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

dragosmp · 12-06-07

Hello, I hope you can add some insight to this...

I have a 17" LCD which I don't intend to upgrade for at least one year, so the max resolution is 1280x1024.

I want a new gaming card as Crysis, Pro Street and other games need more bhp

The choices are:
1. In the red corner ATI 3850 256MB - 151€ shipped
2. In the green corner 8800GT 512MB - 240€ shipped

The difference in price is huge to say the least, 58%.

Considering I'm gonna play on 1280x1024, is there any point in getting the GT? The reviews claim the 3850 can run everything smooth, even with some AA/AF at this resolution.

I'm also thinking of the price - is there any chance of sudden drop in the price of either of these cards? I'm not seeing any new card targeted at the mainstream for the next months, so what I'm wondering is will the prices tumble as they did for the 8600GT/GTS?

*EDIT Thanks for the advices and please vote

linskingdom · 12-06-07

To be honest, go for 3850 or 3870 if your have 17” LCD and won't upgrade at least one year. That's best for your money. But 8800GT pawns ALL. The price of 8800GT should settle down a bit but don't expect that soon. It is a very hot toy.

namehater · 12-06-07

i would expect to see a drastic drop in price on the 8800gt shortly after the beginning of next year, probably $50ish id guess. you need to decide what size of monitor your going to buy in a year, i would plan for that, unless you dont mind buying a new video when you do that, personally, i would hold off until jan/feb and see what prices are looking like, then buy the 8800gt

Z_Vengeance · 12-06-07

Is there a reason you are not considering the 3870? Its a happy medium of price and performance between the 3850 and the 8800GT. At that small of a resolution 256Mb should be just fine.

dralb · 12-06-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z_Vengeance

Is there a reason you are not considering the 3870? Its a happy medium of price and performance between the 3850 and the 8800GT. At that small of a resolution 256Mb should be just fine.

Agreed. I would recommend the 3870 as it seems to fit your needs perfectly.

sepheroth003 · 12-06-07

8800GT pwns all...

why not wait just a week or 2 for the 256mb 8800GT? Go green and save yourself some green

maroon1 · 12-06-07

Get 8800GT

dragosmp · 12-06-07

First thanks, I'm gonna try to answer all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by linskingdom

To be honest, go for 3850 or 3870 if your have 17” LCD and won't upgrade at least one year. That's best for your money. But 8800GT pawns ALL. The price of 8800GT should settle down a bit but don't expect that soon. It is a very hot toy.

Even if it does fall by 50$, I'm not sure I can even begin to stress it at 12x10, unless I play Crysis on VH 8xAA/16xAF... on a 17" I see no point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by namehater

i would expect to see a drastic drop in price on the 8800gt shortly after the beginning of next year, probably $50ish id guess. you need to decide what size of monitor your going to buy in a year, i would plan for that, unless you dont mind buying a new video when you do that, personally, i would hold off until jan/feb and see what prices are looking like, then buy the 8800gt

I can't wait, that's the thing. Somebody offered me 80€ for my 8600GT, this is the best I'm gonna get so I have to sell it. A new one is 90€...I don't even get it, but if that's the way he wants it...
Besides, if I wait I can't play at all and this beats the whole purpose of the upgrade

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z_Vengeance

Is there a reason you are not considering the 3870? Its a happy medium of price and performance between the 3850 and the 8800GT. At that small of a resolution 256Mb should be just fine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dralb

Agreed. I would recommend the 3870 as it seems to fit your needs perfectly.

I have found some Vmods for the 3850 that lift the Vcore at 1.5V (from 1.2V stock) and 1GHz core is achievable. This is true for the 3850 and 3870 alike, so in my view the 3870 is the same card with more memory. Is this memory gonna help me at 12x10?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sepheroth003

8800GT pwns all...

why not wait just a week or 2 for the 256mb 8800GT? Go green and save yourself some green

It's this that ticks me, I'd like to wait, but a whole week without a VID card... I can't do it

I won't be able to do like... nothing, no games, no web, no movies and the worst of it is that I'll have to ask my wife's laptop to check my mail. Somehow I see the 8800GT 256MB at around 200$/€ a bit too much for my taste.

Here's some life experience: in this house each has it's own rig and I'm trying to respect this, if not I may find myself waiting some show to finish to play on my own rig - which is of course impossible. The separation of computers is the foundation of a good marriage.

Nevaziah · 12-06-07

At those resolutions, the 3850 is all you need. cehck out the reviews HERE.
Even at 1600*1200, the 3850 runs preety well.

3870 is cheaper than the 8800gt and performs very close. look at these benches. In some of the games the HD3870 actually PULLS AHEAD of the GT, so overall, I wouldnt say they are matched, but they are close. the price difference is a bonus. If you have the cash, get the 3870 (it's about 50$ more than the 3850)

dragosmp · 12-06-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nevaziah

At those resolutions, the 3850 is all you need. cehck out the reviews HERE.
Even at 1600*1200, the 3850 runs preety well.

3870 is cheaper than the 8800gt and performs very close. look at these benches. In some of the games the HD3870 actually PULLS AHEAD of the GT, so overall, I wouldnt say they are matched, but they are close. the price difference is a bonus. If you have the cash, get the 3870 (it's about 50$ more than the 3850)

Thank you, a very argumented opinion.

I had seen these reviews and yes, it looks like the 8800gt and the 3870 are quite balanced. The 3850 is made for budget/17"-19" gamers, so it's right for me.

I couldn't find reasons good enough to make me pay 60% plus for a 8800GT, so I'm going tonight for a 3850.

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

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Oppinions: 3850 256MB or 8800GT

12-06-07	#7 (permalink)
maroon1 New to Overclock.net Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 299 Rep: 36 Unique Rep: 25 Trader Rating: 0	Get 8800GT

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