EVGA has introduced its version of the Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS video card and it is good. It is really good. Of course a card that costs more than some gaming systems should be good. The 8800 line of the GeForce family is notable for its support of DirectX 10, the new gaming framework exclusive to Windows Vista. DirectX 10 promises great graphics once the games that can take advantage of the new framework start to trickle in from the various game studios.

The Nvidia’s 8800 line comes in two flavors the GTS and the GTX. While the GTS is powerful the GTX is mightier still. Both versions are based on the same chip, the G80, but the GTS is a slightly stripped down version of the GTX. The GTS has 96 stream processors versus 128 on the GTX. The GTX has 768 MB of memory while the GTS has 640 MB and the GTX has a 384 bit memory interface versus the GTS’s 320 bit interface.

The 8800 GTS runs slower than its older brother, the GTX, stock speeds for the GPU and the memory for the GTS are 500 MHz and 800 MHz respectively. The GTX has a stock GPU speed of 575Mhz and the same memory speed as the GTS.

The biggest advantage, or the only advantage really, that the GTS has is price. The GTS is significantly cheaper than the GTX. The current price of the EVGA 8800 GTS is $440 US while a 8800 GTX will run you over $600 US easily. So if you want a video card that will support DirectX 10 games then the EVGA e-GeForce 8800 GTS may be your cheapest option.

If you like to watch movies on your PC then the EVGA model has a feature you may find useful. It has the HDCP CryptoROM that is necessary for an Nvidia card to display content protected movies at a high resolution. So if you have a large monitor and like to watch movies, this card is probably a pretty good bet.

While the 8800 GTS can be beat in some benchmarks by existing cards from Nvidia like the 7950 GX2 and cards from ATI like the Radeon X1950, the 8800’s are the only cards that support DirectX 10 and its Shader Model 4.0 which will make games so much better in the future. Hopefully that future is soon.

Many benchmarks have shown the card to be a solid performer. However until a real DirectX 10 game comes along there is no real way to benchmark the cards performance with DirectX 10. If you are an early adopter and just have to have the latest technology then you can’t go wrong with the EVGA e-GeForce 8800 GTS. It’s the cheapest card on the market with DirectX 10 support.

Specs

Performance
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS
500 MHz GPU
96 Pixel Pipelines
400 MHz RAMDAC

Memory
640 MB, 320 bit DDR3
1600 MHz (effective)
64 GB/s Memory Bandwidth

Interface
PCI-E 16X
DVI-I, DVI-I, HDTV
SLI Capable

Resolution & Refresh
240 Hz Max Refresh Rate
2048 x 1536 x 32bit x85Hz Max Analog
2560 x 1600 Max Digital

Requirements
Minimum of a 400 Watt power supply.
(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 26 Amp Amps.)

NVIDIA PureVideo Technology

The combination of the GeForce 6 Series GPUs’ high-definition video processor and NVIDIA video decode software delivers unprecedented HD video, stunning picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling for all video content to turn your PC into a high-end home theater.

High-Speed GDDR3 Memory Interface

Support for the world’s fastest GDDR3 memory delivers fluid frame rates for even the most advanced games and applications.

OpenGL 2.0 Optimizations and Support

Ensures top-notch compatibility and performance for all OpenGL applications

Dual Dual-Link TMDS Connector

For a dual link TMDS, which is in essence two TMDS links bonded together, can display at resolutions up to 2048 x 1536 - and is the connector of choice for users of extremely large digital flat panels.

NVIDIA® unified architecture with GigaThread™ technology

Full Microsoft® DirectX® 10 Shader Model 4.0

16x full-screen anti-aliasing

True 128-bit floating point high dynamic-range (HDR)

NVIDIA Quantum Effectsâ„¢ physics processing technology

Built for Microsoft® Windows Vista™

The EVGA e-GeForce 8800 GTS Product Home Page