The Test

For this test, we are using a high end CPU configured with 4GB of DDR2 in an NVIDIA 680i motherboard. While we are unable to make full use of the 4GB of RAM due to the fact that we're running 32-bit Vista, we will be switching to 64-bit within the next few months for graphics. Before we do so we'll have a final article on how performance stacks up between the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Vista, as well as a final look at Windows XP performance.

Our test platform for this article is as follows:

Test Setup
CPU Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800
Motherboard NVIDIA 680i SLI
Video Cards AMD Radeon HD 2900 XT
AMD Radeon X1950 XTX
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS
NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GT
Video Drivers AMD: Catalyst 7.10
NVIDIA: 169.01
Hard Drive Seagate 7200.9 300GB 8MB 7200RPM
RAM 4x1GB Corsair XMS2 PC2-6400 4-4-4-12
Operating System Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit


We've made use of a good handful of the latest games, but our format for this article is more focused on breaking out specific comparisons than the usual GPU review. We will be individually pitting the 8800 GT against the 8800 GTX, the 8800 GTS, the 8600 GTS, and the 2900 XT. We'll also take a second to look at how the 8800 GT compares against previous generation hardware. First up is our comparison with the 8800 GTS.

$199 or $249? Line Substitution: 8800 GT vs. 8800 GTS
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  • gamephile - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    Based on benchmarks and price this card is finally in the sweet spot for me which means I can finally ditch my ATI X300! I only have one question remaining and that concerns the noise level. How does it compare to the 8800GTS? Why was this omitted from your review?
  • Vidmar - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    Ditto! Noise please!!!
  • DerekWilson - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    we didn't measure noise, as it's a reference board which doesn't necessarily reflect final boards available from OEMs.

    of course, since you guys want this, we'll try to add it to future GPU launch articles.

    For now, it'll have to suffice to say that it isn't a loud card, and it doesn't seem any louder than the 8800 GTS.
  • Missing Ghost - Tuesday, October 30, 2007 - link

    Theses times most retail cards are pretty much the same as the reference cards...
  • michal1980 - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    I want to know too. If its bettern then my 8800gts 640. I'll ebay that card now for the 8800. esspically with the smaller cooler and quiter.
  • Dantzig - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    Tom's Hardware did a noise comparison and found that the 8800GT was as quiet or quieter than any of the other 8800 series cards, the 8600 series, and the 2900XT.
  • gamephile - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    Yeah I saw that, I would just like confirmation from a source I trust.
  • mpc7488 - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    Lol - nice.

    The Tech Report did a good review, they have noise figures on page 7. http://techreport.com/articles.x/13479/7">Tech Report 8800GT Noise Levels
  • gamephile - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    Also the power consumption image doesn't load for me either. I'm not behind any firewall or proxy.
  • DerekWilson - Monday, October 29, 2007 - link

    i'll look into the power graph thing

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