Tuesday, November 13th 2007
XFX Announces GeForce 8800 GT 256MB
It appears that XFX will be the first manufacturer to introduce 256MB version of GeForce 8800 GT. The GeForce 8800 GT 256MB (available in standard and XXX Editions) looks identical and has all the features of its big brother 8800 GT 512MB. The only difference should appear under the cooler, where the memory chips are situated. The cards will be marking its debut as of next week, landing in retailers for an expected reseller price of 149 € excluding VAT.
Source:
XFX
30 Comments on XFX Announces GeForce 8800 GT 256MB
They dont even have enough g92 boards for the 512MB 8800GT, why would they SPLIT the production and take away boards from the 512 just to make useless ones with half the memory?
I hope no one else makes this, as its totally pointless at this point, 256mb or 320mb really handicaps this generation of cards... plus the 512MB GT prices are going to be dropping from 250 anyways, so this just seems like a waste of a good board that could have easily had double the memory for 30 bucks more :cry:.
So lets say I have an x1300 with 512mb of memory and a 8800gt with 256mb of memory... that does not mean the x1300 is better!
and no... adding ram to an x1300 chip will not do anything, or a 7800GT for that matter - but a huge difference for the R600/G80/G92 chips especially with AA.
Weer is right :toast:... they need a 1gb version. They have a 2900XT in 1GB, why not this? theyre in the same class performance wise.
www.yougamers.com/articles/13801_video_ram_-_how_much_do_you_really_need/
Take into account that the graphs show how much memory is been used and not the minimum that you need in order to play. If the card had less memory than what is shown there it will start streaming and there is going to be some performance loss, but not all that much. Also note how resolution doesn't have an impact as pronounced as AA. If you can live up without it, then memory isn't an issue for you.
My conclusion after reading that is that 8800GT 256 could be an excelent performer. Of course it won't run as fast as the 512, but I'm sure it is going to perform above 8800GTS 320 levels, and again we are talking about 150 bucks, it's mainstream guys. You can't expect more from a card that cheap!! Sure as hell it will leave 8600GTS in the dust.
GDDR3 is expensive!! That is why lesser vram models are a lot cheaper and if you get performance levels close to the big one, then welcome. But yeah I'm going to buy the 512 one, because I love some AA and high res. But remember many out there don't.
There was an interview a while back where John Carmack said that something has to give in the way of development of games and 3d applications in regards to textures and required memory.
It's still a very relevant variable in the performance equation, but it seems Crysis, and games to follow (which, will still be memory intensive) will be more dependant on shader operations.
That would explain why the GT out does the GTS 640 quite noticeably in Crysis. The native shader clock frequency, and the extra SP pump out over fourty thousand (roughly) more operations per second. Even at a matched shader clock of 1500, the GTS is still behind in that department by twenty thousand (roughly) operations per second. Those four extra vertex pipes come in handy!
However, an equally over clocked 320 GTS IS affected by the lack of VRAM as well.
The extra shader power of the GT will be a bigger factor than the lesser VRAM for the 256 version, especially as the GT has over twice texture filling rate of a GTS (640 or 320). Though I'm confident it won't perform AS well as the 512 version.
I think the GT is a great card, to usher people in to the next generation of games, and packs a serious punch for the price. Yet the hype has pushed people to go pretty wild, even to the point of replacing a GTX for a sole GT.
Come another six months and we may see some games that chew into the GT pretty harshly, and maybe the GTX /Ultra as well, where 112 and 128 SP could be cutting it close.
PS- Phanbuey....
Even a 8800GT in 256mb will let you play Crysis at 1280x1024 EASY medium/high settings with good fps..
Heck my 2600xt gddr4 lets me play Crysis at 1280x1024 medium/high settings at 35-40 fps...
If the performance is right then the card could be a relative bargin in comparison to the 512mb model (in the UK its £150ish for the 256 model and £180ish for the 512mb model (including postage))
8800GT is just so fast that you could run most settings high at least in older games and then you might run out.
So taking that into consideration...
Higher midrange cards should have 256bit bus and 512mb of ram if you plan on running any type of res above 1280x1024 and hope to get some performance.
So taking that into consideration...
Higher midrange cards should have 256bit bus and 512mb of ram if you plan on running any type of res above 1280x1024 and hope to get some performance.
What that card is going to do it give the 256mb HD3850 a solid competitor.
Because the 8600GTS doesn't stand a chance.
Since when a card at 150-200 price point is been able to play newer games on highest settings?
Let's learn some recent Nvidia history right? (Ati had similar cards as you all know.)
May 2003 - 5900 Ultra released - Price: 450+ if I remember well.
April 2004 - 6800 Ultra released - Price: 500+ - Perfromance 2x 5950 Ultra
Nov 2004 (18 months later than 5900) - 6600GT realeased - Price: 200+ - Performance: Slightly above 5950 Ultra, can play Doom 3 on highest at 1024x768 4x AA (the card itself is marketed as this)
June 2005 - 7800GTX released -Price: 500+ - Performance: 1,6x 6800 Ultra
March 2006 (23 months later than 6800) - 7600GT released - Price: 200+ - Performance: Same as 6800 Ultra
November 2006 - 8800GTX released - Price: 600+ - Performance: Above 2x 7800GTX
October 2007 (11 Months later) - 8800GT 512 released - Price 250 - Performance - 0,8x-0,9x 8800GTX
Novenber 2007 - 8800GT 256 released - Price 150-200 - Performance: Unknown, 0,7x-0,9x 8800GTX reallistically expected. Still the card should have 1024 MB, run at 800Mhz, play Crysis on Very High at 1920x1200 16xAA 16XAF and still come out at a 50 price point. Otherwise this card is shit. Period. :slap:
Come back to earth guys! Your mom is missing you...
See you! :toast: