ATI vs NVidia at $200.00

pbdr

pbdr

New Member
So i'm going to start upgrading my rig, and will start witht he video card then move on later this year to the rest (since I have to do at least CPU, Mobo, and RAM all in one).

I'm trying to figure out which card to go with at the $200.00 price point.

In this price range it looks like mainly the ATI HD 3850 or NVidia 8600 GTS.

Any thoughts on which card performs better?

I'm currently using a 7600, so either one will probably be a good jump.

Also, I will be using it for video and games, but I mostly go with strategy type games (A few RTS, but usually not the crazy FPS games).

Thanks
 
newguy5

newguy5

New Member
yeah, the 3850 is a much better card. i have the 256mb version, and it's a badass. the 512mb version is even better. i paid $170 for mine 6 weeks ago. i really didn't have any interest in the 512mb version though, considering for $30-40 more you can get the 3870, which is much better than the 3850. and then if you buy the 3870, might as well spend $20 more for the 8800gt, and so on and so forth goes the way of technology. so i just settled on the cheapest one, which is still one of the best cards for the money purchaseable right now.
 
JLV2k5

JLV2k5

Active Member
yep, 3850 suggestion once again. The 8600 is way obsolete, even though numerically it seems just behind the 8800 series.
 
TheOrangeDude

TheOrangeDude

New Member
why not go for a 8800gt 512mb its only like 20 bucks more. And its perfermance almost like a 8800gtx. It beat 3850 long run in most of the game.
 
Kornowski

Kornowski

VIP Member
If you can, go for the 8800GT, but if it's too expensive, then the 3850 is an excellent choice! It's an amazing card!

Man, that hurt to say :p
 
O

oscaryu1

VIP Member
3850 or GT as already stated :) 3850 is a great card! Turn up the fan RPMs and almost OC it to a 3870's level.
 
K

kevlee89

Member
they are both great cards. performance wise, the 3870 trails the 8800 a little bit, especially when AA stuff turns on. image quality is probably better though

you can get the galaxy 8800gt for 200 total, with the $40 rebate

or the 3870 from microcenter for little bit more than 210 dollars, without rebate
 
Narzinor

Narzinor

New Member
from what I've seen, and read, the 3870 is a little behind at stock, but if you OC it, its right at the level of the 8800gt, and ATI seems to do a better job with filtering from my experience, albeit, the last line (2k HD series) didnt do so well...
and that 3870 is a great price from microcenter. I'd get it :) I wish I had =p I got mine for 250.
 
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