XFX 8600GT comparison - please help!

[Spawn-Inc]

http://cgi.ebay.com/HDMI-Female-To-D...QQcmdZViewItem

well hit place bid and find out

[Zephik]

http://cgi.ebay.com/HDMI-Female-To-D...QQcmdZViewItem

well hit place bid and find out

Dang, now thats proper research! lol

[.Maleficus.]

My HDCP Ready 8800GT came with an S-video to RGB adapter, but since I don't know what HDCP stands for, and what the S-video to RGB adapter ACTUALLY does, I don't know if that's what it would be .

[Spawn-Inc]

My HDCP Ready 8800GT came with an S-video to RGB adapter, but since I don't know what HDCP stands for, and what the S-video to RGB adapter ACTUALLY does, I don't know if that's what it would be .

mine came with the svideo cable and adaptor for component. if you have a tv with that mal you can hook up your pc via that way. i have tried both ways and svideo worked out better for me but i have a older tv and it wasn't displayed properly. once we/me get a lcd/plasma i will try it then undoubtedly.

[NightrainSrt4]

HDCP is basically a proprietary encryption method for High-def. Basically in order for Hi-def media like Blu-ray and HD-dvd to be watched, it needs a HDCP source and an HDCP monitor/screen.


As far as I understand, if your running HDCP encrypted media to a monitor that isn't HDCP compatible while using a cable not HDCP and analog(like VGA) it will downsize the resolution to like half. If you try running that same situation but with a non HDCP compliant digital connection (some DVI, like video cards without HDCP) you wont get any picture. It will be a black screen.


So if you have a HD-dvd drive or blu-ray or something similar player in your pc and try to watch those movies with a card not HDCP compatitble, you won't be able to. You would need a card like the first card, that can output the correct encrypted data, hence HDCP compatible.

Most people believe it was an attempt to stop piracy, and i tend to believe it, as I can't see a whole lot of use otherwise. As the digital signal doesn't "need" to be encrypted, and companies have to get licensed to get their products HDCP compatitble.



As for the video card. I would go with the 256mb faster card. Unless your running some rediculously high resolution and trying to game, which in that case i would probably look at a higher end card. But otherwise the first card is the better of the two. I don't see the second card being fast enough to pump out super high textures at a reasonable frame rate, thus rendering the extra memory useless in most things. Least imo

[a.Bird]

Thank you all for your help! I almost forget I made this thread because I haven't received any notifications for some reason but regardless, I really appreciate your input. Thanks again.

[a.Bird]

I know most of you who are into gaming have probably invested into some of the more extreme videocards out these days but to those who may like to know, I ended up purchasing card A. Anyone who wants a cheap card that will run newer games, I'd definitely recommend this card. I'm running it in Windows XP with the new Celeron 420 chip (1.6ghz with the Conroe architecture, overclocked flawlessly to 3.0ghz) and 2gb DDR2 800. It runs Bioshock really nicely at 1024 with max quality settings, Gears of War is smooth at 1024 with max quality, any game older seems to run at 1280 with max quality. All the while, the GPU seems to run cool as a cucumber at stock speeds (considerably quiet fan as well). I'm exteremely satisfied with my purchase. Thank you all again for your insight.

[Raz1r]

Good choice, Bird.

I've got a JUDD3, which is pretty much card A with worse (stock) cooling. I bought it because I needed a cheap upgrade fast. It does 15-45 FPS @ 1680 x 1050 with a Socket 478 Celeron D 335 @ 2.8ghz in CS:S; maxed besides 16xAA. 2Gb of 667.

Basically, if you are doing resolutions 1024 x 768 or 1280 x 1024 I would highly recommend card A.

[a.Bird]

It's too bad I didn't hold out a bit longer, that card is now $79.99 after a mail-in rebate.link In fact, not only are most of the 8600GT's considerably cheaper, a lot of stuff is!

[Raz1r]

It's too bad I didn't hold out a bit longer, that card is now $79.99 after a mail-in rebate.link In fact, not only are most of the 8600GT's considerably cheaper, a lot of stuff is!

Yeah, I have a $30 check in the mail from mine.