9600 GT vs 8800 GT

[octopus41092]

Which video card would be the better buy?

I can get the 9600 GT for about $180, the 8800 GT 256 MB for $200 and the 8800 GT 512 MB OC for $220. I'm upgrading from an X1950 Pro 512 MB.

From what I've seen the 8800 GT 256 MB performs worse than the 9600 GT so if I'm going to get an 8800 GT it would probably the 512 MB version. I was planning on buying one now and maybe adding another one for SLI later on when it gets out dated.

I play my games at 1680 x 1050 resolution. However, one of the games I do play quite a bit is Call of Duty 4 and the performance of the 9600 GT in that specific game is worse for some reason. Some other games that I also play are Command and Conquer 3, Company of Heroes , Quake 4 and I do some 3D modeling.



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[SniperDaws]

Dont bother with the 256mb 8800GT, and i wouldnt pay extra for the OC'ed 8800GT.


Get either a Vanilla 9600GT or 8800GT and overclock yourself.

 

[angry hampster]

Do you live in the US? You can get 8800GT 512mb cards for $190.

 

[octopus41092]

Originally posted by: SniperDaws
Dont bother with the 256mb 8800GT, and i wouldnt pay extra for the OC'ed 8800GT.


Get either a Vanilla 9600GT or 8800GT and overclock yourself.

The 8800GT for $220 is just the cheapest for the 512 MB version. Its not really extra for the OC version.

 

[Extelleron]

Get the MSI 8800GT 512MB OC w/ the better cooler for $199.99 AR @ Newegg.

 

[octopus41092]

Originally posted by: angry hampster
Do you live in the US? You can get 8800GT 512mb cards for $190.

Originally posted by: Extelleron
Get the MSI 8800GT 512MB OC w/ the better cooler for $199.99 AR @ Newegg.

I shop on Newegg and I did see some for $190, but thats after rebate. Just before rebate and including shipping and tax its about $220

 

[SniperDaws]

the 8800GT isnt worth $40 over the 9600GT IMHO so dont jump in telling me that 8800GT has bigger ears so goes faster on windy days.

with the $40 buy some more ram or a new game.......lol

 

[Extelleron]

Originally posted by: octopus41092

Originally posted by: angry hampster
Do you live in the US? You can get 8800GT 512mb cards for $190.

Originally posted by: Extelleron
Get the MSI 8800GT 512MB OC w/ the better cooler for $199.99 AR @ Newegg.

I shop on Newegg and I did see some for $190, but thats after rebate. Just before rebate and including shipping and tax its about $220

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127329

That's the one I was talking about.

Only a $20 rebate though and I would think with a well-known company like MSI you wouldn't have any trouble getting it.

IMO I couldn't justify buying the 9600GT for $20 less. In some games it is close, but the 8800GT is still faster and sometimes very much so.

Originally posted by: SniperDaws
the 8800GT isnt worth $40 over the 9600GT IMHO so dont jump in telling me that 8800GT has bigger ears so goes faster on windy days.

with the $40 buy some more ram or a new game.......lol

It's not a $40 difference, its a $20 difference.

And the 8800GT can be significantly faster in some circumstances. Anandtech's review doesn't include the 8800GT 512MB, but considering the HD 3870 = 9600GT overall, and the 8800GT is a good deal faster than the HD 3870, that should give you an idea of the difference. No way is it not worth $20 extra, and that's not even considering the better cooler and that the 8800GT I'm talking about is overclocked.

 

[octopus41092]

Do you have links to benchmarks comparing the 9600GT and 8800GT?

 

[Extelleron]

Originally posted by: octopus41092
Do you have links to benchmarks comparing the 9600GT and 8800GT?

The firingsquad review compares the 8800GT 512MB and the 9600GT: http://www.firingsquad.com/har..._performance/page6.asp

I don't know why Anandtech didn't include the 512MB model in their testing.

Examples of Performance from that review:

F.E.A.R. 1600x1200 4xAA/16xAF
8800GT > 9600GT: +7.4%

CoH DX10 1600x1200 4xAA/16xAF
8800GT > 9600GT: +27.7%

Oblivion 1600x1200 4xAA/16xAF
8800GT > 9600GT: +20.4%

Crysis DX10 High 1600x1200
8800GT > 9600GT: +12.4%

Bioshock 1600x1200 4xAA/16xAF
8800GT > 9600GT: +16.4%

 

[SniperDaws]

Are there any benchmarks using the 174.16 drivers ?


I can get the 9600 GT for about $180, the 8800 GT 256 MB for $200 and the 8800 GT 512 MB OC for $220. I'm upgrading from an X1950 Pro 512 MB.

i make that $40 dont you ?

 

[octopus41092]

How about SLI performance, since I'm planning to add in a second one later on.

 

[Extelleron]

Originally posted by: SniperDaws
Are there any benchmarks using the 174.16 drivers ?


I can get the 9600 GT for about $180, the 8800 GT 256 MB for $200 and the 8800 GT 512 MB OC for $220. I'm upgrading from an X1950 Pro 512 MB.

i make that $40 dont you ?

The 8800GT 512MB OC that I linked to is $199.99 AR.

Don't even consider the 8800GT 256MB; it's just not a valid option at this point as it is the same price as the 512MB option and it gets trashed by the cheaper 9600GT.

As for the 8800GT 512MB vs 9600GT, I have stated my case. Stock 8800GT vs. 9600GT, the 8800GT is between 7-27% faster at the 1600x1200 resolution, with the average being around 17%, and since the 8800GT you're looking at is overclocked, the difference is going to be more like 20-25%. It also has a better cooler, and it's 11% more expensive.

As for the drivers, Firingsquad used 174.12 for the 9600GT's and 169.28 for the 8800GT and the rest of the 8-series cards.

Originally posted by: octopus41092
How about SLI performance, since I'm planning to add in a second one later on.

Firingsquad also has a review of 9600GT SLI performance that includes a 8800GT SLI setup: http://www.firingsquad.com/har..._performance/page3.asp

Just know that it's almost never a good idea to "upgrade" with a second card down the road. SLI is generally a good performance option if you need more performance than a single card can offer, but it is not a good idea for an upgrade down the road. Chances are, 6 months from now, it'll be a better option to sell the 9600GT and pick up a newer card than to buy another one for SLI.

 

[SniperDaws]

Sorry i didnt see the post offering the 8800 for $199



Also why has the 9600GT got its own drivers ?

 

[Engineer]

Click me!

Originally posted by: Extelleron
Get the MSI 8800GT 512MB OC w/ the better cooler for $199.99 AR @ Newegg.

+ 5.84 shipping = $205.83 shipped.

It's cheaper using coupon by about $9.00 at Chiefvalue ($196.98 shipped)!

 

[octopus41092]

Theres also tax at newegg... For me anyways.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: octopus41092
Theres also tax at newegg... For me anyways.

There also may be tax at Chiefvalue (the site for the card that I linked in Hot Deals) as it's a sister company of Newegg.

 

[Tempered81]

Originally posted by: octopus41092
Do you have links to benchmarks comparing the 9600GT and 8800GT?

link:
http://www.overclockersclub.co...iews/xfx_9600_gt/8.htm

Bioshock 1920x1200 0xAA/0xAF
8800GT > 9600GT: +50.4%

 

[scheibler1]

I always thought the 8800gt 512mb would be best for me @ 1280x1024. Looks like the 9600gt oc is the best bang for the buck at that res.!

 

[SleepingDragon]

Originally posted by: jaredpace

Originally posted by: octopus41092
Do you have links to benchmarks comparing the 9600GT and 8800GT?

link:
http://www.overclockersclub.co...iews/xfx_9600_gt/8.htm

Bioshock 1920x1200 0xAA/0xAF
8800GT > 9600GT: +50.4%

Wow. Are those benchmarks even accurate? I always thought it was like 10% difference, but some of those marks are showing 9600GT getting murdered by 8800GT. Can't be right... It does seem as if your monitor doesn't exceed 1280x1024, the 9600GT makes more sense since it's cheaper and anything over is overkill and not really put to use.

 

[Extelleron]

Originally posted by: scheibler1
I always thought the 8800gt 512mb would be best for me @ 1280x1024. Looks like the 9600gt oc is the best bang for the buck at that res.!

Remember the MSI card for $199 is also overclocked.

 

[Tempered81]

yes its true, if you game at 1024 res or lower, then they perform almost the same, and that would make a9600gt a better buy because of price. But as monitor resolutions get greater, and AA, etc. You're going to want more power. Games in the future will be more stressful, not less.

 

[octopus41092]

Originally posted by: SleepingDragon

Originally posted by: jaredpace

Originally posted by: octopus41092
Do you have links to benchmarks comparing the 9600GT and 8800GT?

link:
http://www.overclockersclub.co...iews/xfx_9600_gt/8.htm

Bioshock 1920x1200 0xAA/0xAF
8800GT > 9600GT: +50.4%

Wow. Are those benchmarks even accurate? I always thought it was like 10% difference, but some of those marks are showing 9600GT getting murdered by 8800GT. Can't be right... It does seem as if your monitor doesn't exceed 1280x1024, the 9600GT makes more sense since it's cheaper and anything over is overkill and not really put to use.

yea... from what i've seen those benchmarks look off.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: SleepingDragon

Originally posted by: jaredpace

Originally posted by: octopus41092
Do you have links to benchmarks comparing the 9600GT and 8800GT?

link:
http://www.overclockersclub.co...iews/xfx_9600_gt/8.htm

Bioshock 1920x1200 0xAA/0xAF
8800GT > 9600GT: +50.4%

Wow. Are those benchmarks even accurate? I always thought it was like 10% difference, but some of those marks are showing 9600GT getting murdered by 8800GT. Can't be right... It does seem as if your monitor doesn't exceed 1280x1024, the 9600GT makes more sense since it's cheaper and anything over is overkill and not really put to use.

what do you mean you "always" thought it was 10%??? How long have you been looking at 9600gt reviews???

9600 gt is a badass midrange card, but it is just that: MIDRANGE. don't buy it and hope for uber 1337 fps at anything over 1680x1050 or you'll be sorely disappointed; on the flip side, if you use that res or lower and definitely won't upgrade your monitor before your next video card upgrade then 9600gt is a very attractive option. 1920x1200 in a game like bioshock will destroy any midrange cards and even start to show some real separationg between the lower high end cards like 8800gt/3870.

 

[SniperDaws]

Originally posted by: octopus41092

Originally posted by: SleepingDragon

Originally posted by: jaredpace

Originally posted by: octopus41092
Do you have links to benchmarks comparing the 9600GT and 8800GT?

link:
http://www.overclockersclub.co...iews/xfx_9600_gt/8.htm

Bioshock 1920x1200 0xAA/0xAF
8800GT > 9600GT: +50.4%

Wow. Are those benchmarks even accurate? I always thought it was like 10% difference, but some of those marks are showing 9600GT getting murdered by 8800GT. Can't be right... It does seem as if your monitor doesn't exceed 1280x1024, the 9600GT makes more sense since it's cheaper and anything over is overkill and not really put to use.

yea... from what i've seen those benchmarks look off.

Yeah i though this aswell, that review doesnt tally up with any of the other reviews including Anands.

http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/501/19/

http://www.overclockersclub.co...iews/xfx_9600_gt/9.htm