NEW 8800GTS 512MB Reveiwed

[VStrom]

Hot off the press, here is the first review of the new GTS card. Not sure why a 8800GTX wasn't part of the review. Looks like it's a GT beater for sure.
http://www.tweaktown.com/artic...ntroduction/index.html

**UPDATE** They have updated the site and the GTS BESTED the GTX in Crysis @ 1920 x 1200!

 

[R3MF]

looks good provided the price is no more than £250 Sterling.

 

[aldamon]

Unless I missed it, the review never clocked the GTS to the same speed as the GT to see how the cards compare clock-per-clock. From what saw, the GTS gets all of its advantage from its modest clock speed advantage. I think it'd be foolish to buy this instead of a GT.

 

[Denithor]

You really only get two advantages from the GTS version: dual-slot cooling (cooler & much quieter) and 128 stream shaders (versus 112 for GT).

One thing that I wonder about is the higher power consumption (additional 50W under load). Can't quite figure out why 50MHz core and 140MHz memory along with a few extra shaders would cause that much of an increase in power draw. I have to wonder how much extra power a 650/1940 GT would pull versus a stock 600/1800 GT.

 

[aldamon]

Do you think they bumped the voltage?

 

[VStrom]

Originally posted by: aldamon
Do you think they bumped the voltage?

I'd bet yes.

 

[Munky]

Their noise measurements seem like BS. The 8800gt fan stays at 29% regardless if the card is under load or idle, how come they make it out to be so much louder under load?

 

[AzN]

Why would a gtx lose in higher resolution in Crysis? It should be the other way around since GTX has more memory bandwidth and gts has the raw fillrate to win over in lower resolutions. I rather see a official review from a quality site. Every time tweaktown is the first ones to benchmarks because they want more hits or something.

 

[razor2025]

GTS barely beats GTX... It's well within statistical error. I'd say the new GTS is same performance as GTX in Crysis. It's not a bad thing, but at MSRP of $300-350.. it's not any better at price/performance, and that's ASSUMING that street price will be anything like MSRP (what with all the gouging on 8800GT going on and all).

 

[yacoub]

What a joke.

The memory bus comes in at a reduced 256-bit like the 8800GT, which is oddly enough down from the original 8800GTS 320/640 which had with it a 320-bit bus.

IF they'd kept the 320-bit bus at a minimum, or at least upped it to 384-bit or preferably 512-bit, it would be a killer card.

 

[Cheex]

Originally posted by: razor2025
GTS barely beats GTX... It's well within statistical error. I'd say the new GTS is same performance as GTX in Crysis. It's not a bad thing, but at MSRP of $300-350.. it's not any better at price/performance, and that's ASSUMING that street price will be anything like MSRP (what with all the gouging on 8800GT going on and all).

I agree.

Also, this is a very good sign that the new high-end will totally kill the current one for sure. I mean these are the "next-gen mid-range" card you know.

 

[jonks]

Don't think I'll be using my step-up on this one. Hope they offer something else before february!

 

[lavaheadache]

Originally posted by: Cheex

Originally posted by: razor2025
GTS barely beats GTX... It's well within statistical error. I'd say the new GTS is same performance as GTX in Crysis. It's not a bad thing, but at MSRP of $300-350.. it's not any better at price/performance, and that's ASSUMING that street price will be anything like MSRP (what with all the gouging on 8800GT going on and all).

I agree.

Also, this is a very good sign that the new high-end will totally kill the current one for sure. I mean these are the "next-gen mid-range" card you know.

no these cards are the next gen mid highend card.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Originally posted by: munky
Their noise measurements seem like BS. The 8800gt fan stays at 29% regardless if the card is under load or idle, how come they make it out to be so much louder under load?

Technically that's incorrect. I tested this when I received my card and just double-checked before I posted. The card starts to ramp up in the low 80c's and reaches 35% when temps hit 90C, I've also seen a number of other users post the same thing. Verified by running Rivatuner with Fan Setting Tab Open and Temp Monitor open at the same time. 35% is still low however since most are running their fans at 50%-75% to keep the card cool including me.

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: ManWithNoName

Originally posted by: munky
Their noise measurements seem like BS. The 8800gt fan stays at 29% regardless if the card is under load or idle, how come they make it out to be so much louder under load?

Technically that's incorrect. I tested this when I received my card and just double-checked before I posted. The card starts to ramp up in the low 80c's and reaches 35% when temps hit 90C, I seen a number of other users post the same thing. Verified by running Rivatuner with Fan Setting Tab Open and Temp Monitor open at the same time. 35% is still low however since most are running their fans at 50%-75% to keep the card cool including me.

Even so, at 35% the card is still quiet. That wouldn't explain why the review makes it look like it reaches 2900xt levels of noise.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Originally posted by: munky

Originally posted by: ManWithNoName

Originally posted by: munky
Their noise measurements seem like BS. The 8800gt fan stays at 29% regardless if the card is under load or idle, how come they make it out to be so much louder under load?

Technically that's incorrect. I tested this when I received my card and just double-checked before I posted. The card starts to ramp up in the low 80c's and reaches 35% when temps hit 90C, I seen a number of other users post the same thing. Verified by running Rivatuner with Fan Setting Tab Open and Temp Monitor open at the same time. 35% is still low however since most are running their fans at 50%-75% to keep the card cool including me.

Even so, at 35% the card is still quiet. That wouldn't explain why the review makes it look like it reaches 2900xt levels of noise.

I agree and was not arguing that point. Noise levels really depend on what review you read. Guru3D has the 8800GT at 44 Dba and the HD 3870 at 40-41 Dba. Almost a wash.

 

[MTDEW]

no these cards are the next gen mid highend card.

And thats what sucks, we're being "re-sold" basically the same performance we were sold last year with the GTX.
I dont care for this new trend.

Also, that review is a total waste.

Is there anyone running their 8800GT at 600/1800/1500, im willing to bet not.

I have three different brand named 8800GT's here and they all do 650/1940/1625 EASILY and then some.

I would have thought with the dual slot cooler Nvidia would have at least stock clocked the V2 GTS at 700/2000/1750 to make it stand above the 8800GT more.
And heck most 8800GT cards will do those speeds also.


So far , here is what i see.

The V2 8800GTS is a waste of $$$ over an 8800GT

And i dont think it was a "bug" as some call it that the 8800GT's came with the fans at 29% speed, and no separate 2d/3d clock settings and a single slot cooler.
I think it was an attempt to limit the 8800GT's overclock potential so the
V2 8800GTS would outpace the 8800GT more easily.

Anyone can clearly see the V2 8800GTS isnt much of a step up from the 8800GT at all.

I agree with what was said above.....clock the 8800GT and the V2 8800GTS at the same speeds and lets see what the V2 8800GTS has to offer over the 8800GT.

Because at this point, i'd much rather see Nvidia start selling the dual slot coolers on those V2 8800GTS's to us 8800GT owners.

Why would a gtx lose in higher resolution in Crysis? It should be the other way around since GTX has more memory bandwidth and gts has the raw fillrate to win over in lower resolutions. I rather see a official review from a quality site. Every time tweaktown is the first ones to benchmarks because they want more hits or something.

Yeah, i thought the same thing when i bought my wife an 8800GT for her pc and i clocked it at 700/1950/1700 and it lost to my 8800GTX in Crysis at 1920x1200 by 1fps.
I cant explain it either, but thats the way it is.....Needless to say i traded my 8800GTX for an 8800GT + $$$ and i dont regret it in the least bit, by the time an 8800GT cant play newer games at higher resolutions, neither will the 8800GTX, 8800 ultra or the V2 8800GTS from what i can see.

 

[aldamon]

Originally posted by: ManWithNoName
I agree and was not arguing that point. Noise levels really depend on what review you read. FiringSquad has the 8800GT at 44 Dba and the HD 3870 at 40-41 Dba. Almost a wash.

Except when you realize decibels are algorithmic and 44 Dba is a lot louder than 40 Dba.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Originally posted by: aldamon

Originally posted by: ManWithNoName
I agree and was not arguing that point. Noise levels really depend on what review you read. FiringSquad has the 8800GT at 44 Dba and the HD 3870 at 40-41 Dba. Almost a wash.

Except when you realize decibels are algorithmic and 44 Dba is a lot louder than 40 Dba.

Yes, I understand that, but it would really depend on how "algorithmic" your ears are. Everyone's perception of sound is different. Looking at the chart in the link below you'll see 41 dBAs is in between quiet to moderate, while 44 dBAs falls just into the upper range of the same. Whether this difference equates to "a lot louder" is really in the ear of the beholder.

http://img527.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dbagc9.jpg

 

[ManWithNoName]

Originally posted by: MTDEW

So far , here is what i see.

The V2 8800GTS is a waste of $$$ over an 8800GT

Anyone can clearly see the V2 8800GTS isnt much of a step up from the 8800GT at all.

Why would a gtx lose in higher resolution in Crysis? It should be the other way around since GTX has more memory bandwidth and gts has the raw fillrate to win over in lower resolutions. I rather see a official review from a quality site. Every time tweaktown is the first ones to benchmarks because they want more hits or something.

I agree and hopefully this review is a bit off, otherwise I won't be stepping-up to anything.

Regarding the Review in general, over on Guru3D you can't even post a link to to it as Guru3D blocks the Tweaktown site due to past indiscretions for supposedly breaking NDA's. According to Hilbert, no benches should have been released on these cards for another two weeks.

 

[MTDEW]

I just "downclocked" my e6600from 3.6ghz to 3ghz (9x333...same as tweaktowns quad)
And set my 8800GT to V2 8800GTS clock speeds.


Winxp Pro SP2 32bit
e6600@3ghz (9x333)
4gb DDR2
8800GT at 650/1940/1625

Ran the Crysis GPU bench at 1920x1200 with HIGH settings. (no tweaks!)

My 8800GT got 25.96 avg fps VS the V2 8800GTS got 26.96 avg fps in tweaktowns bench. (1fps exactly...imagine that)

I know thats hardly scientific since it wasnt run on the EXACT same hardware, but im betting its pretty darn accurate since as i said earlier...i had an 8800GTX and my 8800GT ran Crysis about 1fps slower at 1920x1200 which is pretty close to what the 8800GTX does in tweaktowns benchmark also, their 8800GTX beats my 8800GT by about 1fps also.

Now saying all that , i wanna see min fps numbers too in a review so I can compare.
Because they are just as important as avg fps if not more importatnt.

 

[fleshconsumed]

Glad to see a review before the launch. As expected it bests GTX at 1920, although the tests were done without AA/AF, with AA/AF enabled I'd still expect GTX to pull ahead at 1920+ resolutions. However, I myself don't see much benefit in running AA at 1920 so this is good news for me. The card is already faster than GTX and approaches ULTRA levels at 1920 resolution in crysis. Overclock it a little more and it just might be playable at that resolution.

Compared to GT it's not much of an improvement averaging 7-20 percent (crysis excluded) depending on a game so it will all come down to pricing. If the new GTS will cost $300+, it's a questionable buy considering DELL sells MSI GT at $225 shipped. However, seeing how newegg sells GT for $270-320, should dell go out of stock or raise price then 8800GTS with dual slot might be more attractive option assuming it doesn't stray much higher than $300.

In any case, too many ifs to decide right now, we'll have to see on the launch date. I'd venture to say that the next card after this from nvidia will be GX2 variant, which I have zero interest in, so I'd rather buy new GTS now until nVidia comes out with new single card next gen card.

 

[VStrom]

Originally posted by: MTDEW

Why would a gtx lose in higher resolution in Crysis? It should be the other way around since GTX has more memory bandwidth and gts has the raw fillrate to win over in lower resolutions. I rather see a official review from a quality site. Every time tweaktown is the first ones to benchmarks because they want more hits or something.

Yeah, i thought the same thing when i bought my wife an 8800GT for her pc and i clocked it at 700/1950/1700 and it lost to my 8800GTX in Crysis at 1920x1200 by 1fps.
I cant explain it either, but thats the way it is.....Needless to say i traded my 8800GTX for an 8800GT + $$$ and i dont regret it in the least bit, by the time an 8800GT cant play newer games at higher resolutions, neither will the 8800GTX, 8800 ultra or the V2 8800GTS from what i can see.

Because the GTX & Ultra have a higher memory bus speeds. The V2 GTS is only 256-bit.

 

[MTDEW]

Because the GTX & Ultra have a higher memory bus speeds. The V2 GTS is only 256-bit.

I know, thats why i said i was shocked her 8800GT lost to my 8800GTX by only 1fps.

Im stumped, it doesnt make sense, but seriously its true...otherwise i'd still have my GTX.

Look at tweaktowns review benching Crysis....V2 8800GTs 26.96 vs 8800GTX 26.38.

 

[child of wonder]

Looks like a nice card but my 8800GT comfortably runs at 700/2000 so I don't see the need to upgrade.