Which of these video cards is best?

BT17R · 05-08-2008, 08:46 AM

I'm upgrading the new Dell to take advantage of the PCI 2.0 bus for video rendering and gaming. All of the choices use the same chip, benchmark closely and for all I know could be made in the same place, but is one better than another? The main consideration is driver compatibility and manufacturer support, mounting space and power requirements are handled. Any other recommendations besides these appreciated. TIA...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...me=Top+Sellers

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ozziesironmanoffroad · 05-08-2008, 08:48 AM

dude theyre all the same card. same card with a different brand name on it. a geforce is a geforce.

BT17R · 05-08-2008, 08:50 AM

Oh, so they all use the same Nvidia drivers too?

***Corey*** · 05-08-2008, 08:51 AM

Bob, this is mine, the top one from your link.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130337

EVGA is one of the better brands to go with.
Superclocked from the factory.

That is one of the better gaming cards out too.

***Corey*** · 05-08-2008, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BT17R

Oh, so they all use the same Nvidia drivers too?

Bob, you can use any new Nvidia driver you want, but I am still using 169.28 from the Nvidia website.

Do not use the drivers on the CD, they are most likely old.

There are newer beta drivers, and I think new stable drivers, but 169.28 is well proven.
Mine games perfectly with them, hence I will not be updating them for quite some time.

mastacox · 05-08-2008, 08:53 AM

While its true they're all the same "chip," I personally would stick with XFX or BFG. I have good experience with products from both companies; they both have good quality construction with heavy heatsinks to make sure the card stays nice and cool.

mastacox · 05-08-2008, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey

EVGA is one of the better brands to go with.
Superclocked from the factory.

All of the cards he linked have the same clock speeds, memory and chip.

***Corey*** · 05-08-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mastacox

All of the cards he linked have the same clock speeds, memory and chip.

Yes they do, but EVGA is known by reading all the PC mags out that they take a little extra care in how they are built.

The other two brands are good too, but ask just about any hardcore gamer and they will tell you they have less trouble with EVGA.

mastacox · 05-08-2008, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey

... ask just about any hardcore gamer and they will tell you they have less trouble with EVGA.

Ha, well I consider myself a performance-oriented gamer, and I'd have to say I've had the least trouble with BFG.

It's all comparing grains of sand, but don't go with ECS or MSI in my opinion.

BT17R · 05-08-2008, 01:43 PM

Thanks for the tips. I ordered this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150267

I liked the reviews, slight overclock, free COD4, transferable lifetime warranty, $20 rebate and Bill Me Later so I don't actually have to pay for it until September.

Corey, great tip about drivers. I'll use the one you suggested, thanks.

TOYOTA 1 · 05-08-2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BT17R

Thanks for the tips. I ordered this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150267

I liked the reviews, slight overclock, free COD4, transferable lifetime warranty, $20 rebate and Bill Me Later so I don't actually have to pay for it until September.

Corey, great tip about drivers. I'll use the one you suggested, thanks.

good choice! i have a xfx 7900gs, and ive had it for about a year and have had no problems with it.

ps. any one play any bf2??

***Corey*** · 05-08-2008, 02:48 PM

Good deal Bob.
xfx would have been my second choice if EVGA was not available.

When I built my new gaming PC over Christmas, I was going to get a xfx 8800 GTS in 640 mb, but it turns out after doing some research the 512 MB model blows the 640 MB one away in tests.
It is a better CPU in the 512 MB ones than the 640 MB one.

They had the EVGA in stock, so I went for it.

BT17R · 05-12-2008, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey

Bob, you can use any new Nvidia driver you want, but I am still using 169.28 from the Nvidia website.

Do not use the drivers on the CD, they are most likely old.

There are newer beta drivers, and I think new stable drivers, but 169.28 is well proven.
Mine games perfectly with them, hence I will not be updating them for quite some time.

I didn't see the 169.28 driver at the Nvidia site.

When I selected the model number, PVT88GYDD4, the 169.21 driver came up:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_169.21_whql.html

But when I go to the XFX site and enter the model number, they link to yet another, 169.32:

http://www.xfxforce.com/web/support/...ductCode.jspa#

The new card will be here today, not that I'm anxious or anything. So which driver should I use, and what sequence worked best for installing the card, Nvidia or XFX? I was going to uninstall the current Nvidia driver, install the new driver, power down, swap cards, power up and go. Sound about right?

***Corey*** · 05-13-2008, 01:22 AM

You can run the 169.32s.
There should be an archive on Nvidias site for all drivers.

Also I know there is an independent site that keeps all back files and also beta files that Nvidia has not even released to the public yet.
The site below is where I get mine from.
They have the 169.28 there for Vista is 32 and 64 bit.

http://www.guru3d.com/
http://downloads.guru3d.com/Videocar...Vista_c32.html

05-08-2008, 08:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
ozziesironmanoffroad Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Spring Valley, CA Posts: 5,676	dude theyre all the same card. same card with a different brand name on it. a geforce is a geforce. __________________ The 22r series engines are made from the fires of hell, and will fight tooth and nail to not be sent back. 1988 Toyota P/U 4x4 22re, 1200 miles on the rebuild engine builder .268 cam pioneer CD deck 31x10.50x15 BFG A/T BAJA 100W lights on prerunner bumper KC Daylighters 100W rancho rs5000 MUD IS A VALID PAINT JOB! If not living life to the fullest, why live it? my trucks official buildup thread

05-08-2008, 08:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
BT17R Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Da Gorge, Oregon Posts: 5,673	Oh, so they all use the same Nvidia drivers too? __________________ '07 FJ Cruiser TRD SE 6M/T

05-08-2008, 08:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
*Corey* Co-Founder/Administrator Staff Join Date: May 2002 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 26,068	Bob, this is mine, the top one from your link. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130337 EVGA is one of the better brands to go with. Superclocked from the factory. That is one of the better gaming cards out too. __________________ Corey 2007 FJ Cruiser Built for 4wheelin', expedition, camping, and overlanding use PNW FJ Cruisers ☺ Detailing 101 ☺ Join Topsites ☺ Muffler Comparisons ☺ Maggiolinas In The Wild FJ Cruiser Buildup ☺ New Roof Top Tent ☺ Video Of My Penthouse Part II ☺ Rehinge Your ARB/Engel Fridge Blog About Roof Top Tents ☺ FJC Magazines Online Review Of My Tent ☺ 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Pro

05-08-2008, 08:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
mastacox Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Los Alamos, NM Posts: 2,650	While its true they're all the same "chip," I personally would stick with XFX or BFG. I have good experience with products from both companies; they both have good quality construction with heavy heatsinks to make sure the card stays nice and cool. __________________ Brian 1998 4Runner SR5

05-08-2008, 01:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
BT17R Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Da Gorge, Oregon Posts: 5,673	Thanks for the tips. I ordered this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150267 I liked the reviews, slight overclock, free COD4, transferable lifetime warranty, $20 rebate and Bill Me Later so I don't actually have to pay for it until September. Corey, great tip about drivers. I'll use the one you suggested, thanks. __________________ '07 FJ Cruiser TRD SE 6M/T Last edited by BT17R; 05-08-2008 at 01:44 PM.

05-08-2008, 02:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
*Corey* Co-Founder/Administrator Staff Join Date: May 2002 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 26,068	Good deal Bob. xfx would have been my second choice if EVGA was not available. When I built my new gaming PC over Christmas, I was going to get a xfx 8800 GTS in 640 mb, but it turns out after doing some research the 512 MB model blows the 640 MB one away in tests. It is a better CPU in the 512 MB ones than the 640 MB one. They had the EVGA in stock, so I went for it. __________________ Corey 2007 FJ Cruiser Built for 4wheelin', expedition, camping, and overlanding use PNW FJ Cruisers ☺ Detailing 101 ☺ Join Topsites ☺ Muffler Comparisons ☺ Maggiolinas In The Wild FJ Cruiser Buildup ☺ New Roof Top Tent ☺ Video Of My Penthouse Part II ☺ Rehinge Your ARB/Engel Fridge Blog About Roof Top Tents ☺ FJC Magazines Online Review Of My Tent ☺ 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Pro

05-13-2008, 01:22 AM	#14 (permalink)
*Corey* Co-Founder/Administrator Staff Join Date: May 2002 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 26,068	You can run the 169.32s. There should be an archive on Nvidias site for all drivers. Also I know there is an independent site that keeps all back files and also beta files that Nvidia has not even released to the public yet. The site below is where I get mine from. They have the 169.28 there for Vista is 32 and 64 bit. http://www.guru3d.com/ http://downloads.guru3d.com/Videocar...Vista_c32.html __________________ Corey 2007 FJ Cruiser Built for 4wheelin', expedition, camping, and overlanding use PNW FJ Cruisers ☺ Detailing 101 ☺ Join Topsites ☺ Muffler Comparisons ☺ Maggiolinas In The Wild FJ Cruiser Buildup ☺ New Roof Top Tent ☺ Video Of My Penthouse Part II ☺ Rehinge Your ARB/Engel Fridge Blog About Roof Top Tents ☺ FJC Magazines Online Review Of My Tent ☺ 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Pro

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