• Competitor rules

    Please remember that any mention of competitors, hinting at competitors or offering to provide details of competitors will result in an account suspension. The full rules can be found under the 'Terms and Rules' link in the bottom right corner of your screen. Just don't mention competitors in any way, shape or form and you'll be OK.

[8800 GTS 320MB + Vista] vs [7900GS + XP]?

mcwildcard

mcwildcard

mcwildcard

Soldato
Joined
29 Jun 2005
Posts
4,801
Location
London
Here's an interesting question, I currently have a 7900GS + XP and I've been looking at notching up to an 8800GTS 320MB.
I'm happy with my current FPS on games (generally BF2142), but due to issues with the card I figured I may as well 'DX10 up' my system.
I've also been considering going up to Vista, but have been concerned by the drop in framerates that gamers are having due to the shoddy drivers available.
So my question is, in general, will the 8800GTS + Vista beat the 7900GS + XP for performance in games?
(Obviously in time the drivers will get better and it'll be a no-brainer, but I want to know how it stands currently)

Oh and I can't be bothered to set up a dual boot. ;)

My system spec is thus:

E6300 @ 2.8GHz
2 x 1GB OcUK Value PC6400
GA-965P-DS3
Hanns-G 1440x900 Monitor
AC Silentium T1 Pro Case
500w Arctic Cooling PSU built into case
 
I've had a little nose about on google and from what little info I've found it would seem that the games with problems on Vista knock about 20% off the performance of the 8800GTS, which still means it'll beat the 7900GS.
Ooh, I'm getting excited, new card and new OS! ;)

God bless poker for giving me the funds to afford both! :D
 
melbourne720 said:
Hence the username I assume :D
Click to expand...
Hahaha! No actually!
I used to be an MC, but although I gave up the name stuck.
Wanted to be MC Joker, but knew that was taken by an established MC, so figured Wildcard was the next best thing.

God, I chose that name over a decade ago, that makes me feel old!! :(
 
melbourne720 said:
agreed, but given the choices I'm sure the 8800 GTS would still be faster in Vista than the 7900 GS in XP.
Click to expand...

While it's running...

The current driver situation is a fiasco - a disgrace, a scandal even. My X-Fi doesn't work either. I'm going to sulk. No actually, I'm going to play BF2142 on my XP rig instead :D
 
mcwildcard said:
I'm happy with my current FPS on games (generally BF2142)
Click to expand...

I think there lies your answer.

The 8800GTS will give better performance, when it works.

Why fix it if it ain't broken? :)
 
Tute said:
I think there lies your answer.

The 8800GTS will give better performance, when it works.

Why fix it if it ain't broken? :)
Click to expand...
Problem is, it IS broken!
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17699939&highlight=7900gs

So although I should be able to RMA it, I'd rather just sort out an upgrade now and be done with it! Vista is just a bonus really, but if there's serious BF2142 issues, then maybe I'll hold off on the new OS until it's a little more stable.
How annoying.
 
ati is leading the way with vista so wait till the r600 comes out round christmas time (if we are lucky :rolleyes: ) then upgrade imho
 
mcwildcard said:
Problem is, it IS broken!
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17699939&highlight=7900gs

So although I should be able to RMA it, I'd rather just sort out an upgrade now and be done with it! Vista is just a bonus really, but if there's serious BF2142 issues, then maybe I'll hold off on the new OS until it's a little more stable.
How annoying.
Click to expand...

Ah, didn't know that. :)

If you're going futureproof though, i'd certainly recommend finding the extra cash for the 640MB version.
 
Tute said:
Ah, didn't know that. :)

If you're going futureproof though, i'd certainly recommend finding the extra cash for the 640MB version.
Click to expand...
Suppose I could forget Vista for now and use the cash for that instead, it had crossed my mind tbh, but I tried Vista for the first time about a week ago and I thought it was excellent.
Much to think about!
 
mcwildcard said:
Suppose I could forget Vista for now and use the cash for that instead, it had crossed my mind tbh, but I tried Vista for the first time about a week ago and I thought it was excellent.
Much to think about!
Click to expand...

If you're happy with your system and don't see yourself changing motherboard any time soon, how about saving some cash by picking up the OEM version? As long as you don't break the EULA by changing motherboard, you'll save yourself over 50%.

You could also go down to Home Basic if you feel you don't need Aero.

Either way, the drivers may well be problematic for the 8800 under Vista. I have no experience of them myself, the time I did use Vista I was getting good performance with my X1950, i'm drawing from other users' feedback. Then again, nVidia are due a driver release soon, they may end up fixing a load of problems! :)
 
microsoft say that vista is 6 times faster than xp when it comes to games. so expect a 7600gt with vista to outperform a 8800gts with xp.

somehow i really doubt that will happen :rolleyes:
 
Tute said:
If you're happy with your system and don't see yourself changing motherboard any time soon, how about saving some cash by picking up the OEM version? As long as you don't break the EULA by changing motherboard, you'll save yourself over 50%.

You could also go down to Home Basic if you feel you don't need Aero.

Either way, the drivers may well be problematic for the 8800 under Vista. I have no experience of them myself, the time I did use Vista I was getting good performance with my X1950, i'm drawing from other users' feedback. Then again, nVidia are due a driver release soon, they may end up fixing a load of problems! :)
Click to expand...
What exactly does the OEM version pick up on?
I'm likely to stick with my DS3 mobo for quite a while, although my CPU is likely to change a few times, plus I'd like to grab some extra PC6400 at one point.
 
OEM picks up on mobo change mainly. Don't worry though, I have Vista Home Premium, and managed to re-activate no problem after upgrading from nforce4/amd to 680i and a 6600 :D Just took a phone call, which lasted about 10mins, and all was sorted ;)
 
mcwildcard said:
What exactly does the OEM version pick up on?
I'm likely to stick with my DS3 mobo for quite a while, although my CPU is likely to change a few times, plus I'd like to grab some extra PC6400 at one point.
Click to expand...

This is how I understand it;

XP/XP Pro would always reactivate 3 times.

Vista Full Product will always reactivate with hardware changes.

Vista OEM will activate only once online. After that you will have to speak to a human or automated voice system if you change the motherboard. Anything else should be fine and not require reactivation. When you get through to the Microsoft representative there is a question tree that you are taken through and unless you take the right branches at each step you are not allowed a reactivation code.

I believe that to give the right combination of answers would breach the rules of the forum, but I would suspect that the system is not unbeatable for the simple reason that as far as I know the person generating the reactivation code cannot see the make and model of motherboard you say you have. The automated system does know and it may be able to check from your hardware ID code. I don't think anyone outside Microsoft knows exactly how this is going to pan out long-term, but if in doubt, buy a full copy. With a full copy you can do pretty much anything and reactivate as long as you only use one copy at a time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom