Oppinions: 3850 256MB or 8800GT - Page 3 - Overclock.net

dragosmp · 12-08-07

double post

dragosmp · 12-08-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteCrane

Okay I see. So basicly, the less VRAM u have the more the GPU would need top work by clearing out the old VRAM and filling it up AGAIN more frequently and performing the same tasks in less VRAM, the same way less system RAM can bottleneck a CPU.

Makes perfect sense... I can;t believce I forgot the fact that higher resolution = higher image size... I make VERY careless mistakes easily lol.

Thanks!

My monitor is capped at 1050p. Its a widescreen. (I forgot the horizontal resolution)

Do I need a 512 card? to me, EVERY frame counts. We're talking about the PC in my sig.

I haven't tracked the theread 'cause I dont have a vid card any more, the 8600GT is gone and I'm waiting fot the 3850

The ram bottlenecks are trully how you describe them, with a small difference. When a GPU is too powerfull, it's left without Vram, so it's like a corvette running on ice, it can't really accelerate. Same with the CPU/ram, put a Q6600 with 512MB ram and it can't move.

I can't say if you need or not 512 Vram, but i think you do. In the advent you're buying a 3850 there are some games where the difference is important (Crysis) and for most of them there is a difference when applying filters (AA/AF). However, the 3850 does hot have enough bhp to really pull decent framerates higher than 1440x1050 WITH AA/AF, so you may as well use without filters.

For 1050p whithout AA/AF a 256MB 3850 is balanced imho.
If you add AA/AF at that res you'd need at least 8800GT 512MB, or 3850/3870 Crossfire... but I'm not a fan of multi-GPU because of the driver issues.

Cheers!

Source for the benches

Choggs396 · 12-08-07

If you want the best performance for the least cash, my vote is for the HD 3850 512MB. For less than $200 bucks it's an amazing deal.

I'm convinced that 512MB is the minimum you should get for VRAM these days, regardless of what resolution you're playing at. This post by Xenophobe backs up why I say this. (Granted it's comparing the 8800GT 256MB vs. 512MB ... the only difference is still the memory size, for comparison.)

EDIT: And like dragosmp's chart shows us above - the extra VRAM helps quite a bit in some cases with AntiAliasing, not just resolution.

EDIT: The price difference between the 3850 256MB and 512MB is a mere $20 ... so I'd say make the jump up.

dragosmp · 12-08-07

That's it, the price difference... here it's 50€, around 75$. It's dumb maybe, but the market in Europe works on totaly different rules. For 20$, 15€ I might have taken the 512MB, but not for 75$.

For som' in the US it may be a whole different story, but for my 12x10 LCD, 256MB will serve fine at least until the next year or so.

Choggs396 · 12-08-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragosmp

That's it, the price difference... here it's 50€, around 75$. It's dumb maybe, but the market in Europe works on totaly different rules. For 20$, 15€ I might have taken the 512MB, but not for 75$.

For som' in the US it may be a whole different story, but for my 12x10 LCD, 256MB will serve fine at least until the next year or so.

Ah, I didn't see you are in Europe. If $75 is the difference, then I can totally understand going for the 256MB version. Either way, they're excellent cards and I'm sure you'll be happy with either one.

Sorry about the prices over there, we have it too easy over here sometimes

.

kpo6969 · 12-08-07

8800gt 256

Lelouch · 12-08-07

It amazes me how anybody can say the 8800GT is a better deal than the 3850 for price-performance, especially for 1280x1024. Both cards will max just about anything out.. You made the right choice with the 3850. Good job saving 90€ by getting 10~FPS less

.

dragosmp · 12-08-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpo6969

8800gt 256

200€, the same price as a 512MB 3850 and the equivalent of 75$ more expensive than the 256MB 3850... I'm not sure it's worth it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lelouch

It amazes me how anybody can say the 8800GT is a better deal than the 3850 for price-performance, especially for 1280x1024. Both cards will max just about anything out.. You made the right choice with the 3850. Good job saving 90€ by getting 10~FPS less

.

it's blinding obvious, isn't it? I appreciate all the posts, and I thank you. However I wanted to have ideas from the $/fps pow, and this is one of them. Even in $, to spend around 70$ more for a 8800GT 512 or 30$ more for a 256MB doesn't pay off when any of the cards can run everything just fine.

Cheers!

View Poll Results: What do you think?
The 3850 is good enough for 12x10	19	37.25%
The 8800GT pawns all	29	56.86%
The prices will fall shortly (50$ or more)	6	11.76%
8600GT/S were too expensive to begin with	7	13.73%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 51. You may not vote on this poll

		Overclock.net - Overclocking.net > Graphics Cards > Graphics Cards - General
Oppinions: 3850 256MB or 8800GT

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)