how does this compare to an 8800? for $95, i'm considering upgrading from my 8600GTS

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=207637957

- 512mb GDDR3
- PCI Express 2.0
- DirectX 10.1, Shader Model 4.1, OpenGL 2.0
- built-in HDMI (with 5.1 surround support)
- HDCP
- UVD support

on newegg, it's got a 5/5 out of 41 reviews

[Edited on May 7, 2008 at 11:36 PM. Reason : .]

5/7/2008 11:32:39 PM

I think it's on par with the 8800GS, not as good as the GT or GTS, nor 9600GT
http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/desktop-vga-charts/3dmark06-v1-0-2-hdr-sm3-0-score,538.html?p=1590%2C1616%2C1599%2C1615%2C1592%2C1593%2C1586%2C1587%2C1603

[Edited on May 7, 2008 at 11:39 PM. Reason : .]

5/7/2008 11:35:59 PM

so, below the 8800GTX and above the 8800GTS

seems worth $95 to me...i haven't had an ATI card in years...how's the driver support these days?

5/8/2008 7:32:55 AM

Make sure the mobo your putting that ATI card in is compatible. I had a 680i mobo with an nvidia chipset that was really buggy with an X1900XT ATI card. The only way to fix it for good was to use an nvidia 8800gts.

5/8/2008 8:08:12 AM

^go figure... amd and nvidia not working

5/8/2008 9:08:19 AM

i should be...i was originally using a 680i mobo in my HTPC, but the roommate insisted on using linux and for whatever reason, they weren't getting along...so i put my old mobo in there with an 8600GTS, but i'd like to start using it to play games like bioshock and oblivion on the tv in the living room (i'm turning it into a windows box this summer), and the 8600GTS, while decent, won't provide the full experience, where i think the 3850 would (sure, it's not top of the line, but gameplay with the 8600GTS wasn't BAD)

5/8/2008 9:49:38 AM

well J33Pownr has a point, nforce chipset drivers have never since the dawn of time played nice with AMD (ATi) drivers

5/8/2008 11:06:54 AM

well, i'm trying to pick it up by scamming another $10 google checkout discount ($85 AR!)...if it works, great, if not, oh well

either way, i've got a board that SHOULD work, in either the HTPC or my desktop...and, really, the only reason i bought the nvidia chipset was so that i could have decent onboard video that supported HDCP

while nvidia will always be my first choice, $85 for this card really seems like a good value

5/8/2008 11:50:06 AM

that 3850 sounds like a GREAT deal if you are low on cash

but clearly inferior to the 8800gt

[Edited on May 8, 2008 at 11:52 AM. Reason : 8800]

5/8/2008 11:52:34 AM

according to the tom's hardware link, though, it's NOT inferior...the only nvidia cards better (with the same general specs) are the 8800GTX and 8800GT OC...both of which are what, twice the price?

5/8/2008 11:58:47 AM