which is better
- Thread starter NYCboy
- Start date
AussieNightcrawler
Trainz Everywhere...
Hi,
Very simple, the 8600GTS is far better, from memory the 7300 series uses TC (TurboCache) which is where the video card will use system RAM to make up for the lack of video memory...
Stick clear of the 7300...
Very simple, the 8600GTS is far better, from memory the 7300 series uses TC (TurboCache) which is where the video card will use system RAM to make up for the lack of video memory...
Stick clear of the 7300...
AussieNightcrawler
Trainz Everywhere...
Hmmm, well the 7950GT does have slightly higher performance then the 8600GTS, due to having a 256bit memory interface giving it 44.8GB/s memory transfer rate.
But, what the 8600GTS lacks in that area, 128bit memory interface gives 32GB/s memory transfer rate, it does have the 8000 series two core clocks, one for the shader unit and one for the rest of the chip. Also DirectX 10 support.
So yeah, pretty split even, not much in them really.
But, what the 8600GTS lacks in that area, 128bit memory interface gives 32GB/s memory transfer rate, it does have the 8000 series two core clocks, one for the shader unit and one for the rest of the chip. Also DirectX 10 support.
So yeah, pretty split even, not much in them really.
This page of Tom's Hardware Guide has a very useful chart that lists nVidia and ATI video boards in order from most powerful to least powerful. Unless otherwise stated, I guess it's comparing boards with the same amount of video memory.
The link is to the March 2008 version of the article. A new version is usually published each month so the link will become out of date.
HTH, John
The link is to the March 2008 version of the article. A new version is usually published each month so the link will become out of date.
HTH, John
i found the 8600GT bandwith is 256MB while 7300GS is 512MB. anyways
will the 8600GT play trainz as smooth as the 7300GS? im really worried!
AussieNightcrawler
Trainz Everywhere...
The 8600GT will play TRS/Trainz far better then what the 7300GS will...
Read my first post:
Read my first post:
That table on Tom's Hardware puts the 8600GT a massive eight tiers higher in performance than the 7300GS. Unless anyone knows different, I would have thought that the huge difference in GPU power would far outweigh the difference in video memory size. But why not get an 8600GT 512MB, then you can be certain it will be far better? The difference in cost between an 8600GT with 256MB of video memory and an 8600GT with 512MB will probably be small. Looking at a UK retailer (Dabs) today there's hardly any difference, they even have some 512MB's less expensive than some 256MB's.
John
Be careful motherboard determines GPU choices
Be careful, depending on what type of motherboard determines your choices for video card. Newer GPU cards are made for PCI-e boards while older computers like mine use AGP. I suggest you post what type of motherboard you have so that you don't end up with a video card that you can't use.
Be careful, depending on what type of motherboard determines your choices for video card. Newer GPU cards are made for PCI-e boards while older computers like mine use AGP. I suggest you post what type of motherboard you have so that you don't end up with a video card that you can't use.
I have the 7300LE 512MB. . .
IT'S AN OLD DOG !! It slows down the overall performance so much that its half the speed of a 2.4Ghz P4 system . . . and I have a Core 2 Duo. I think nVidia dumped these 7300 cards for next to nothing to Dell computers at one time and ended up in a lot of their "off the shelf" systems. Its fine for "normal use" where frame rate is not an issue . . . but it sucks the big one for games.
My new 9600 over-clocked should be here tomorrow !! :udrool:
Result will be posted in "Calling all computer techs . . ." thread.
IT'S AN OLD DOG !! It slows down the overall performance so much that its half the speed of a 2.4Ghz P4 system . . . and I have a Core 2 Duo. I think nVidia dumped these 7300 cards for next to nothing to Dell computers at one time and ended up in a lot of their "off the shelf" systems. Its fine for "normal use" where frame rate is not an issue . . . but it sucks the big one for games.
My new 9600 over-clocked should be here tomorrow !! :udrool:
Result will be posted in "Calling all computer techs . . ." thread.
Just to observe that the LE suffix is next to least powerful, only SE is lower. As far as I can figure out the order of the suffixes for nVidia boards from least powerful to most powerful SE, LE, no suffix, GS, GT, GTO, GTS, GTX, GX2, Ultra. Not all model numbers come in all suffix versions. The suffixes used for ATI boards are different: I think they are SE, LE, GT, RX, no suffix, GTO, PRO, XL, XT, XT PE, XTX.
The 9600GT has been getting some very good reviews.
John
The 9600GT has been getting some very good reviews.
John