*Official* 8800 GTX/GTS Information Thread

[Syrillian]

Greetings,

Just wondering if anyone has pulled the stock HSF/Shroud off and taken a look at what is underneath? Also, what kind of aftermarket cooling have you seen? I am thinking ahead to next summer and I will probably try the DD 8800 water block. Opinions please...?

So... cooling is the concern. I'm okay now (52-54C idle / 67-71C Load).

P.S. still no go on the Splinter Cell Double Agent . I will have to run it on my secondary.

[tubnotub1]

Originally Posted by R@ZOR

Looking at my cpu specs do you think my cpu would bottleneck if i got a 8800gtx?

Unfortunately yes, your CPU will be a bottleneck for these GPUS. That being said, realistically, there is not currently a CPU on the market that is NOT a bottleneck for these GPUS. I do not believe the core 2 duos start showing diminishing returns on performance (ie, the GPUS becoming the bottleneck) until 5GHZ +. The real trick is, trying to decrease that bottleneck as much as possible, not trying to get rid of it completely.

And Syrillian, as far as I know the only aftermarket cooling that is currently available for our cards is the DD WB, and one other WB, I forget the companies name, I have yet to see any aftermarket air cooling. To be honest, I think that these cores are basically at their upper limits for the amount of voltage they are given. I can OC my card at 645/1020 and run 3Dmark '06 and keep tolerable temps (<75c). Unless your planning on a VMOD, I personally believe stock is good enough. The only reason I would currently consider water cooling or any other after market solution would be to free up afew PCI slots.

[PeteRock187]

I will be getting a 8800GTS soon, just wondering why you guys didnt go with a BFG and went with an EVGA? Which one is supposed to be better?

[hron]

yo tub ad me to the list for gts owners single for now, later ill have sli, and today my proc showed up on my other rig so ill also have sli gtx in a while too,

[tubnotub1]

Originally Posted by PeteRock187

I will be getting a 8800GTS soon, just wondering why you guys didnt go with a BFG and went with an EVGA? Which one is supposed to be better?

eVGA in most people's opinions have the best customer service / warranty in the industry. Their customer service is 24/7 and you also receive a lifetime warranty so long as you register your card. Lastly, they also have the 90-day step up program that allows you to put the purchase price of an old card towards a new model should you wish to upgrade.

[PeteRock187]

Originally Posted by tubnotub1

eVGA in most people's opinions have the best customer service / warranty in the industry. Their customer service is 24/7 and you also receive a lifetime warranty so long as you register your card. Lastly, they also have the 90-day step up program that allows you to put the purchase price of an old card towards a new model should you wish to upgrade.

Well BFG has great customer/tech support as well. My question was about performance. Which one has better specs and all around the best performance?

[R@ZOR]

ok, thanks
i plan on getting a quad core when they are released so until then do think that my cpu will effect the performance dramatically or should it be fine until i get my new cpu.. will it perform a lot better then my 6800gt with my cpu? or will it be holding it back that much? thanks for replying sorry if this is a stupid question but i would like to kno what to expect as i have to modify my case to install it lol

[Syrillian]

Thanks for droppping some names for coolers, tubnotub1. It get's really hot in my house during the summer, and I don't have A/C. I know it's a long way off (fortune smiles upon the prepared), but I wanna keep my Clock speeds, perhaps go a little further....so WC is where I am heading.

[stormlobster]

I'm getting the Swiftech Extreme GPU block and the G80 adapter kit. I'll tell you guys how it goes, it'll be my first time watercooling.

[tubnotub1]

Originally Posted by PeteRock187

Well BFG has great customer/tech support as well. My question was about performance. Which one has better specs and all around the best performance?

Currently Nvidia has told all 3'rd party manufactures to NOT sell their cards pre-overclocked. This was done (we can assume) so that a fiasco similar to the 7900 one did not crop up upon launch, which would have caused negative publicity, and created low sales. That being said, currently ALL cards sold (xFx, eVGA, BFG, Asus...etc) all ship with the SAME clocks. I have read however, that after December, Nvidia begin allowing pre-overclocked cards. Until then, the only differences are customer support, and fringe benefits. (step up program, free games, etc)

In response to R@ZOR, you will see a performance jump going from your 6800 to an 8800, and more then likely a very large one. A single 8800 would allow you to run all of your games at 16af and more then likely 16aa, considering the low resolution that your screen runs at, and will more the likely allow you to see a solid 30+ fps (probably alot more!) in all games, except for maybe oblivion. However, the best reason to get an 8800 series card would be for DX10 support. Once that comes out CPU bottlenecks will lessen, as physics, lighting, and other things that a CPU usually does will be moved to being calculated on the GPU!