A number of observations and opinions:
1. Legion Hardware used 7.9 Catalyst drivers on the 3870, 7.10 on the 2900, and the 7.11 Catalysts are due to be released in the next week or two...
2. I am not surprised to see a 10% or so framerate difference between the 8800GT and the 3870... let's hope that the prices reflect that difference
3. It has been reported that only 40,000 8800GT's were manufactured for the launch, so supply has been and will continue to be an issue. Compare this to more than 250,000 units of the 38XX hard launch. Many people simply won't be able to find a 8800GT for sale during the next few months.
4. Crossfire potential on the X38 motherboards will allow full utilization of the PCIe2 16X on each card in crossfire.
5. 38XX series will be DirectX 10.1 cards (look for the ATI White Paper on the subject - some pretty nifty graphic enhancements happening with 10.1)
6. 38XX should be cooler and quiter based on the shrink to 55nm
I personally plan to jump on the Xfire wagon, grab two 3870's and an ASUS Maximus motherboard for a cost effective, greaat bang-for-the-buck rig that should get me through the next 3 years.
I am impressed with the 8800GT. I am equally impressed with the 3870. Competitition is still alive.
1. Legion Hardware used 7.9 Catalyst drivers on the 3870, 7.10 on the 2900, and the 7.11 Catalysts are due to be released in the next week or two...
2. I am not surprised to see a 10% or so framerate difference between the 8800GT and the 3870... let's hope that the prices reflect that difference
3. It has been reported that only 40,000 8800GT's were manufactured for the launch, so supply has been and will continue to be an issue. Compare this to more than 250,000 units of the 38XX hard launch. Many people simply won't be able to find a 8800GT for sale during the next few months.
4. Crossfire potential on the X38 motherboards will allow full utilization of the PCIe2 16X on each card in crossfire.
5. 38XX series will be DirectX 10.1 cards (look for the ATI White Paper on the subject - some pretty nifty graphic enhancements happening with 10.1)
6. 38XX should be cooler and quiter based on the shrink to 55nm
I personally plan to jump on the Xfire wagon, grab two 3870's and an ASUS Maximus motherboard for a cost effective, greaat bang-for-the-buck rig that should get me through the next 3 years.
I am impressed with the 8800GT. I am equally impressed with the 3870. Competitition is still alive.