What would YOU pick?

[djcool976]

I'm currently in the process of building a new rig and can't make up my mind about what I want.

I'm going with either an E8400 or Q6600, 4GB or DDR2 (800, 1000, or 1066), X38 chipset mobo, and a video card I have yet to be able to choose between.

So, what would you get?

8800GT 512MB
8800GTS 512MB
HD 3870 X2

I'd like for it to last a good long while. I may someday add a second card if I go with the X2 since I've chosen a crossfire board but I'm not sure. I've always been a big fan of Nvidia but with recent reviews, that may change.

Let me know.

 

[hans030390]

I think the HD 3870 X2 is supposed to be one of the best (if not the best) single cards on the market currently, so I'd go with that if money isn't an issue.

 

[Martimus]

I would either get a 8800 GTS 512 (because I don't like high pitched fan noise, and the GT supposedly has that) or the HD 3870 X2. I would definitley get the HD 3870X2 if it had better minimum framerates in games, because it supports DX10.1 and PCIe 2.0, and I have found that supporting new technology can sometimes be the difference between playing a game on your current system or having to buy new hardware to play it. (Bioshock only supported SM3.0, and my X800 XL only supported SM2.0, so I had to get a new video card to get the game; plus STALKER wouldn't run with dynamic lighting on SM2.0 - although it has since been patched)

 

[zeroburrito]

get the 8400 for the cpu, and if you can afford it, the 3870x2.

 

[krnmastersgt]

The 3870X2 is nice, but we have yet to see the specs and benchmarks on the 9800X2, maybe wait a tad before diving in? The 9 Series is scheduled to start coming out at the tail end of the month, not too long a wait imo.

 

[nanaki333]

if you waited to see the specs on every new card that comes out, you'll never upgrade. there's always something coming out in the next month or so

 

[Doclife]

SLI makes sense only when you buy 2 cards NOW. By the time you get around to buy a second card, there will probably be a better and faster card that will spank the SLI of the last generation high ends. Case in point: a single 8800GT 512MB today will beat the SLI of 7950GT (high end of the last generation). I think the best approach is to build a system that meet your needs now at the lowest cost possible and save the money for faster, better and cheaper next build.

 

[MarcVenice]

Rather save some money by buying a p35 mobo instead of a x38, and go with the HD3870 X2 over the 8800gt or 8800gts. Nets you more performance in the end. And some higher-end p35 mobo's support crossfire as well.

 

[nitromullet]

The 8800GTS 512 has been a good, solid, relatively quiet card. I wasn't too crazy about the 8800GT because of the noisy fan, but its performance is pretty nice for the price. Between those two, I'd recommend the GTS.

As far as the 3870X2 goes... it looks likes it's the new overall top performer, and that's never a bad thing. I haven't decided if I want to swap out my GTS for one of these or not yet.

 

[Quiksilver]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Rather save some money by buying a p35 mobo instead of a x38, and go with the HD3870 X2 over the 8800gt or 8800gts. Nets you more performance in the end. And some higher-end p35 mobo's support crossfire as well.

--nevermind what I had here before since the review was updated for correctness---

Anyway, I'm kind of in the same boat, except I'm waiting until the end of march to see if X48 and Q9450's finally launch, and if they do I plan on picking those up.

 

[MarcVenice]

Back it up with a review/url link please ? I'd love to see for myself

 

[Quiksilver]

Can't, they review was updated to make a correction which canceled out what I had said.

So now I'll just agree with you.

 

[Skunkwourk]

3870 X2, for me it would be a great card now, and a nice entry into the world of Crossfire.

 

[AzN]

I would go with E8400. Much better overclock than a Q6600. Almost all games are geared towards 1 or 2 cores which E8400 can take advantage of.

As for vid.. 8800gts 512 meg and call it a day. Not the fastest but still very respectable for the price and up there with 8800gtx far as raw performance goes.

 

[Blacklash]

E8400 + P35 + 8800GTS 512Mb.

The GTS will give you more reliable consistent results across a wide variety of titles.

I like the below table. It shows cash spent and performance returned for that investment-

http://img229.imageshack.us/im...2937/perfdollargp0.gif

The HD 3870 X2 was used as a base line. Price vs performance the HD 3850 256Mb and the 8800GT 512Mb are top of the heap. I'd definitely get the 8800GT between those two. Extra ram will help with filtering and titles with large textures.

There's a very recent review with a 8800GTS 512Mb-

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...ek-px8800gt-512mb.html

 

[taltamir]

E8400 with a P35 mobo... and wait a month to do it to see what the geforce 9 brings to the table. And then choose the best single GPU card for the money.

 

[jdkick]

Unless you have a specific requirement for four cores, I say go with the E8400.

You should be fine with good DDR2-800.

Skip the X38 - a decent a P35 does pretty much the same stuff for quite a bit less $$$.

Personally, the 3870 X2 is more $$$ then i'd consider for a video card. Between the 8800GT/GTS... it's a matter of priceerformance (a little more $$$ for a little more performance) and potential for single- vs dual-slot cooling solutions. Providing you even stay with the stock cooler. Something like the Accelero S1 could take fan noise out of the picture for not much $$$.

 

[Sylvanas]

I'd go with the E8400, P35, DDR2 800 and a 3870X2.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: Blacklash
E8400 + P35 + 8800GTS 512Mb.

The GTS will give you more reliable consistent results across a wide variety of titles.

I like the below table. It shows cash spent and performance returned for that investment-

http://img229.imageshack.us/im...2937/perfdollargp0.gif

The HD 3870 X2 was used as a base line. Price vs performance the HD 3850 256Mb and the 8800GT 512Mb are top of the heap. I'd definitely get the 8800GT between those two. Extra ram will help with filtering and titles with large textures.

There's a very recent review with a 8800GTS 512Mb-

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...ek-px8800gt-512mb.html

doesn't the 3870 x2 consistently beat the gts across a wide variety of titles?

+

that graph doesn't mean anything. where r they getting their "performance" numbers from?

 

[lopri]

Well we all know that price doesn't go up in proportion to performance. I don't think anyone should buy 8600 or 2600 at this time no matter how price/performance is good according to that chart. Said that, my vote goes to 8800 GT which can be had for ~$220. GTS is nice but the price premium is a bit too high. After years of dealing with dual-slot cards, I think single-slot cards look sexier than ever. It was a big consideration when I sold my 8800 GTX for a 8800 GT and a HD 3850.

 

[MegaWorks]

I would pick the HD 3870 X2, but go with a P35 board unless you want to do CrossFire in the future. I bought an X38 for CrossFire, I have a HD 3870 and I'm still waiting for a good deal to get my second one.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Martimus
I would either get a 8800 GTS 512 (because I don't like high pitched fan noise, and the GT supposedly has that) or the HD 3870 X2. I would definitley get the HD 3870X2 if it had better minimum framerates in games, because it supports DX10.1 and PCIe 2.0, and I have found that supporting new technology can sometimes be the difference between playing a game on your current system or having to buy new hardware to play it. (Bioshock only supported SM3.0, and my X800 XL only supported SM2.0, so I had to get a new video card to get the game; plus STALKER wouldn't run with dynamic lighting on SM2.0 - although it has since been patched)

Umm, all three of the cards he's considering are PCI-E 2.0.

 

[djcool976]

yeah, I'm trying to get as future proof as possible. If I go with Nvidia I'll go with something like EVGA for the step-up program. I mainly want something that will last me a good long while as I don't get to upgrade all that often. I do appreciate all the response so far. Keep it coming.

 

[lopri]

Then go with any EVGA card. 9800GX2 will come within the next 90 days. 99% for sure.

 

[Blacklash]

I've used the HD 3870 X2. Too hot, too loud, and too unpredictable. The reason to own a card like the HD 3870 X2 would be to push a 2560x monitor and since you can't count on its performance that's a wash. In some titles Crossfire causes a performance hit and in others it simply doesn't work, then you get left with a little less than single HD 3870 performance. It some titles Crossfire causes very bad stutter. You can disable on board Crossfire by turning off CAT AI which also disables all driver fixes for various titles.

You need to connect the HD 3870 X2 to a monitor that a single HD 3870 can push because in some scenarios that will be the performance you are left with.

Something as low cost as an 8800GT you overclock may run up to a 1920x monitor fine.

Sure a HD 3870 X2 will beat an 8800GTS 512Mb in some titles and in others it will fail horribly while the GTS still puts up solid playable FPS.

Yes the 8800GTS has more consistent and reliable performance across a wider variety of titles. You never see that card performing in some titles like the HD 3870 X2 does in SupCom, Gothic 3, and NWN2. See how it goes down to an 8800GTS in Lost Planet @ 1920x?

http://www.driverheaven.net/re...2Review/lostplanet.php

Loses in WiC-

http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/AMDX2Review/wic.php

Crysis-
http://www.driverheaven.net/re...AMDX2Review/crysis.php

That is unacceptable for a card that costs that much. You fellows that have never touched a HD 3870 X2 keep pimping it I feel sorry for folks that fall for it.

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS

Originally posted by: Blacklash
E8400 + P35 + 8800GTS 512Mb.

The GTS will give you more reliable consistent results across a wide variety of titles.

I like the below table. It shows cash spent and performance returned for that investment-

http://img229.imageshack.us/im...2937/perfdollargp0.gif

The HD 3870 X2 was used as a base line. Price vs performance the HD 3850 256Mb and the 8800GT 512Mb are top of the heap. I'd definitely get the 8800GT between those two. Extra ram will help with filtering and titles with large textures.

There's a very recent review with a 8800GTS 512Mb-

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...ek-px8800gt-512mb.html

doesn't the 3870 x2 consistently beat the gts across a wide variety of titles?

+

that graph doesn't mean anything. where r they getting their "performance" numbers from?