Time for a new 8800GTS but which one!

[mveleza]

I'm planning to get a new card TODAY! I'm down to these cards and must make a decision and place an order before midnight :cool:(rebates expire April 30th on some of these). Here is what I am down to...

1. MSI NX8800GTS 512M OC GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814127325 Price with mail in rebate and shipping $202.58. Comes with copy of Witcher game!

2. PNY VCG88GTS5XPB GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814133215 Price with mail in rebate and shipping $197.58

3. ECS N8800GTS-512MX GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814134037 Price with mail in rebate and shipping $176.99

4. EVGA 512-P3-N845-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) KO 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130337 Price with mail in rebate and shipping $216.99

I need some help deciding which one to get...these cards are all within a $40 range from the most expensive to the cheapest(with shipping and MIRs included)

Here's what I'd like to know...
1. Does anyone have one of these ECS cards and are they as good as the others...stat wise they look fine but I know that doesn't always translate to real performance.
2. Which card in this list would you go for and why?
3. Anyone running any of these cards please tell me if you like its performance and whether you are overclocking it or not.

I'm leaning at the moment to the MSI for two reasons...free game and comes overclocked slightly from the factory so I don't have to worry about messing with overclocking myself. :roll:

Additional info:Here is my computer specs:
Asus P5VD2-MX SE Motherboard with Intel Core Duo 6300 (2 PCI, 1 PCI x16, 1 PCIx1 all currently empty)
2 Gig Ram
WDC WD3200JS 320 gig HD
DVD
CD
Floppy
Onboard sound/video VIA chipset
Buying new PSU to power this card -> OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS ATX12V / EPS12V 600W Power $69 after rebate!!! OCZ StealthXStream (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341010)

Thanks for the responses in advance!!! As I posted above time is of the essence as I will have to order TODAY to get these rebates so please post early and post often!!!:D

[JrRacinFan]

ECS in the video card world is not comparable to their motherboard end of things, they are a little bit better. Now I am not saying horrible things about their motherboards. Now I cannot say much about the cards since I am a budget mid-range builder, but eVGA has a long time been known to carry great warranties.

[mlee49]

I like the MSI line up. Everything from mobo's to vid cards have all been positive in my book. I have not tested any of the cards above so this is merely a preference. My next build will be MSI mobo and GPU. Usually the Oc from the factory is weak but can handle a nice push from your own teaking.

[smig]

I have noone of these cards (I'm looking for my oun card now :D )
all cards looks identical. no extra ports. MSI bundle a game, that I have no idea if it has any interest for you.
MSI and eVGA both have much higher reviews, and both are known as good cards.

try to read the bad things people are writing about the cards.

what about Manufacturer Warranty ?
only one year for MSI ?
Lifetime limited for the eVGA ? what does Lifetime limited mean ?
nothing said about the other two

[deathbyburk]

I have the evga and love it no complaints so far

[CHAOS_KILLA]

hmmmm, if were me i'd wait for the HD4870's but oh well, hmmmm i would go with the evga one, ECS are like the generic brand company compared to others or EVGA i guess.

[mlee49]

Buy the MSI version and save the $10 for a Zalman Cooler (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118001)

[mveleza]

The card has its own fan built on...its a dual slot card.

Checked and the MSI card comes with 1 year warranty while the EVGA has lifetime limited warranty.

The game bundled with MSI card can be bought on Ebay for less than $20.

I just don't know that EVGA is worth the $40 difference +$20 for the game...

[smig]

will you buy the game ?
I think you can't have the MSI without the game, so if you'r not going to buy the game the difference is $14 only.
1 year warranty while all other companies give 3 at least ???
what does lifetime limited warranty mean ? limited to what ? does it include fan failure ?
fan failure (mostly from dust) is the no.1 problem.

eVGA - very big card, and loud fan at 100%
MSI - high temperature (default fan speed too low), loud fan at high speed, plastic on the sticker melt


If I where you I would go with the eVGA here

[spearman914]

EVGA cards since evga cards will never have a reason you can void your warranty. Even if you let your dog pee on your GFX you won't void your warranty plus you can overclock as much as you want since evga already gives you overclocked cards so how in the world are you going to lose your warranty for overclocking on a overclocked card.

[mveleza]

My bad on the numbers...I was using the numbers for the ECS instead of the MSI. Basically I added a $20 value for the bundled game making the MSI about $34 better than the deal on the EVGA.

That means the MSI card would cost about $182.58 compared to $216.99 for the EVGA. Thats a difference of $34.41.

The only question then is whether this difference is worth going with MSI or not given the difference in warranties.

[timta2]

That is exactly what it comes down to since they are all the exact same card. You will have to decide if the warranty is important to you, we can't help you decide that. Chances are that you will never need to worry about warranty service, 5 years from now it will probably be sitting in a cardboard box functional but not used.

[mlee49]

The card has its own fan built on...its a dual slot card.

Checked and the MSI card comes with 1 year warranty while the EVGA has lifetime limited warranty.

The game bundled with MSI card can be bought on Ebay for less than $20.

I just don't know that EVGA is worth the $40 difference +$20 for the game...

Stock fan, wait do you use stock equipment? For overclocking a third party cooler is a great add on!

Either way the card will be dated in a year with or without warranty. The VGA cooler can be applied to any other single GPU or could be quickly sold here when the time comes.

[webwizard]

Here's a good card to look at.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150261

[mveleza]

Ended up ordering the 1 x EVGA 512-P3-N845-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) KO 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

I was told by Newegg they could not guarantee the order would invoice yesterday so there was some risk that I would not get the rebate. :eek:

So I asked which card might still have the same rebate in May and only the BFG and the EVGA card seemed to have a promotion ongoing within or around my price.

So I jumpled :roll: at the EVGA and I'm so glad I did...prices soared from yesterday on every one of these cards it seems...even the EVGA went up $20 over night.

Looking forward to getting it in a couple of days!

Thanks for all the input!!! Hopefully I'll be able to post later how the card turned out. :laugh:

[mlee49]

Either way will lead to a great card, hope you oc it well!!

If your feeling up to it, this might help:
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=53910&highlight=8800+mod

[smig]

good luck with thenew card :)

[Palit_Guy]

Don't forget to register your card with them within 30 days or you only get a 1-year warranty.

[mveleza]

Ok so I got this card today and OMG this thing is humongous :twitch: ! It is so big that it comes over both of my SATA HD ports:banghead:...it doesn't fit with my current cable. I'm going to the local computer store tomorrow to try to get an L shaped cable to go in and hopefully the card will be able to sit in the slot. If not It looks like my options are limited...return card or get a new motherboard...

I have an Asus P5VD2-MX SE Motherboard with Intel Core Duo 6300 http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1575&l1=3&l2=11&l3=310&l4=0.

I've heard the P35 boards are good and can be bought under $100...so much for keeping this upgrade cheap :ohwell: !