NVIDIA 8600GT versus ATI 3870

[falcon23]

My 8600 has really been great,but I get a lot of "WASH" behind me when flying and some waviness in long distance viewing..and when close to airfields or towns.it often looks as if I am looking through a thin layer of water at everything until I get close to the hangar or whatever..

  Is the 3870 a "better rendering card" than the 8600?? prices on them seem reasonable...

 Or A VC that is at LEAST AS good as the 8600gt and is an ati for <$100
BTW I dont need SLI..
                                                           Thanks,
                                                     Falcon23

[Fulmar]

According to Tomshardware.com, best video cards for the money November edition...

Best PCIe Card For $100: Tie

Good 1600x1200 performance in most games; 1920x1200 in most titles with some lowered detail

Radeon HD 3870 Codename:    RV670
Process:    55nm
Universal Shaders:    320
Texture Units:    16
ROPs:    16
Memory Bus:    128-bit
Core Speed MHz:    775
Memory Speed MHz:    1125 (2250 effective)
DirectX / Shader Model    DX 10.1 / SM 4.0
Now at $100, the Radeon HD 3870 is an easy recommendation, lying between the GeForce 8800 GT and the new Radeon HD 4670. It is still a force to be reckoned with at 1600x1200, and even at 1920x1200.

GeForce 9600 GT Codename:    G92
Process:    65nm
Universal Shaders:    64
Texture Units:    32
ROPs:    16
Memory Bus:    256-bit
Core Speed MHz:    650
Memory Speed MHz:    900 (1800 effective)
DirectX / Shader Model    DX 10 / SM 4.0

The 9600 GT is a good match for the Radeon 3870; both are excellent choices at the $100 price point.

[Motherland]

My 8600 has really been great,but I get a lot of "WASH" behind me when flying and some waviness in long distance viewing..and when close to airfields or towns.it often looks as if I am looking through a thin layer of water at everything until I get close to the hangar or whatever..

I may be wrong... but that sounds like more of a monitor problem, doesn't it?
My 8600 runs the game perfectly...

[Kuhn]

My 8600 runs the game perfectly...

Same here.

[falcon23]

I would think monitor problem as well,but I have hooked up 3 diff monitors and same issue..

                                                             Falcon23

[TequilaChaser]

I would think monitor problem as well,but I have hooked up 3 diff monitors and same issue..

                                                             Falcon23

alot of people just plug in a monitor and use the default PnP driver, it is better/Best to find the actual drivers for your particular Monitor all be it CRT or even LCD, this will get you longer life out of your Monitor, and correct refresh rates, better views..

btw....my ASUS EAH3870 has:
Memory Bus:    256-bit
Core Speed MHz:    825
Memory Speed MHz:    1250
DDR4
512 Meg

instead of the tomshardware listeMemory Bus:    128-bit
Core Speed MHz:    775
Memory Speed MHz:    1125 (2250 effective)


have not seen a 4670 ATI card before ( is that a typo for 4870 series? )

[TilDeath]

need to know more about your system to be able to take a stab.  Processor, memory, FSB speed, power supply, motherboard.  Seesm there is a bottle neck somewhere could be drivers could be hardware. The 8600 should be fine with this game.

[jtdragon]

8600 is more a video (moives) type card, 8800 is a gaming card, but it should run AH, same in 9000, 9600 video, 9800 gaming, my 9800 GT run AH great.

[falcon23]

More info as requested..

System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 11/29/2008, 10:09:07
       Machine name: THETANK
   Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.080814-1236)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
       System Model: EP35-DS3L
               BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     E8400  @ 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 2046MB RAM
          Page File: 332MB used, 3607MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 8600 GT
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0402&SUBSYS_C7573842&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 512.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (72Hz)
          Monitor: SONY SDM-HS75P
  Monitor Max Res: 1280,1024
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0011.7824 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 10/7/2008 14:33:00, 6058112 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: n/a
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 10/7/2008 14:33:00, 6133856 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4742-11CF-6245-5CE700C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x0402
        SubSys ID: 0xC7573842
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
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                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run


                           FAlcon23

[1pLUs44]

Falcon, I have a serious question, if you get that ATI card, would you be willing to give me (and only me) that NVIDIA card?

at 20K bombing, I get an FPS of like 20...

[jtdragon]

falcon, look at the 8800s, they are well with your price range

[falcon23]

Sorry plus,the card will go to the youngin..

                                                   Falcon23

[drdeathx]

great deal on cards this weekend guys check these prices.

nvidea 9800gt $149:
http://shop3.frys.com/product/5724602?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

ati 4650 $90:
http://shop3.frys.com/product/5721132?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

4650 great buy

[Getback]

My 8600 has really been great,but I get a lot of "WASH" behind me when flying and some waviness in long distance viewing..and when close to airfields or towns.it often looks as if I am looking through a thin layer of water at everything until I get close to the hangar or whatever..

  Is the 3870 a "better rendering card" than the 8600?? prices on them seem reasonable...

 Or A VC that is at LEAST AS good as the 8600gt and is an ati for <$100
BTW I dont need SLI..
                                                           Thanks,
                                                     Falcon23

You know my feelings on the matter. I had a 8600 and it didn't do the job. I gave it to my mom and she had issues as well. I use the 3850 to play the game and am quite satisfied.

[drdeathx]

I tried to find comparisons. Had a hard time. Seems they may be close/ The 3870 outperformed 8800GT by a touch. Prices are juicey on the 3870 right now!