The Test

For this test, we are using a high end CPU configured with 4GB of DDR2 in an NVIDIA 680i motherboard. While we are unable to make full use of the 4GB of RAM due to the fact that we're running 32-bit Vista, we will be switching to 64-bit within the next few months for graphics. Before we do so we'll have a final article on how performance stacks up between the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Vista, as well as a final look at Windows XP performance.

Our test platform for this article is as follows:

Test Setup
CPU Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800
Motherboard NVIDIA 680i SLI
Video Cards AMD Radeon HD 2900 XT
AMD Radeon X1950 XTX
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS
NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GT
Video Drivers AMD: Catalyst 7.10
NVIDIA: 169.01
Hard Drive Seagate 7200.9 300GB 8MB 7200RPM
RAM 4x1GB Corsair XMS2 PC2-6400 4-4-4-12
Operating System Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit


We've made use of a good handful of the latest games, but our format for this article is more focused on breaking out specific comparisons than the usual GPU review. We will be individually pitting the 8800 GT against the 8800 GTX, the 8800 GTS, the 8600 GTS, and the 2900 XT. We'll also take a second to look at how the 8800 GT compares against previous generation hardware. First up is our comparison with the 8800 GTS.

$199 or $249? Line Substitution: 8800 GT vs. 8800 GTS
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  • DukeN - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    This is unreal price to performance - knock on wood; play oblivion at 1920X1200 on a $250 GPU.

    Could we have a benchmark based on the Crysis demo please, how one or two cards would do?

    Also, the power page pics do not show up for some reason (may be the firewall cached it incorrectly here at work).

    Thank you.
  • Xtasy26 - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    Hey Guys,

    If you want to see Crysis benchmarks, check out this link:

    http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2007/1...">http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/.../2007/10...

    The benches are:

    1280 x 1024 : ~ 37 f.p.s.
    1680 x 1050 : 25 f.p.s.
    1920 x 1080 : ~ 21 f.p.s.

    This is on a test bed:

    Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 @2.93 GHz
    Asetek VapoChill Micro cooler
    EVGA 680i motherboard
    2GB Corsair Dominator PC2-9136C5D
    Nvidia GeForce 8800GT 512MB/Zotac 8800GTX AMP!/XFX 8800Ultra/ATI Radeon HD2900XT
    250GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 16MB cache
    Sony BWU-100A Blu-ray burner
    Hiper 880W Type-R Power Supply
    Toshiba's external HD-DVD box (Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive)
    Dell 2407WFP-HC
    Logitech G15 Keyboard, MX-518 rat
  • Xtasy26 - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    This game seems real demanding. If it is getting 37 f.p.s. at 1280 x 1024, imagine what the frame rate will be with 4X FSAA enabled combined with 8X Anistrophic Filtering. I think I will wait till Nvidia releases there 9800/9600 GT/GTS and combine that with Intel's 45nm Penryn CPU. I want to play this beautiful game in all it's glory!:)
  • Spuke - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    Impressive!!!! I read the article but I saw no mention of a release date. When's this thing available?
  • Spuke - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    Ummm.....When can I BUY it? That's what I mean.
  • EODetroit - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    Now.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Sub...">http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi...18+10696...
  • poohbear - Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - link

    when do u guys think its gonna be $250? cheapest i see is $270, but i understand when its first released the prices are jacked up a bit.
  • EateryOfPiza - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    I second the request for Crysis benchmarks, that is the game that taxes everything at the moment.
  • DerekWilson - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    we actually tested crysis ...

    but there were issues ... not with the game, we just shot ourselves in the foot on this one and weren't able to do as much as we wanted. We had to retest a bunch of stuff, and we didn't get to crysis.
  • yyrkoon - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    Yes, I am glad instead of purchasing a video card, I instead changed motherboard/CPU for Intel vs AMD. I still like my AM2 Opteron system a lot, but performance numbers, and the effortless 1Ghz OC on the ABIT IP35-E/(at $90usd !) was just too much to overlook.

    I can definitely understand your 'praise' as it were when nVidia is now lowering their prices, but this is where these prices should have always been. nVidia, and ATI/AMD have been ripping us, the consumer off for the last 1.5 years or so, so you will excuse me if I do not show too much enthusiasm when they finally lower their prices to where they should be. I do not consider this to be much different than the memory industry over charging, and the consumer getting the shaft(as per your article).

    I am happy though . . .

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