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hellcat61

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Jun 28, 2006
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Hello,

I have been considering purchasing the EVGA GeForce 8600GTS 512MB video card. It will be an upgrade from my EVGA GF 7800GT. With regard to new "next gen" games such as Crysis, Unreal Tournament and COD 4, how will this card stand up to these games? I have played the demos and my old card has struggled, especially at higher resolutions. I was curious what you guys thought about this upgrade.

Thanks!

Hellcat
 
Agreed, when upgrading from 7800 series, anything less than the ATI 3850 is a waste of money. 512MB is highly recommeneded, but even the 256MB model is better than the 8600 GTS.
 
Go for a 3850 if you're going to be shopping in that price range.
 
It seems that all of the 3850-type cards are PCI 2.0. I am using a PCIe X16 and I don't plan on buying another motherboard. Secondly, the core clock and on board memory are nearly identical for both the Nvidia and ATI cards. I do notice that the ATI's are 256 bit instead of 128 like the Nvidia, but most are 256MB cards, unlike the 512MD Nvidia. It is all pointless due to the fact that I don't have PCI 2.0. What is the rationale behind the superiority of the ATI card? How will these cards preform with the next gen games I have listed in the first post?

Thanks!
 
Thanks. That was informative. Unfortunately, the results demonstrated there are for a 256mb 8600, not the 512mb version. I am not sure how much of a difference this would make, but certainly the 512 would fair better than the 256. I know I am coming across as an Nvidia fanboy right now, which isn't my intention. It is still a mute point because of the PCIe 2.0. issue. Any other suggestions or information?
 
The 8600 GTS GPU is not powerful enough to exploit the higher memory capacity. In other words 512MB of RAM on the 8600 GTS will make no difference over 256MB. We have tested this in the past. However, it does make a difference on the faster 8800 GT GPU.

For your price range the 3850 is going to blow the 8600 GTS away.
 
it is my understanding that the 680i based mobo used in the review that brent posted is not pci-e 2.0, and the card worked fine as it seems
 
So I am safe to say that there should be no compatibility issue with the 3850 and the motherboard I listed?
 
Thanks! Last question: Will switching to an ATI card require me to reformat my computer? I have been using an Nvidia card and the Nvidia drivers. Will this cause an issue that will require a reformat?

Thanks.
 
hellcat61 said:
Thanks! Last question: Will switching to an ATI card require me to reformat my computer? I have been using an Nvidia card and the Nvidia drivers. Will this cause an issue that will require a reformat?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I can honestly say i have never had to format after switching video cards, even from nvidia to ati. Just make sure to remove the nvidia drivers prior to installing the new ati card. And make sure to download the newest ati driver from their website first.
 
No fresh install necessary. Just use driver cleaner before you plug in the ATI card.

1. What you do is uninstall your current drivers through control panel.

2. Boot up in safe mode and clean any driver left overs with driver sweeper.

3. Stick the new card in and boot up the computer normally. Hit cancel on all Windows suggested driver installing things and install the latest drivers after that.

Good driver cleaner and easy to use is Driver Sweeper. Here you can download it:

Driver Sweeper
 
hellcat61 said:
Thanks! Last question: Will switching to an ATI card require me to reformat my computer? I have been using an Nvidia card and the Nvidia drivers. Will this cause an issue that will require a reformat?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

shouldnt,

download newest drivers> unistall the old drivers> shutdown> yank old card> install new card> boot> when it asks you for the new drivers (windows auto driver install) cancle it> install the drivers you downloaded> reboot> every thing should be happy.

if something goes wonky, use a driver cleaner for each brand, then reinstall the drivers again.. chances of it going wrong are slim, and even if it dose, it still dosent require a format..
 
Forgot to mention that there is a sticky about this in the forums. Its bit dated as the program "driver cleaner" is not free anymore, but you might be able to find the old free version of the software.

I would go with Driver Sweeper, its slick, easy and free program.

Video card sticky
 
oc'd cards are kida a gimic if you ask me... they are pretty much all the same, (the only time you might have a difference is if one manufacture used a different set of ram chips, but it would require alot of research to see if the chips any one card uses over any other.. (not really worth it))
the only main reason i would say to buy a Oc card is if it comes with a better than spec heatsink.. otherwise, save your money, buy the non oc version spend the money on a new cooler and oc the piss out of it

/edit that card uses a refference heatsink, no better than any other..

now.. i relise this card is a 512 card, but it is only 60$ difference, + a better core clock that the "OC" .. and a better cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161216

not that the other card isnt nice, and its pretty cheap as far as 3850's go..

its a good card, but dont buy it because its an OC edition card get it becuase its the right price and fits what you need
 
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