Here's something for all the nvidia fanboys yapping around saying the 256MB 8800GT will kill the HD3850

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/607/1/

The 256 MB version costs about $40-$50 more than the HD3850 & it's only faster in a couple of games...
According to the review the 8800GT wins by 3:2 (for games).

And the games in which the 8800GT wins don't intrest me at all.

This makes my decision even simpler so HD3850 is the way to go.

Those thinking that 512MB HD3850 will make some difference well it won't you're better off with a 256MB HD3850 or 512MB DDR4 HD3870 (but this needs to come down in price).

Here you go for proof - 
http://en.expreview.com//?p=90&page=6

http://en.expreview.com//?p=90&page=7

Also bear in mind that LegitReviews is using an OC'd version of the 256MB 8800GT. 
XFX calls it Alpha Dog Edition! go figure that one out

That does it so HD3850 is the "King" of low-midend gaming as of now.

Sorry nvidia fanboys :P

For those nvidia 8800 fans. Please read the title again, it says BUDGET graphic cards.


This article was for cards in the sub-$200 budget range. Show me a better nVidia card in that pricing range, and you can whine about why it didn't get reviewed. Even the cheapest 8800GT 256MB cards are going for $209 the last time I checked.

Are you guys sleeping with someone at ATI or recieve money to do this review? The 8600GTS beat both the ATI 2600's on all tests yet one 2600 was scored higher and the other even with the 8600GTS.

Also if you are going to compare "budget" gpu's then it would be nice to include the price of each card, after all people buy "budget" for a reason.

To all those who posted above: 

REMEMBER, this is a BUDGET card shoot out, not a 8800GTX range card comparison!!

Thank you.

I would like to see a powerconsumption test.

still nice work,
Bravo!

i was under the impression from reading alot of tech news that it was amd who were scarse at releasing sample cards for reviewers, yet in this article (as you mentioned) you guys werent able to get your hands on a 88gt, not only that but where is the 65nm 8800GTX? or the ultra, why bother to compare the latest card from one manufatcure to the old crummy models from the other? im sure your readers know full well that their is a large performance difference expecially with dx10 when it comes to the 86 and 88 geforce 8 series cards.. further more, i would like my 2 minutes back that it cost me to read this article for i feel cheated!

whare's 8800 GT 256 MB? I think it will beat HD3850

I don't know how you are getting such low fps on Crysis with a HD 3850...
I've checked it's benchmarks on Vr-Zone & Guru 3-D etc..
They are using 1280x1024 resolution & getting about 27 fps & 37 for the HD3870 & 46 for the 8800GT [512MB].

Here you go VR-Zone's link - 
http://www.vr-zone.com/articles/AMD_Radeon_HD3850_and_HD3870_-_AMD's_salvation%3F/5392-9.html

And Guru 3-D's link - 
http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/472/10


IMO if you are willing to play games on 25-30 fps... 3850 is the way to go...to hell with 8800GT why shell out extra 100 when within 6 months you have a card for $150 which smacks the 8800GT out of the water!

People brag on about how 8800GT is the best price/performance card...well it is...nothing to take away from nvidia but not everyone wants to shell out $250-300 for a graphics card alone..so the HD3850 is the way to go.

I'm already ordering one for myself tomorrow.
Happy Gaming & Keep up the good work!

Theo,

I apprecite the work you put into this stuff.

However, I have a small request.

I'm not a gamer, but I am interested in flight simulators. 

Would it be possible to include a few, say, MS FS X runs in these sort of comparisons.

Thanks.

The review starts out recommending the GT8800 and Radeon 3850, but than fails to test the GT8800 for the review! It would be nice to have a comparison of the GT8800 just to add some perspective to the Radeon 3850. Only reviewing ATI's mid range baby seems a little one sided. Either have both, or don't bother including a Radeon 3850.

When you compare ATI's #1 card to NVIDIA's #5 card the ATI card sure looks good. Why don't you play fair and show all benchmarks?

If you want to buy anything for gaming for a reasonable price, it's 8800 GT with either 256MB or 512MB. Everything else is just crap. Radeons get nice score in 3dMark but GeForces beat them in games by a clear margin.

Crisys is a joke, it's NOT a DX-10 game at all.
It's pure DX-9..
To get the hi-res options in XP, just patch it and you have them.
Crisys is the FRAUD of the century in gaming experience.

The point of even buying Vista again?
Yep, nothing...just leave the junk OS alone, XP is twice as fast as everybody knows for a long time now.
M$ screwed up big time :-)