8800GT 256MB or 9600GT or HD 3870 for 1280x1024 gameplay?

[Anusha]

Title says it all. The max resolution I can play games at is 1280x1024 on my Samsung LCD.

And I need a midrange VGA with best bang for the buck. I will only be using the card for a year.

8800GT 256MB is a really crippled card I know, but 1280x1024 should be alright eh? That is actually the cheapest card from the three I believe, and the best performer at 1280x1024. I might be wrong, and that's what I wanna confirm.

Just need you guys' thoughts on this....

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

8800gs

[Anusha]

Originally Posted by [I.R.A]_FBi

8800gs

Dude, I'm looking at either

1. 8800GT 256MB (256MB is important, because that is what that make the difference, because we all know the 8800GT has a superior core)
2. 9600GT 512MB
3. HD 3870 512MB

;nothing else.

[JrRacinFan]

Out of those 3. . . .

9600GT. If you got the cash for the 3870 though .....

[btarunr]

I'd pick 9600 GT simply because it outperforms HD3870. It sells for INR 7,500 where I live so it's a great buy considering what laughable prices for HD3870 we have here in India. So yeah, great value.

[Anusha]

Originally Posted by JrRacinFan

Out of those 3. . . .

9600GT. If you got the cash for the 3870 though .....

Are you sure the 8800GT wouldn't perform better than the rest at 1280x1024 res?

[btarunr]

Originally Posted by Anusha

Are you sure the 8800GT wouldn't perform better than the rest at 1280x1024 res?

Even at 1280x1024, 256MB is insufficient by today's standards.

[JrRacinFan]

Originally Posted by Anusha

Are you sure the 8800GT wouldn't perform better than the rest at 1280x1024 res?

I guarantee you, due to its 256MB.

[Anusha]

Originally Posted by btarunr

I'd pick 9600 GT simply because it outperforms HD3870. It sells for INR 7,500 where I live so it's a great buy considering what laughable prices for HD3870 we have here in India. So yeah, great value.

I only looked at newegg prices to see get an idea about the pricing.

cheapest 8800GT 256 goes for around $129
cheapest 9600GT goes for around $145
cheapest 3870 goes for around $160

[btarunr]

Originally Posted by Anusha

I only looked at newegg prices to see get an idea about the pricing.

cheapest 8800GT 256 goes for around $129
cheapest 9600GT goes for around $145
cheapest 3870 goes for around $160

What's your location? I'll tell you the price.

[Anusha]

Originally Posted by btarunr

Even at 1280x1024, 256MB is insufficient by today's standards.

Oh

[Anusha]

Originally Posted by btarunr

What's your location? I'll tell you the price.

I live in Sri Lanka, and trying to bring one down here from Singapore.

[CrackerJack]

Originally Posted by Anusha

I only looked at newegg prices to see get an idea about the pricing.

cheapest 8800GT 256 goes for around $129
cheapest 9600GT goes for around $145
cheapest 3870 goes for around $160

I would go for the 3870. It's only $25 more than the 9600GT, but i believe the 3870 will out perform. not really sure, don't have either one to know for sure.

[btarunr]

Go for the 9600 GT. It's aptly priced, performs great, 512MB of memory.

[Anusha]

Originally Posted by CrackerJack

I would go for the 3870. It's only $25 more than the 9600GT, but i believe the 3870 will out perform.

Actually the 3870 doesn't outperform 9600GT when AA is enabled.
The only reason why I would choose it over 9600GT is because of its 30W less idle power consumption and I believe ATI drivers are better than nVidia's (I'm on Vista)

But all this, only if they are the same price. If the 3870 is pricier, then I'd choose the 9600GT over it.

However, the most important thing I wanted to know was if 8800GT would do well at 1280x1024 res.

[DOM]

I think the 9600GT, is lil slower then the 8800GT and I think it better with the a/aa turn on then 3870

[Anusha]

I guess I will place 9600GT at first place and 8800GT 2nd until I get confirmation on the prices.

I only know that the cheapest 9600GT in Singapore is around 17500 in Sri Lankan rupees. I don't know about the pricing of the other two cards.

If the 8800GT goes for less than 15000, then I would be left in a spot of bother... :/

[ghost101]

Paying close attention to the 1280*1024 scores:

[btarunr]

Originally Posted by Anusha

I live in Sri Lanka, and trying to bring one down here from Singapore.

We get 9600GT here for 7500 Indian rupees. The one company I buy my sound-card stuff from, Bizgram in Singapore, sells it for ~$290 (SGD). You do the math. All I can say is the best bang for buck is the 9600 GT.

[Anusha]

So it (8800GT 256M) is not bad at all at 1280x1024 right? Only benchmark it got crippled results is COD4 with AA/AF (speaking of only 1280x1024 results)

[Anusha]

Originally Posted by btarunr

We get 9600GT here for 7500 Indian rupees. The one company I buy my sound-card stuff from, Bizgram in Singapore, sells it for ~$290 (SGD). You do the math.

Indian Rupee is more than twice as valued than SRL Rupee. So it will get to Rs.17500 anyway, which is the price I got for the Asus 9600GT (reference clocks) from Singapore.

I'm fine with the 17500 price tag, but the 8800GT is mouth watering

[Anusha]

Originally Posted by btarunr

We get 9600GT here for 7500 Indian rupees. The one company I buy my sound-card stuff from, Bizgram in Singapore, sells it for ~$290 (SGD). You do the math. All I can say is the best bang for buck is the 9600 GT.

BTW, I just checked their price list and the 9600GT (Leadtek Winfast PX9600GT 512M DDR3) can be had for SGD172!!!

[btarunr]

512MB means quite something in texture-heavy games. I'd still pick 9600GT simply for its 512MB and that it outperforms the HD3870 and gets real close to 8800 GT 512M

Here's a TPU chart of relative performance:

Originally Posted by Anusha

BTW, I just checked their price list and the 9600GT (Leadtek Winfast PX9600GT 512M DDR3) can be had for SGD172!!!

Even better.

[Anusha]

Originally Posted by btarunr

512MB means quite something in texture-heavy games. I'd still pick 9600GT simply for its 512MB and that it outperforms the HD3870 and gets real close to 8800 GT 512M

Here's a TPU chart of relative performance:

I think it will finally come down to the price and maybe a toss of a coin

[caldran]

9600gt is future proof according to some....but i ve heard it blacking out in shader intensive game...i am also stuck in the same dilemma...it all boils down to two...8800gs or 8800gt 256mb....then its all about money....buy the cheapest one.....if the difference is 20% then think of the higher one....