Intel E6850 processor and Intel DQ350J0E board, w/ Vista Hm Prem op sys.
Am considering installing either:
A. 1 - EVGA 8800 GTS-SC card.
--or--
B. 2 - EVGA 8600 GTS-SC cards.
What is your pick and why???

hotrodracer thanks ya...

You need to be more specific. There are no less than 4 EVGA 8600GTS and 7 8800GTS cards (and no SC on NewEgg as seen here). So please provide links to the exact boards you are considering.

However, I will say this, generally the 8800 is considered an upgrade to the 8600.

And before you buy any new card, make sure your power supply can support it - both in terms of connections, but also in current on the 12V rail. That Newegg link shows some. Or check the card maker's website - but note they show the recommended minimum based on some minimally configured PC. Use the eXtreme PSU Calculator Lite to determine your power supply requirements. Plug in all the hardware you think you might have in 2 or 3 years (extra drives, bigger or 2nd video card, more RAM, etc.). Be sure to read and heed the notes at the bottom. I recommend you set Capacitor Aging to 30%, and if you participate in distributive computing projects (e.g. BOINC or Folding@Home), I recommend setting TDP to 100%. Then look for brands listed under the "Good" column of PC Mechanic's PSU Reference List. Don't try to save a few dollars by getting a cheap supply. Digital electronics, including today's advanced graphics cards, need clean, stable power. A good, well chosen supply will provide years of service and upgrade wiggle room.

[quote name='Digerati' date='Nov 2 2007, 08:17 AM' post='412889']
You need to be more specific. There are no less than 4 EVGA 8600GTS and 7 8800GTS cards (and no SC on NewEgg as seen here). So please provide links to the exact boards you are considering.


Not familiar w/ NewEgg, do use Tiger Direct to save Calif sales tax, and Synnex or other distr's...
Tigers SKU's for the EVGA video cards:
E145-8008 is for the 8800GTS-SC card.
E145-8606 is for the 8600GTS-SC card.

Again, new assembly/PC, and I will be using:
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610watt p/sply
Zalman 9500 cooler w/ Arctic Silver ceramic/white
2 Seagate 320g SATA drives, LiteOn DVD write/rewrite
CoolerMaster/Ultra Grid case, min 2g of 800 ram, etc.

Again, your input in any area is appreciated very much... hotrod/Paul

Well, if you live in the US, it is hard to beat NewEgg's prices. ZipZoomFly usually has great prices too once you factor in the free shipping that's available on many items. I have bought from both vendors dozens of times and recommend both without reservations - both have great customer support and return policies too. TigerDirect is usually a little more costly.

But as for which is better, this is a no brainer here, HRR. The 8800 costs more than double the 8600, so you would expect it to be a better card, and it is, by a long shot. Even though the 8600 has faster clock speeds, the 8800 has 250% more RAM, 250% bigger Memory bus, and 200% the Memory bandwidth. Think if it as 8600 is a 10 lane highway with a 60MPH speed limit and carries only cars with the driver only. Think of the 8800 as a 25 lane highway going 40MPH, but with only Grayhound buses full of people. Sure, a few people will get there quicker on Interstate 8600, but huge masses of people (data) will pass though on Interstate 8800 way before the same number can get through on the narrower road.

TigerDirect Comparison

Newegg Comparison

That said, if you have used TigerDirect before, and are comfortable using them, go for it.

Excellent choice on the PSU.

A word of caution. The Zalman 9500 cooler is a great cooler, but understand that if you use a 3rd Party cooler on a retail (boxed) version of the either Intel or AMD CPUs, you void the warranty on the CPU!!!!

Both Intel and AMD only honor the warranties on their CPUs if you use the "accompanying thermal solutions". That said, IMO, this is not a problem. For one, because both makers do not want to replace the CPUs during the 3-year warranty period due to heat related issues, both companies provide excellent heatsink fan (HSF) assemblies that are both very effective at removing heat. And the OEM fans are relatively quiet, compared to many other coolers - and that is good too.

Since both OEM HSFs are more than capable at removing the heat from the CPU, the problem then turns to the case to expel the heat. That takes us to another problem with your list. I am not sure what you mean by "CoolerMaster/Ultra". CoolerMaster and Ultra are different companies. Ultra is out of Ohio, CoolerMaster is homed in Taiwan.

If you mean the Ultra Grid Mid Tower, I have no personal experience with the Ultras, but one feature I like is that it supports and includes both front and back 120mm fans. 120s are preferred over smaller fans because they move massive amounts of air, but at a lower RPM, which means they are quieter too. You just need to make sure you route your cabling to minimize restricting the desired front to back air flow. I prefer a case with a washable air filter in front to help keep heat trapping dust and dirt from blanketing the interior - you will have to inspect the interior once a month or so, and clean as necessary.

I am glad the case you selected does not have a bunch of fancy flashing lights. I like to say that lights "do nothing for performance, add some heat, consume some power, and do nothing for performance - worth repeating!" I am also not interested in clear side panels because I prefer my cases to sit quietly and unobtrusively off to the side and not bring attention themselves - preferring to pay attention to what's on my monitors instead. However, clear side panels are nice for glancing in to keep an eye on dust build up.