better GPU: AMD A8 7600 vs 8800GT

[Homerboy]

My son has a PC running an AMD A8 7600 with IGP
He uses it mainly for Mincecraft and a few other "simple" games.
I have a older NV 8800GT laying around.

Which option would be better for him? To run with the IGP, or to plug in the 8800GT?

 

[tolis626]

I'd say stay with the IGP. I guess performance is similar, but the IGP is way newer, so no driver issues, no incompatibilities, no nothing. Plus it uses less power and will result in lower noise levels, even slightly so. If you can overclock it a bit, it's even better. But still, Minecraft and similar games should be ok with it.

I could always be dead wrong as I've never had a 8800GT, but whatever.

 

[SPBHM]

I would keep the IGP because of power efficiency and better compatibility with newer stuff, also I had a ton of reliability problems with 8 series Geforce, so I would avoid anything G8x/g9x

but the 8800GT can be faster for older games... it has some clear advantages like the memory bus.

 

[tweakboy]

ALl the way 8800 GT ,,, have had one long long time. Gives no problems.. Use the IGP

 

[alcoholbob]

In newer games even Intels high end IGPs are as fast or faster than 7900 series GPUs. I imagine even a terrible AMD APU will run circles around an 8800 by now.

 

[Techhog]

IGP is better in every possible way.

 

[frozentundra123456]

In older games that do not require DX11, I think the 9800GT will be slightly faster. That apu should have performance in the range of a DDR3 HD7730 (both have 384 GCN shaders), which is a couple of tiers below the 9800GT.

Toms Hardware GPU hierarchy

That said, the APU should be fine for minecraft (at least without a lot of mods) and would run cooler and use less power. You also would not have to worry if the psu us up to the task if this is a prebuilt. You do need fast dual channel ram to get the most out of an APU though.

The answer seems simple actually. Just try it with the APU. If the performance is satisfactory, I would not go the the trouble of adding such an old dgpu, as it will not be remarkably faster. Otherwise try the 9800GT and see if it is any better.

 

[RaistlinZ]

Last time I used an 8800GT was probably 2010. Even back then it was awful.

I'd go with the IGP.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Last time I used an 8800GT was probably 2010. Even back then it was awful.

I'd go with the IGP.

Up until a couple of years ago, I was gaming at 1440 x 900 with a 9800GT, and it would play most games med to high at that resolution. I guess it depends on what you call "awful", but I would not call it that. I definitely dont think the APU in question will be appreciably faster, but it will be cooler, quieter and use less power for close to the same performance.

 

[tweakboy]

Good card frozentundra field.

 

[AtenRa]

The A8-7600 will be faster in newer games, with less power consumption and quieter. Also the 8800GT only has 512MB memory and that will be a bottleneck for new games.

 

[MeldarthX]

I've ran several tests on 7600 - at 1440 by 900 - at 45w; even at that its still very capable of running most things on med to high settings at steady 30 frames.....was holding WoT at that.

really couldn't flip it to 65w as system its in is running 120w pico psu if you need a little more power for it; make sure its in 65w mode and OC it a little......

 

[seitur]

A8 7600 is better option. No question about it really.

 

[Homerboy]

Thanks.
I figured the A8 7600 was the better bet just wanted to make sure.

And those saying the 8800GT "had issues" and the like -- you're nuts.
That card was ROCK solid for me for YEARS. In fact I JUST recently pulled it from my machine (I rarely game much anymore)