XFX 8800GT 256mb Vs Sapphire HD 3870 512mb

[kutmasta]

It has come down the the two cards.

The XFX is £130, and the 3870 is £150 based on the best prices I've found.

I will have 2 gigs of RAM and a X2 3800+.
I've got a 18" LCD, so I'm running at 1280x1024
I assume my PSU is up to it, its a 535w Enermax.

Looking at the reviews, the 8800GT is better at lower resolutions without AA/AF, but the 3870 is superior at higher resolutions with AA/AF. So would I be right in thinking that with better drivers from ATI/AMD, the 3870 has more potential to be a better card?

Cheers guys.

 

[Indy500]

Possibly. But you're limited to 1280x1024, where 256MB isn't a limitation (not yet, anyway).

 

[willhub]

I'd jsut get an 8800GT 512mb which is faster than a 3870 at any res but then again not long untill the 9800's.

 

[Lightnix]

You could pick up a 512MB 3850 which, while not fast across the board is cheap and won't be limited by memory constraints?

According to this review, a 720/900(1800) 512MB 3850 is only very slightly behind the 3870.

Here.

Just wait for this to materialize.

 

[LoadsaMoney]

Id get 512mb now at any res, were past the days of when 256mb was good enough for low res's, 512mb minimum now.

 

[kutmasta]

I'd jsut get an 8800GT 512mb which is faster than a 3870 at any res but then again not long untill the 9800's.

I'd love to, but I don't have the money. £150 is basically the limit. And I'm probably going to rebuild my system next year anyway.

 

[Scougar]

3850 512mb if your short for cash, can pick up a pre-oc'd one (say 720mhz on the core) for very cheap (even on OCUK).

With hdr and aa, you'll really want the 512mb over the 256mb.

Lastly, take the money you saved by getting the 3850 (you can overclock it more if needed) and put it towards a better monitor (say the ocuk 24" for a mere 229 at the moment!!!!), and sell your 18" (did you mean 17" or 19" as no 18"'s were ever made I don't think?), and put it towards that

Matthew

 

[kutmasta]

3850 512mb if your short for cash, can pick up a pre-oc'd one (say 720mhz on the core) for very cheap (even on OCUK).

With hdr and aa, you'll really want the 512mb over the 256mb.

Lastly, take the money you saved by getting the 3850 (you can overclock it more if needed) and put it towards a better monitor (say the ocuk 24" for a mere 229 at the moment!!!!), and sell your 18" (did you mean 17" or 19" as no 18"'s were ever made I don't think?), and put it towards that

Matthew

Its a Samsung Syncmaster 181T, which is supposedly 18.1"

How much difference is there between a pre OC'd 3850 compared to a stock, vanilla 3870(so not XT).

 

[Lightnix]

See the review I posted above in regards to the 512MB OC'd 3850. Very very small difference. Also, the 3870XT and 3870 are one and the same. The '70' part is supposed to make the 'XT' or 'Pro' extensions redundant. A 3800 would be equivalent to a 'vanilla' card.