Opinion? or Fact?

[Fate544]

Ok, for those of you who missed my post in the Desktop Computer forum (because I know it's sooooo important) we have been having an argument on which video card I should use on my new PC. I'm looking to spend less money, but I have come to realize that these three options are probably my best bet. So here's the argument:

My original choice:
EVGA 512-P2-N773-AR GeForce 8600GTS 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
link
Item #: N82E16814130286
$209.99 ($10 MIR not included in price)

The Upgrade:
XFX PVT80GGHF4 GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported HDCP Video Card - Retail
link
Item #: N82E16814150171
$279.99(not including MIR of $30)

The Reccomendation?
MSI NX8600GTS-T2D256E-OC GeForce 8600GTS 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
link
Item#:N82E16814127284
$158.99(Not including a MIR of $20)

now see, people keep going back and forth between the extra RAM helping me, or it not. So idk, I figure that if I don't get the 512 8600GTS, I'll prolly just get the 8800GTS. thoughts? and preferably some evidence to back up such thoughts. (here's a link to the original thread.)

 

[PC eye]

MSI and 256mb for a gaming machine. You don't need 512mb for gaming saving cost there. MSI is a good reliable brand to go with. That's point #2 to clarify. EVGA is also a good name but sees the much higher price tag there. Save $120-!

 

[hermeslyre]

The 8600gts offers around half the performance of the 8800gts;

http://anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2970&p=6

The 8800gts is obviously the best card out of that lineup.

The extra VRAM won't help much at all;

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=778&model2=707&chart=297

This is comparing the 320 8800 to the 640mb, but it shows the same type of results you'd expect from the 8600.