Best 8800GTS(G92) to buy?

[newtekie1]

Well I finally re-saved enough to buy the 8800GTS(G92) I was planning on buying, but now I don't know which one to go with off newegg(or possible ZZF or ClubIT).

My first instinct is to go with the cheapest on possible, a stock MSI model or the stock XFX Model, for $299.99. I'll probably go with the XFX if I do this because of the warranty, and I have several XFX cards that have all treated me very well.

The problem I have with doing that, is that usually when I buy stock cards from manufactures that offer overclocked cards, the stock cards don't overclock that well.

So, my other option it to go with an overclocked card, the overclocked eVGA model looked good. And it comes with a free copy of Crysis, which means I would save on buying that.

However, I don't know what the difference between the A3 and AR versions of that card are. Other than the fact that the A3 comes with Crysis, they both appear to be identical.

So I need advice, what card should I get, keeping the price under $350.

 

[ZenZimZaliben]

I have been very happy with my MSI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127325

 

[largon]

*cough* Step-up *cough*

 

[candle_86]

agreed evga

 

[asb2106]

I have been very happy with my MSI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127325

this is the same one that Im looking at getting.....

What core and memory numbers can you hit with it, does it OC well?

Thats my main question, I plan to OC it as high as I can without any voltmods, I am going to WC it so temps will not be an issue, what card should I get to get the best OC results?

 

[farlex85]

You can't beat the step up. And in my limited experience it has ocd perfectly well. I've only pushed it to about 770/1090/2000, but it could go higher I'm sure. Throw in a lifetime warrenty with mods and some free crysis, and the choice for me at least became very easy.

 

[asb2106]

You can't beat the step up. And in my limited experience it has ocd perfectly well. I've only pushed it to about 770/1090/2000, but it could go higher I'm sure. Throw in a lifetime warrenty with mods and some free crysis, and the choice for me at least became very easy.

now how does the step up work? You have to exchange with a Nvidia card right?

 

[farlex85]

Yea, you trade in your current card for whatever upgrade your looking for w/ nvidia. So when the 9800s come out in just a couple of months you can get up to next generation. As far as I know you have to pay the difference between the price of the card you want and the price you paid on the gts.

 

[largon]

In "step-up" you send your card (eVGA only) to eVGA and choose the card you want to upgrade to and pay the price difference of your card and the one you upgrade into. They'll send you the card of your choice. Step-up can only be done within 90 days of purchase.

 

[candle_86]

but worth it.

 

[ZenZimZaliben]

The stepup is a nice bonus and evga cards are pretty good.

I have had my GTS to a core of 835. But my running specs are in my sig.

I havent seen higher overclocks on any 8800gts in this forum.

 

[asb2106]

In "step-up" you send your card (eVGA only) to eVGA and choose the card you want to upgrade to and pay the price difference of your card and the one you upgrade into. They'll send you the card of your choice. Step-up can only be done within 90 days of purchase.

and does it matter where you purchase the card from?

 

[asb2106]

The stepup is a nice bonus and evga cards are pretty good.

I have had my GTS to a core of 835. But my running specs are in my sig.

those are the results I am looking for, and I like the price on that card. Its gonna be a tough choice when I go to get it.

 

[newtekie1]

I really don't care about the step-up program. I don't like the idea of being out of a video card for 2+ weeks, but I guess it is worth it to some. I think the eVGA card is the card I will go with though, the lifetime warranty and free Crysis help make the desicion.

Though I am still worried about overclocking. If I get the base model eVGA, I'm worried it won't overclock that well, if it was capable of higher clocks then wouldn't eVGA sell it as such? And why are all their higher clocked cards back-ordered? Are the latest G92s not overclocking as well?

 

[ZenZimZaliben]

I was very pleased with the overclock I achieved with the MSI. The only thing I can say is my buddy got the base EVGA at the same time I purchased mine and it blew in less then 1 week. He did RMA and had a new one in about a week. This doesnt mean all evga's are like that. I am sure he was the minority.

The stock cards that are OC'd by the manufacturer are cherry picked, so yeah they will (Should) OC much better.

 

[largon]

asb2106,
It doesn't matter where you buy your card.
Here's some more details on eVGA step-up program.

 

[asb2106]

I was very pleased with the overclock I achieved with the MSI. The only thing I can say is my buddy got the base EVGA at the same time I purchased mine and it blew in less then 1 week. He did RMA and had a new one in about a week. This doesnt mean all evga's are like that. I am sure he was the minority.

The stock cards that are OC'd by the manufacturer are cherry picked, so yeah they will (Should) OC much better.

im thinking Im just gonna do the MSI, I noticed Tatty has a MSI card too and he got some great results with it also. Doesnt seem like a fluke to me.

Im only getting this card to hold me over till next gen (r700/9000 series), so when those come out I will be replacing my GTS and selling it.

 

[asb2106]

asb2106,
It doesn't matter where you buy your card.
Here's some more details on eVGA step-up program.

thank you, i was looking for this

After reading it, it makes alot more sense now.

 

[btarunr]

EVGA, for its 90 day step-up programme, safe investment as the GeForce 9 series is round the corner.

 

[newconroer]

The problem I have with doing that, is that usually when I buy stock cards from manufactures that offer overclocked cards, the stock cards don't overclock that well.

I'm going to have to say that this is down to your personal experiences, but goes against the norm of non-oc vs. oc cards. Unfortunatley not many consumers know that pre-flashed cards are generally 'runt of the litter' in that they have lower maximum clock capacities, and possibly less stability. This rule doesn't hold true every time of course, as people have had much success with pre-flashed cards, but it's something to consider.

I've always purchased stock/factory speed cards for the above mentioned reason, and that I can manage the clocking myself.


So take it into consideration.

As for brands, I always recommend Palit and possibly MSI (if applicable), followed by EVGA or XFX for warranties (non OC).

 

[candle_86]

agreed if anyone remembers the 7900GT debadacle from 2 years ago you will understand, the 7900GT got a bad name but it wasnt the stock cards crashing itwas the oc'd ones

 

[Grings]

I really don't care about the step-up program. I don't like the idea of being out of a video card for 2+ weeks, but I guess it is worth it to some. I think the eVGA card is the card I will go with though, the lifetime warranty and free Crysis help make the desicion.

Though I am still worried about overclocking. If I get the base model eVGA, I'm worried it won't overclock that well, if it was capable of higher clocks then wouldn't eVGA sell it as such? And why are all their higher clocked cards back-ordered? Are the latest G92s not overclocking as well?

From what i've seen so far, all gts's seem to be reference designs, so if any clock further it should just be down to a different (and relatively easy to obtain) bios (unlike some non ref 8800gt models that have different power circuits etc)

As for recommending which make, as they're all reference designs its just down to price/warranty, so i'd just go for the cheapest with a lifetime warranty (evga/xfx/bfg)

One thing to check, is whether you can even use the step up program, last time i checked, it was a USA only deal

 

[asb2106]

From what i've seen so far, all gts's seem to be reference designs, so if any clock further it should just be down to a different (and relatively easy to obtain) bios (unlike some non ref 8800gt models that have different power circuits etc)

As for recommending which make, as they're all reference designs its just down to price/warranty, so i'd just go for the cheapest with a lifetime warranty (evga/xfx/bfg)

One thing to check, is whether you can even use the step up program, last time i checked, it was a USA only deal

Thats some info I was looking for, if they are all the same and using the same mem chips and ciruitry design I have no reason to choose one over the other. Except for the warrenty, that would definitly make it worth it. But here comes a good question... Those warrentys are gone as soon as you put a different cooler on it right(and yes I would keep the air cooler around).

 

[newtekie1]

Thats some info I was looking for, if they are all the same and using the same mem chips and ciruitry design I have no reason to choose one over the other. Except for the warrenty, that would definitly make it worth it. But here comes a good question... Those warrentys are gone as soon as you put a different cooler on it right(and yes I would keep the air cooler around).

Yes once you modify the card the warranty is technically void. However, you can slap the old cooler back on and send it in for RMA if anything happens and the companies will honor the warranty anyway.

 

[funkflix]

The Zotac is good and cheap too!

Can clock it to ~ 820MHz core without mods and to 901MHz with Vgpu at 1,39V.