Confused! 8600GT or 3850

[OrbitzXT]

I bought a VisionTek 3850 to use in my new simple build for older games, such as WoW. I had some extreme issues with the 3850 where the screen went black and never came back, ATI support determined that the output was damaged or something, only Analog via VGA would work, Digital over DVI would not. So for a week I was using a friend's 8600GT he had laying around while waiting to RMA the 3850, and the 8600GT has actually be doing exactly what I need at max detail.

So NewEgg contacted me today saying a new sealed 3850 has been shipped out, and at this point I'm considering sell the 3850 on eBay which seems to be selling successfully for at least $180 (Which is what I paid). I'm considering buying a 8600GT of my own which goes for about $100, and some have rebates on them making them as low as $80. What should I do!? The extra cash would be nice I guess, and the 3850 is overkill for my extremely simple needs. I just want a simple system to hold me off until all the new goodies come out, cheaper 45nm chips, the supposed 9800GTX from nVidia, to play Starcraft II on.

 

[Darknova]

If all you want is cheap, the 8600GT, but personally I'd go for the 3850. Will last longer than the 8600GT. However from what you have stated you want to save up. So sell the 3850 and buy an 8600GT.

 

[theonetruewill]

Personally, from what you've said in your first post you already know the answer.

 

[hat]

I'd stick with the 3850 (if it works right this time). If you sell your 3850 and buy an 8600gt, you are crippling your performance, bottlenecking your CPU (probably), and the 3850 will last longer, and at the end of it all, you've made what, $80? Not even worth the time it takes to make the switch.

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

3850 .. no confusion nneded

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

3850 no doubt. Better price to perf value.

 

[OrbitzXT]

Personally, from what you've said in your first post you already know the answer.

I'm guessing you figured I'd go with the 8600GT? Cause if so you're right I remember seeing in the TPU an estimated release date of 45nm chips and estimated pricing. Does anyone know where I can find that again without digging through the archives?

 

[Sovereign]

I'm guessing you figured I'd go with the 8600GT? Cause if so you're right I remember seeing in the TPU an estimated release date of 45nm chips and estimated pricing. Does anyone know where I can find that again without digging through the archives?

Wow... talk about a major downgrade...

To each his own, I guess...

 

[OrbitzXT]

Eh like I said, it maxes out the games I play. The new high end nVidia GPUs are supposedly coming out in February according to what I read in one of the news articles on this site. I'll be building a new system then, that $100 can be put toward the new system.

 

[theonetruewill]

I'm guessing you figured I'd go with the 8600GT? Cause if so you're right I remember seeing in the TPU an estimated release date of 45nm chips and estimated pricing. Does anyone know where I can find that again without digging through the archives?

I did, and in the end, keep what you actually use. There's no point in buying a more expensive card that you don't need for what you do, and besides, you get to pocket the extra cash gained from selling it. It's part of the reason I'm not getting an 8800GT even though I have the money, at least for a while. My X1950XTX can run any of my games I want to play @ 1440x900 (My monitor's resolution) at Max settings with easily playable framerates. Thus, I don't need a new card, so I won't get a new card.

 

[WhiteLotus]

agree with above. no point in getting a better card yet if your current does all you need it to do at max.

 

[DrunkenMafia]

I can't see you getting what you paid for the card on ebay man... If people can buy it from a proper retailer for $180 then they will only pay around $150 max from you. Then you have to post it and then go out and buy another card etc... its a bit of a stuff around to get yourself 60 or so bucks. Then when you do buy the new nvidia big dog in feb the GT will sell for maybe $50 while the 3850 will still sell for over 100....

You might as well keep the better card for now and enjoy having the extra ponies there if the need does arrive...

 

[yogurt_21]

you built the rig for older games and you're running dx 10 hardware?

how about this, for older games, use older cards, an x1950 pro would be a much better option imho. lol

 

[Darren]

3850 would piss right on top of the 8600GT, it will also piss right on top of the x1950 pro. Dont be silly, keep the 3850, or get an 3870 if you want longevity

 

[Snipe343]

I personally would keep the 8600gt i have it and it runs all the games i play( WoW, StarCraft) it also runs Oblivion GOW and Bioshock on medium with decent frames.

 

[a_ump]

i would recommend the 3850 over the 8600GT any day, but since u only play WoW and u say it already runs all ur current games on max, then stick with that, but u did mention starcraft 2 and no one knows what graphical requirements that is goin to demand from your system, but seeing how poorly the 8600GT does on current dx10, its a good guess that it will probly only play SC2 on low settings.

BUT if u do plan on building a better system in feb then go with that, KEEP THE 8600GT and come feb when u said ur were planning on buildin ur system see what's out and then make a decision

 

[OrbitzXT]

you built the rig for older games and you're running dx 10 hardware?

how about this, for older games, use older cards, an x1950 pro would be a much better option imho. lol

The x1950pro cost more than the 8600GT, I'm also not crazy about the noise and heat output by ATI's older cards. As for getting what I paid, I've already seen new 3850's go for 180 or more on eBay. Their price is slowly going up, some are already over $200. I have it on sale for $174.99 and after only a couple hours already have 3 watchers...so I think I'll get something out of this.

 

[-=CrAnSwIcK=-]

the 3850 spanks the 8600gts, so the 8600gt is no contest...but again if you're just playing WOW then there's no point in spending more than 130$ at this point in time...i just bought an hd3850 on ncix.com for 185...

lol, orbitz...i used to be tech support for road runner high speed...most new yorkers were very impatient, and the people from kentucky don't know what an operating systems is....mind you these are people that think the internet is the road runner homepage...otherwise, most of us i'm sure can repair an internet connection ourselves

 

[JrRacinFan]

I say 8600GT if you had not purchased anything yet and REALLY REALLY need the cash. But, just noticed you already own the 3850, so stick with it! Great lil performing bugger!

 

[KainXS]

go for the 3850 512, its worth it

 

[OrbitzXT]

I can't see you getting what you paid for the card on ebay man... If people can buy it from a proper retailer for $180 then they will only pay around $150 max from you.

One bid so far at $174.99 with 14 hours to go! Bye bye 3850

 

[papubhai]

two 8600gts in sli cant beat 3850 even evga superclocked 8600gts i have just sold out cant beat hd 3850 refrence clocked .............ati rocks in $200 price range..8600gt hahhah u need quadsli or u will loose

 

[Athlon2K15]

a 2600XT will piss on a 8600GT

 

[papubhai]

if you play games on resilution below 1600x1200 u dont even need a 512 mb version stick with 256 mb save money use it somewhere else hd 3850 just rocks it like getting 2900xt for 200 us $

 

[OrbitzXT]

Mmmmk...go to sleep fanboys. I'm not really in the mood to go ATI again, I'm comfortable with the 8600GT since I know it specifically works fine for what I need and overclocked decently enough. Also the 8600GT after rebate is $79.99, if you read what I said earlier this is just to hold me off until February when nVidia's new GeForce 9 high-end cards come out and I build my new system. I just recently sold my Q6600 system with a 8800GT in it anticipating that it would soon be worth a lot less in a couple months when 45nm chips are cheaper and new video cards are out.