I have a question. I just bought a BFG 9600 GT 512mb card ($199 from BestBuy) and my buddy wants to trade me his EVGA 8800GTS N821 640mb card that is also new. In price the 8800 cost more but when I compare the specs it appears to a lamen like myself that the 9600 is much better. Is there something I'm misssing? Which card is better?
The 8800GTS with the G80 chip isn't as good as the 9600GT The 8800GTS with the G92 chip is better than the 9600GT So basically, the 8800GTS he wants to trade you isn't as good as the 9600GT you have now. (at least I think so)
The 8800 GTS 640 MB your friend has uses the G80 chip, it will not be as good as the G94 in the 9600 GT, it might have less RAM, but it is a better design so you'd be getting the losing end of the deal.
8800gts 640MB is about on par with a 9600GT, it is far from sucking! In fact, 2 x 8800GTS 640's are quicker in SLI compared to 2 x 9600GT's. However, an 8800gts 512MB is far better than a 9600GT, but then you get what you pay for
You need to keep things in perspective, rather than making (inaccurate) blanket statements like that Whilst it doesn't compare favourably as a swap for the 9600GT the OP is already using... that doesn't mean the 640MB 8800GTS itself "sucks" I have a 640MB BFG 8800GTS OC2 in an older gaming rig, and its still a very capable card
What reason does your friend give for trading? I suspect he knows your card is the faster and hopes to con you out of it - how good a friend is this? The 9600gt is the faster card in almost all situations, and it uses less power as well. Don't trade.
