Comparing video cards..

[XHavoc]

-------------------
My current card
-------------------

Model
Brand ASUS
Model EN8500GT TOP/HTP/256M

Interface PCI Express x16
Chipset Manufacturer NVIDIA
GPU GeForce 8500GT
Core clock 600MHz
Stream Processors 16
Memory Clock 1400MHz
Memory Size 256MB
Memory Interface 128-bit
Memory Type GDDR3
3D API
DirectX DirectX 10
OpenGL OpenGL 2.0
Ports
D-SUB 1
DVI 1
TV-Out HDTV / S-Video / Composite Out

RAMDAC 400 MHz
Max Resolution 2048 x 1536

Windows Vista Certified for Windows Vista
HDCP Ready Yes

--------------------------------------------------------
My older card
--------------------------------------------------------

Brand EVGA
Model 256-P2-N549-T2

Interface PCI Express x16

Chipset Manufacturer NVIDIA
GPU GeForce 7600GS
Core clock 400MHz
PixelPipelines 12

Memory Clock 800 MHz (effective)
Memory Size 256MB
Memory Interface 128-bit
Memory Type GDDR2
3D API
DirectX DirectX 9
OpenGL OpenGL 2.0
Ports
D-SUB 1
DVI 1
TV-Out HDTV / S-Video / Composite Out

RAMDAC 400 MHz
Max Resolution 2048 x 1536@85Hz
SLI Supported Yes

Operating Systems Supported Windows 2000/XP/XP x64/MCE 2005
System Requirements Minimum of a 400 Watt power supply.
(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 18 Amps.)

Features Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0
CineFX 4.0 Engine
Intellisample 4.0
nView Multi-Display Technology
----------------------------------------------------------------------------


So, by the numbers, is the 7600GS is better then my 8500 GT?

[Pser]

both pretty much suck, but: 1400MHz vs 800MHz memory.

[bclagge]

No, by the numbers the 8500 GT is better. The 7600 GS is a G73 chip and the 8500 GT is a G84 (or close to it). The 8500 has GDDR3 vs GDDR2. All of the clock speeds are higher on the 8500.

[XHavoc]

what would you recommend? I'm on a low budget. Oddly enough, though, I'm trying to figure out why, apparently, my 7600 GS is better then my 8500GT?

[bclagge]

Why is it apparent? Have you tested the two against each other or something?

How big exactly is your budget? I wouldn't buy anything less than an 8600 GT.

[XHavoc]

i asked over at the Xfire forums and someone said that the 7600 GS was better then the 8500GT. Also, my budget is, at max; $200

[XEDR]

$200?

Get a Radeon 3850 512MB (Newegg selling for $180). Smokes the 8600GTS (2x the performance of that)
Just sayin- A 8600GTS is already almost twice as fast as a 8500GT.

nVidia's 8800s haven't gone below 200 yet, unfortunately.

[bclagge]

The people at the xfire forums appear to be wrong, at least strictly on specifications. The two cards have mostly the same stats, except a few advantages the 8500 has, as I mentioned above. Perhaps the 8500 doesn't perform as well, but that would almost have to be a driver issue (if it's even the case).

The 8800 GT may dip below $200 if you are willing to wait a month or two. It's definately worth it. It's a smoking card. The 8600 GT is about $100 and the 8800 GT is about $240. nvidia doesn't offer much in between, except ramped up versions of the 8600. But it's still based on 128 bit memory, so if you want to spend the entire $200 on as much performance as you can, you can do better than any 8600. The 3850 as XEDR recommends is a fine card, somewhere between the 8600 GTS and 8800 GT. The 3850 is 256-bit which is what you are looking for.

[oldkawman1]

what would you recommend? I'm on a low budget. Oddly enough, though, I'm trying to figure out why, apparently, my 7600 GS is better then my 8500GT?

yes, for UT3 it is, but not for HD DVD playback.

Do yourself a favor and read this;
http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/...february_2008/

The very low end cards include the 8500GT, 8400GT, and 2400XT
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3128&p=2

[XHavoc]

yes, for UT3 it is, but not for HD DVD playback.

Do yourself a favor and read this;
http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/...february_2008/

The very low end cards include the 8500GT, 8400GT, and 2400XT
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3128&p=2

Your saying that my 7600 GS will run UT3 better then my 8500 GT?

[XHavoc]

bump.............?

[XEDR]

Your saying that my 7600 GS will run UT3 better then my 8500 GT?

Hmm...

I heard sayings that a 7300GT can rape a 8500GT in some cases, and a 7600GS, even though using DDR2 RAM, is moderately faster than the 73GT.

If you're thinking of an upgrade, don't. Definitely not worth it, and virtually a downgrade.

[XHavoc]

So I guess I should swap out my 8500 GT with my 7600 GS?

[SXTurbo]

Just do what I did. Get 2 8600GTs. Run them in SLi. I run the game 1440x900 (max) without a single hickup...ever.

You can get the cards for under $100 a piece usually.

The only game that I can't seem to run max is Crysis (go figure)

[bclagge]

So I guess I should swap out my 8500 GT with my 7600 GS?

Here's the thing. People have said yes, people have said no, but no one who posted really knows for sure or has anything to back it up. There are two ways you can find out for sure:

1. Search the internet for benchmarks/review of the two cards.
2. Test it for yourself. It's easy enough to switch them out. Use fraps to benchmark.

Personally, I think if there is a difference it's negligible and thus isn't worth the effort of looking into it.