Final decision...?

[Wii]

Card
PSU

What differences am I going to see 'between the XFX GeForce 8600 GTS XXX, XFX GeForce 8600 GTS (regular edition?) and the eVGA 8600GT. Performance type of difference? Because the XFX 8600 GTS XXX edition is $20 more and just wondering if that would be better then just the regular XFX 8600GTS or the eVGA 8600GT?

[GunnerMan]

No performance diffwerence really (Unless you factor in the factory overclock some companies give you). if the 8600GT is anything like the 8800GT all of the PCB is the same. The only difference to the card is the cool picture on the HSF and the companies support.

I say go with eVGA, you can find a factory OC version if you like, you get the step up program, and a great warrantee. they will honor the warrantee even if you overclock/replace the cooling as long as you put the stock HSF back on before RMA. Obviously they wont warrantee it if you say "HEHEH Im retarded this grafix card dosent OC well lets crank the core to 1500 and fry it so i can get a new one to try."

BFG is also a great brand.

You extra money you pay is for the quality of the company not for the card

[ctjoyce]

Here is a link explaining all the differences, but basically faster shader clocks and faster texture fill rates for the GTS.
http://www.nvidia.com/object/geforce_8600.html

As far as the whats the XXX mean? Same thing as the KO at the end of the eVGA cards. Basically all GPU manufactures start calling their cards with higher stock clocks cool names to get poor schmucks to buy the card cus its got a cool name

BTW you can get the same card from newegg for the same price, this way you can combine shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814150226

Cheers
Cameron

PS: everything looks good

[Wii]

How about an EVGA GeForce 8600 GTS?
That is good. Same price as the XFX with less memory and core clock speed. But if eVGA is a better company to by from; by-all-means I'm going with eVGA. They have a "super" clocked edition for $10 more but the overclocking makes me nervous. :-/

[ThatOnePerson]

How about an EVGA GeForce 8600 GTS?
That is good. Same price as the XFX with less memory and core clock speed. But if eVGA is a better company to by from; by-all-means I'm going with eVGA. They have a "super" clocked edition for $10 more but the overclocking makes me nervous. :-/

It's factory overclocked so it's guaranteed

[Slotback]

Get a Radeon X3850 instead.

Way faster and slightly more expensive. Power consumption is the same, so you shouldn't worry about any power issues compared to 8600.

http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/472/11

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102714

[GunnerMan]

eVga is great and like I said as long as you don't do anything stupid they will RMA it. BFG is also awsome but they don't support any type of modification.

[ctjoyce]

Alright so I've done some reading, and it turns out that ATi has gone and released a GPU behind my back. The X3800 series with the new 55nm process cores are very promising. Still not outperforming other PCI-E 2.0 cards (cough 8800GT) however they are showing some hope for the comeback of DAM/AIT.

So I agree with the suggestion of the X3850, and Sapphire is the best ATi card maker on the market.

Cheers
Cameron

[Wii]

Hmmm....that ATI card for $20 more and a ton more performance seems like a good deal to me. Unfortunately, I just spent most of my money on my new computer and birthday and christmas presents and I only have $110 left... I need about $230 for that (w/ shipping and handling) so unless I get that PSU I wanted for christmas then all I will have to pay for is the card...

[ctjoyce]

You know, I just took a look at your system specs from your older post, and to be honest you could get away with Using your systems stock 300W PSU for awhile until you can get the money together for a new 500W PSU even though it is overkill for your system.

But yes, that Sapphire card, very very well worth it.

Cheers
Cameron

PS: http://www.extreme.outervision.com/powercalc.jsp Good general estimate for what PSU you should be springing for. I personally add 50W to any estimate that this thing gives me, but I have yet to have a PSU be underpowered for a system.

[Wii]

Merry Christmas grandpa, just got a check in the mail for 50 bucks. I have $180 saved up so far. That's enough for the card.