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GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB or Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT

supra21

supra21

supra21

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24 Aug 2007
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231
which is better the GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB or Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT?

In most of the reviews i've read the ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT does not fair well compared to other cards; but the specs on the card are impressive, i'm confused.
 
I'm in the same predicament, and have really decided to just get whatever used card I can score as I don't have a lot to spend.

I'm sure I'll be happy with either one.
 
Both are excellent cards.

X2900 is a little louder and has more of a power draw but I believe that it's a little bit faster. With it being newer and with ATI's (AMD) excellent driver team backing it, it has a much more chance of improving than the 8800GTS (I think).

The 8800GTS 640mb is no slouch though and if silence is sought then I'd go for this. Both cards have excellent image quality so in that regard you can't really make a bad purchase.

So if you want a slightly faster (with room for improvement), louder and more power hungry card then the X2900 is for you. If you want a quieter system but with near to the exact power (at times) of the x2900 then go with the 8800GTS.

Either way you'll end up with a great card.

I hate to say this but do you know that there will hopefully be another Nvidia card out around the November period? (speculation). These cards will have DX10.1 and if you want something to last that little bit longer then hold off if you can. If you've got something decent enough to do you for a few months then I'd wait. If you are in need of a card then what about the x1950Pro 512mb?. I know this isn't in your question but I think you should consider it if your next purchase is expected to last a year or two.

Off topic

Please do not question me on my own opinions on the X2900XT and 8800GTS 640mb version as I'm really tired with some of the petty arguments I've had over this. All I do is try to help people out but get called a fan boy and blamed for defending a card when all I do is read and see for myself. Thanks.
 
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gurusan said:
Why do you recommend the 2900xt?
Click to expand...

Because I think its faster in the majority of games atm and i still think ATI will improve it some more with future driver releases, I still think the 8800 GTS 640MB is the better overall card, what with it using less power and it being quieter etc although at the end of the day its about how the individual card performs in games and like i said i think the 2900xt out performs the GTS 640MB in the majority of games.

You wont be disappointed with what ever card you decide to buy though.

would have be interesting to see if the cards were released nearer enough at the same time, as i would like to think Nvidia would have put more of an effort in with drivers but they didn't need to, what with no competition and their now focusing with their new cards.
 
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The raw spec's of the ATI should mean faster performance in future games that use shader based AA.Games that use mulisampling AA seem to mask the performance of the 2900xt IMO, but on the flip side the 8800 gts has more memory,much faster stream processors and a big head start with drivers.

If i had to pick id go with ATI.... then moan that it's to load and power hungry
 
well as i am bulding my pc bit by bit i can wait for new drivers/graphics cards but if i would have to buy now i probally will go for the geforce 8800 gts; mainly because i am buliding a pc with it being quite as the main priority. With all the information given above the 2900xt is too power hungry and noisy for my liking. Anways anyting is better than my current pc:

P4 HT 3.4GHz
1.5GB 2700 DDR
Geforce 6600!

As long as i can put all details on max at 1372x768 res and the game runns at 50-60fps i'm happy. Can't wait to see what a difference in gaming a Q6600 Quad core + 2GB DDR2 + 8800 GTS can do compared to my currnet pc!
 
well maybe I'll save up a bit more and go for the 2900xt...I've always had nvidia cards and am eager to try out ATI.
 
If AMD / ATi would just make a 2900 with a quiet cooler they'd sell millions of them - maybe one with a mini waterloop or a tec cooler for a £50 premium.
 
ATI HD2900XT thats what i would certainly go for.

One of my mates was deciding over the 8800GTS 640 or the HD2900XT 512, hes going for the HD2900XT.

Quick qustion, the Corsair 520 should be fine with the HD2900XT right? Rest of hes rig is, 2GB of Memory, One Hard Drive, couple of fans, not much at all.

One last thing, will the Corsair come with all the right adaptors and everythig to run the HD2900XT card?
 
supra21 said:
which is better the GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB or Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT?

In most of the reviews i've read the ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT does not fair well compared to other cards; but the specs on the card are impressive, i'm confused.
Click to expand...

Performance wise neither is better, and yes for the specs 2900XT is a very disappointing product considering the noise and power it consumes compared to the 8800GTS. btw, do you intend on overclocking the card?

LoadsaMoney said:
The 2900 is the faster card, even faster than the GTX/Ultra in some. :)
Click to expand...

In very rare cases it's equal to a GTX, In very rare cases it's equal to a X1950XT, in many cases it's faster then a GTS, in many cases it's slower then a GTS. :rolleyes:
 
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The 8800GTS 640 is proberbly faster in over 50% of games, I dont trust any of those reviews, they all seem to get it wrong.
 
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