and is slightly overclocked out of the box.

The GTX uses a lot more power, thus I imagine it runs hotter and it's longer and harder to fit in some cases (not sure about yours).

I would get the GTS or at ebuyer they have the ATi HD3870X2 for around £235 which is pretty awesome for the price.

[AndrewJ]

Thanks.

I game at 1680 by 1050, my case is an Antec 900 and my power is from a Seasonic S12.

I tend to buy from Scan, Had some bad love with OCUK they REALLY mucked me about more than once.

[Webby]

Or Scan have the BFG GTS at £163 pre-order but stock supposed to arrive on the 31/03

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

At 1680x1050 any of the options will be more than enough my 3870 (Gecube X-Turbo III) is more than enough for what I do (no Crysis mind, don't have it so can't comment on that)

[AndrewJ]

Could I ask in regard to

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

It's price would really suit me right now with a poorly dog.

Would this card run Crysis on high at 1680 by 1050, COD4 and BF2142 at same high settings at same resoltuion.

It's not as crazy OC'd as some, and I have heard EVGA are about the best you can get.

[Blitzen]

Thanks.

I game at 1680 by 1050, my case is an Antec 900 and my power is from a Seasonic S12.

I tend to buy from Scan, Had some bad love with OCUK they REALLY mucked me about more than once.

I game at the same res as you and i can personally vouch for the BFG 8800GTS 512MB card. (bought from Scan)

Its awesome and crucnhes its way through anything i throw at it with ease.
I paid £200 for mine when it came out but £165 is a fantastic price.

[AndrewJ]

Ok

That BFG 8800GTS has it for me, if that is not in stock can anyone recommend another good GPU for about same money.

So confusing with so many choices of the same model.

[Nailbunny]

Just a quick note, I ordered the BFG 8800GTS OC from OcUK yesterday. I've spent a fair bit of time looking around (and had advice from the peps here) and that was the best deal I could find. Its supposed to arrive today!!!!!

[Biscuit]

if you get a BFG card then you warrenty is direct to the manufacturer i believe so ordering it from OCUK wont cause a problem.

Hey btw Andy

[Blitzen]

Did you know that BFG are rolling out the 'Step-Up' in the USA atm.

Hopefully soon it will work its way over here aswell as the Step Up for Europeans with EVGA isnt exactly pain free.

[Biscuit]

will that only be for new customers or exsisting ones too?

[rufeo]

Yeah the warranty is supposedly with bfg, I've only ordered once from ocuk and that was very recent. My wd raptor seemed to faulty and I emailed them about it and they seemed to be quite responsive. Haven't sent it back yet as it seems to be working right now albeit not as well I think it can, so I'm doing a few tests first....

If you really don't want to order from ocuk then for slight a bit more money you can get it from here

BFG GeForce 8800GTS OC 512MB Graphics Card. DDR3, PCI-E, Dual DVI, HDTV, TV Out, HDCP - BFGR88512GTSE - microdirect.co.uk

if not you could always buy an unclocked version and overclock it yourself, with this one

dabs.com - Dabs Value GeForce 8800GTS 512MB DDR3 PCIE DVI VGA 650/1940 (PX8800GTSTHD512)

With graphics card, my friend advised me that most of them are just reference boards and the companys just place they're own designs on the card. Although there are a few that have custom coolers that aren't the same.

So if you aren't really worried about where you buy from and don't care too much about the warranty then one is just as good as the other in my opinion. You can save yourself a fair bit of money that way.

[2Cold Scorpio]

I actually have an eVGA 8800GT Superclocked (the one right below the KO), and I'ven ever had heat issues. Idles in the mid 40s cel. with the fan at 30%, and in game with the fan at 100% I've never seen it top 70c. Heck, I've even forgotten to turn the fan up before when jumping into some pretty intensive games (like F.E.A.R. maxed), and never had any problems. I'm not sure on the temps, but I'm sure it didn't top 85c or so (and thats with the fan @ 30%!).

Then again, my case stays rather cool. Even my overclocked CPU doesn't top 38c under 100% load (I've never seen it top it, anyways), and generally stays within a 18-25c range.

I personally think a lot of the heat problems people say they have with the 8800GT cards is due to A) not properly using a fan controller (as you should) and B) bad case cooling. I have one of my case fans blowing right on the card for a reason.

Still, I wouldn't get the SSC version...but the KO oughta be fine. Its actually the one I originally wanted (but back then there were stock shortages, so I got the first thing I found. ). And eVGA's warrenty is awesome: lifetime, even if you overclock (or further overclock) your card. I believe you're still covered if you change the cooler, too.

[matty-hodgson]

well i bought an 8800GT from Scan the other day.. eVGA, brilliant company, plenty of extras and life-time warranty.. for 138 quid.
i've overclocked it very well while playing Crysis but it doesn't need OCing on any other games, mainly because i game at 1280 x 1024..
but it's upto you which you go for.

GTX for 1920 x 1200
GTS for 1400 x 900 - 1680 x 1050
GT for anything less..

edit: my temps with the fan at 100% (turn the speakers up while gaming) are about 70'C load and with the fan at 35% i get 40 - 45'C idle.

[staffsMike]

GTX for 1920 x 1200
GTS for 1400 x 900 - 1680 x 1050
GT for anything less..

I'm feeling annoying and will disagree.

GTX and GTS for 1920 x 1200
9600 and 8800GT (or ATi HD38**) for 1440 x 900 and 1680 x 1050
Then what ever you can afford for the rest.