XFX 8800 GTS 512 and Asus 8800 GT 512 - G92 shoot out
Introduction, Overview & Specification
Published: 24th December 2007 | Source: Asus and XFX | Price: £225-£235 and £156-£177 |
Introduction
Nvidia are really churning out the chips recently and turning the screws tighter on ATI. The new G92 revisions featuring the 8800 GT and the 8800 GTS are both chips that really bolster Nvidia's product line at the top of the pile.
I look upon the Nvidia naming conventions with some concern nowadays. Far from being clear we now have 8800 GT (G92), 8800 GTS 640 or 320 (G80), 8800 GTS 512 (G92), 8800 GTX (G80) and 8800 Ultra (G80). I'm know I missed off a few revs but those are the major products that the big green are sending out nowadays...if you can find them.
We've already shown you the G92 8800 GT, so here's explaining what the G92 8800 GTS 512 is made of:
8800 GTS 512 - G92...what?
So what exactly are we looking at with the 8800 GTS 512 Rev 2 G92 chip? (try saying that without getting confused!). For starters it's got an equal number of stream processors to it's big brother, the 8800 GTX at 128.
Instead of the 320bit memory interface found on the higher end 8800 GTS, the G92 8800 GTS has a 256bit interface, paired with 512mb RAM. This gives the G92 a fair bit less bandwidth to play around with than it's predecessors.
Another pleasant addition to the new 8800 GTS is that it has 128 stream processors as compared to the old 8800 GTS's 112. Texture address and filtering has been changed around by Nvidia and the stream processor clock gets a nice bump to 1625MHz.
All this leads me to think that the G92 8800 GTS should be a rather fast GPU and possibly a match for the 8800 GTX. Be aware though, it's not going to touch it's higher end predecessor the 8800 Ultra, as Nvidia's flagship model still has over 60% more memory bandwidth and 40% more pixel fillrate.
Of course, we have to mention that the G92 is fabricated by TSMC on a 65nm process.
The Nvidia family
Below is a table showing you what the members of the 8 series family look like:
| Form Factor | 8800 Ultra | 8800 GTX | 8800 GTS | 8800 GTS 512 | 8800 GT 256MB | 8800 GT | 8600 GTS |
| Stream Processors | 128 | 128 | 96 | 128 | 112 | 112 | 32 |
| Texture Address / Filtering | 32 / 64 | 32 / 64 | 24 / 48 | 64 / 64 | 56 / 56 | 56 / 56 | 16 / 16 |
| ROPs | 24 | 24 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 8 |
| Core Clock | 612MHz | 575MHz | 500MHz | 650MHz | 600MHz+ | 600MHz+ | 675MHz |
| Shader Clock | 1.5GHz | 1.35GHz | 1.2GHz | 1.625GHz | 1.5GHz+ | 1.5GHz+ | 1.45GHz |
| Memory Clock | 1.8GHz | 1.8GHz | 1.6GHz | 1.94GHz | 1.4GHz - 1.6GHz | 1.8GHz | 2.0GHz |
| Memory Bus Width | 384-bit | 384-bit | 320-bit | 256-bit | 256-bit | 256-bit | 128-bit |
| Frame Buffer | 768MB | 768MB | 640MB / 320MB | 512MB | 256MB | 512MB | 256MB |
| Transistor Count | 681M | 681M | 681M | 754M | 754M | 754M | 289M |
| Manufacturing Process | TSMC 90nm | TSMC 90nm | TSMC 90nm | TSMC 65nm | TSMC 65nm | TSMC 65nm | TSMC 80nm |
| Price Point | $600 - $800+ | $500 - $600 | $270 - $450 | $349+ | $219 - $229 | $299 - $349 | $140 - $199 |
Note: Table courtesy of Anandtech
As you can see, the 8800 GTS 512 fits in between the 8800 GT and the the 8800 GTX in terms of price, although we are yet to see whether this is reflected in performance.
Specification - XFX 8800 GTS 512 XXX Alpha Dog Edition
Clock rate
678 MHz
Memory Clock
1.972 GHz
Dual Link DVI - Supporting digital output up to 2560x1600
Yes (Dual)
Chipset
GeForce 8800 GTS
Memory
512 MB
Bus Type
PCI-E
Memory Type
DDR3
Memory Bus
256-bit
Highlighted Features
TV Out , Dual DVI Out , RoHS , SLI ready , HDTV ready , Vista , HDCP Ready
678 MHz
Memory Clock
1.972 GHz
Dual Link DVI - Supporting digital output up to 2560x1600
Yes (Dual)
Chipset
GeForce 8800 GTS
Memory
512 MB
Bus Type
PCI-E
Memory Type
DDR3
Memory Bus
256-bit
Highlighted Features
TV Out , Dual DVI Out , RoHS , SLI ready , HDTV ready , Vista , HDCP Ready
Specification - Asus 8800 GT Top
Clock rate
700 MHz
Memory Clock
2 GHz
Dual Link DVI - Supporting digital output up to 2560x1600
Yes (Dual)
Chipset
GeForce 8800 GT
Memory
512 MB
Bus Type
PCI-E
Memory Type
DDR3
Memory Bus
256-bit
Highlighted Features
TV Out , Dual DVI Out , RoHS , SLI ready , HDTV ready , Vista , HDCP Ready
700 MHz
Memory Clock
2 GHz
Dual Link DVI - Supporting digital output up to 2560x1600
Yes (Dual)
Chipset
GeForce 8800 GT
Memory
512 MB
Bus Type
PCI-E
Memory Type
DDR3
Memory Bus
256-bit
Highlighted Features
TV Out , Dual DVI Out , RoHS , SLI ready , HDTV ready , Vista , HDCP Ready
Both SKU's we have today are overclocked, with XFX sending us their XXX Alpha Dog Edition and Asus sending us their speedy Top Edition.
Now we've taken a look at both specifications, let's take a look at both cards in turn and see what we're actually looking at today
Most Recent Comments
Thing is though there is a BIOS voltmod for the 8800GT that GREATLY increases its overclockability. If there isn't one for the 8800GTS I see them both reaching high limits but so far the 8800GT seems to OC better. With good cooling and the volt mod this thing easily passes 800mhz core, I've seen some at 850+.
What you also go to look at as well is shaders, they seem to be the key thing atm if the shaders OC much better on the 8800GT, which I guess they kinda should since they could simply lock the worst performing ones to get it top out better, it could impact performance in certain titles a lot.
Nice review though I was surprised the 8800GT didn't clock more, there wasn't a heat issue was there?
It should also be said about the supposed problems of the memory modules on the 8800GT, seems that long term use of the memory at 2ghz+ and it brakes. Thats why some companies like Zotac use better memory modules for their cards.Quote
What you also go to look at as well is shaders, they seem to be the key thing atm if the shaders OC much better on the 8800GT, which I guess they kinda should since they could simply lock the worst performing ones to get it top out better, it could impact performance in certain titles a lot.
Nice review though I was surprised the 8800GT didn't clock more, there wasn't a heat issue was there?
It should also be said about the supposed problems of the memory modules on the 8800GT, seems that long term use of the memory at 2ghz+ and it brakes. Thats why some companies like Zotac use better memory modules for their cards.Quote
Great review Kempez, can't wait to open my GTS tomorrow 
Quote
QuoteThe GT was a little hot yes, but I will never change the cooling or take off the heatsink prior to running any tests. I test every card as it would be when it appears on your doorstep 
Volt-modding is not part of the overclocking testing as the percentage of users who do that is small and it voids any warranty you have.
An overclock is dependent on what RAM is used, what cooling is like and also what luck you get with the silicon...the overclocking gods didn't smile on me this time
@Rast: I agree, the ATI card is a great card as I said in the ATI review, but this review was for these two cards. Having said that: would I buy the HD3850 personally? No, I'd go for an 8800 GTS 512mb G92 or an 8800 GT 512 G92 It's simply not fast enough with every game, I'm afraid.Quote
Volt-modding is not part of the overclocking testing as the percentage of users who do that is small and it voids any warranty you have.
An overclock is dependent on what RAM is used, what cooling is like and also what luck you get with the silicon...the overclocking gods didn't smile on me this time
@Rast: I agree, the ATI card is a great card as I said in the ATI review, but this review was for these two cards. Having said that: would I buy the HD3850 personally? No, I'd go for an 8800 GTS 512mb G92 or an 8800 GT 512 G92
It's simply not fast enough with every game, I'm afraid.Quote
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I have to be fair, even tho u`ve got a 1 to 4 positioning, I don`t think there`s that much in it for any of them. I know the Ati slides in the rankings, but it does show itself to be a fine card.
An interesting comparison would have been performance versus costing, seeing as they`re as close as they appear to be.
I`m a bit at odds with the oc results too. I simply can`t achieve the memory overclock on my GT without it having fits. But I can clock the gpu to around 720 (from 670).
What would impress me is some1 buying the cheapest GT, putting it under water, and claiming back those clock hertz with their superior cooling. Sounds nice.
Suprizes me a bit tho that the GTS isn`t launched as a bigger performer. Although pricewize, it does seem to start from stock where the GT limit starts. Leaving u further to climb
Nice review m8, think every1s doing the "going to bed early to get up early" trick