Conclusion, Averages
In the end, NVIDIA has taken its time, but offers an exceptional card with the GeForce 8800 GT. For about $230 it nearly displays the power of a GeForce 8800 GTX (under 3%) twice as expensive, with the only downside being a slightly lower memory capacity (512 MB instead of 768 MB) and a bandwidth 10% lower than that of a GeForce 8800 GTS. However, in games, the latter is usually outperformed by 30% without filters (using the 320 MB version) by the GeForce 8800 GT and the GTX is only 12% higher. We have to say that the transition to the 65nm process meant the arrival of more than just a couple of G92 on a wafer. By the way, this chip boasts 754 million transistors. It’s small, consumes less than a GeForce 8800 GTS 320 MB, and the 8800 GT is also quite silent despite its single slot cooling system.
As a matter of fact, the only objective criticism that you can make today is that it has taken such a long time to arrive, because in the mean time, NVIDIA inflicted us with its GeForce 8600 which aren’t mid-range cards for gamers according to us, forcing us to side with the 8800 GTS 320 MB, and that’s in another price range. This is however old news and it’s all good, especially when you see how demanding this quarter’s games are, with Crysis leading the way.
It’s hard however, to finish this review without dropping a line on the fact that AMD’s response (Radeon HD 3000) will launch in two and a half weeks, and that even if the 8800 GT can’t be made into a bad deal, we still need to see what the Canadians have in store for us.
Award Best bang for the buck
- Positives
- Negatives
- Excellent performance/price ratio
- Decreasing power consumption
- Silence and card’s dimensions
- PureVidéo 2 and new multisampling transparent
- Why didn’t it offer such a card earlier?
Performance Round up
The averages obtained for each card and for each game exclude Crysis, however Crysis doesn’t change the ranking, but simply couldn’t be tested using the same resolution as the other games. Similarly, the numbers obtained with STALKER are found in averages taken without filters, but since the game hasn’t been tested with antialiasing on, it’s excluded from the averages taken with filters, which boosts the card’s results, STALKER being really demanding.
ah well, the 2900 pro (OC'd to xt) was still a good deal *tries to comfort himself*
lol
8800 GT puts the GTS in an bad price market now and not so smart buy now
8800GT looks like a real good midrange performer FOR THE MOMENT. I would not invest any money in a videocard upgrade, there are NO proven Dx10 cards out there. I would wait until Vista is sorted out and there are more than a `handful' of Dx10 games out there, otherwise you are just buying very poor attempts to deliver Dx10 performance on your PC.
If I really, really had to get a new card right now, it would be the 8800GT!
From my point of view as a more budget gamer, I hope that these new upper midrange releases push down the price of cards like the 8600GT and 8600GTS. I'm also very noise concious with my computers and it's good to see that the already relatively quiet 8800 series has contined in the same way.
I think it looks like a great opportunity for the owners of DX9 cards to comfortably come into the DX10 world. Still it is not that magic that will make me consider dealing in my 8800GTS 640MB - saving my pennies for the big fish early next year.
Seriously what did ppl expect? that gfx cards will stand still in time and not advance forward, with vista released i don't think microsoft will let hardware like the 8800gtx/ultra to sit at the top at a premium.
Since vista i trying for the masses they need hardware which can decently run it for the masses and priced for the masses.
Its good news for tech ppl etc who know the value from this, but how many ppl just want a computer that can play games decently and not cost a fortune? thats right everyone.
The tech has to advance like for win98 to winxp, everything takes time and the time has come for this.
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