8800GTX or 9800GTX if SLI in future?

[Dave Williamson]

Hi

Well thanks to a load of great advice in a previous thread I was about to order the items listed below, but as I was giving my order to a really helpful bloke on the phone at OverClockers, I asked if he thought that everything would go together ok...

After him asking if I intended to SLI (The mobo was the clue) I answered "Yes... Eventually".. and that my thoughts were to run the system with a single card for a while, maybe a year or so and then to upgrade in the future by slapping in another 8800GTX and a newer faster processor..

The advice then given to me was to maybe go for a 9800GTX instead (Exact same price, exact same brand) as there was a very good chance that the 8800GTX's would be impossible to get my hands on further down the road, as production of them had already stopped.. whereas getting another 9800GTX at that time shouldn't be a problem.

Seemed like sound advice to me but not wanting to rush into anything I told the guy that I'd do some research and get back to him... He has given me an order number so that we can get the process started again when I ring back.

But Problem!!!!................... I've been searching these forums and it would appear that the 9800GTX gets slated by so many...

I understand that the 9800GTX isn't really an upgrade to the 8800GTX which seems to be the main issue with a lot of people, and used to be more expensive so not worth it, but from my position, if I'm looking at the same price for either card and wanting to SLI in say 12 months from now, would I be better off going for the 9800GTX as suggested??

The only downside that I can see is that I'll be running games at 1920/1200 res which seems to be where the GTX8800 takes over if I've understood everything correctly

Anyway, I'm holding off ordering till I get some feedback from you guys so don't be shy, I'd like to hear your opinions please??

Cheers
Dave.

* Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 Stepping (2.4GHz 1066MHz)
* Tuniq Tower 120-LFB CPU Cooler
* XFX GeForce 8800 GTX Extreme 768MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express)
* OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-8500C5 1066MHz Reaper HPC Edition
* MSI P7N Diamond nForce 780i SLi (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2
* Antec Nine Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case
* Corsair HX 620W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU
* Samsung SpinPoint F1 1TB SATA-II 32MB Cache
* Creative Fatal1ty Gaming Headset
* Samsung SM-2493HM 24" Widescreen LCD Monitor

 

[zero-one]

8800gtx at that res.

 

[LoadsaMoney]

Yeah id just get an 8800 GTX as it is the better card, as i couldn't say wether i was going to go SLi that far down the line, be much better cards out then (well hopefully lol).

 

[AgedIdiot]

Without trying to start a riot would say Am running 9800GTX at 1920x1200.& no prob's .It performs well runs cool & quiet.

Have read a few reviews and overall the 8800GTX looks to be the better card.

But do not see either the 8800GTX or the 9800GTX being easily available (except 2nd hand) in a years time for SLi.

The 8800 GTX was/is very unusual to still be around and top dog after over a year.

New nvidia cards are due I hear in june.

P.S. have tried Sli twice - was not impressed on either occasion. Too much cost,noise and heat for too little actual 'usable' gain for my liking

 

[Happy]

Another vote for the 8800GTX.

 

[Dave Williamson]

Well my decision has been made, OC have just dropped the price of the XFX 8800GTX down to 149.99 +VAT again so I'm taking the money and running!!

Sorry 9800GTX, you were ever so nearly in the running but I think I'm gonna be happy with the 8800GTX, especially at that price..

Thanks for the input fella's

Dave.