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ok. this is just in case BFG wont RMA my graphics card AGAIN. Im trying to decide that when i would buy a new one, which card to chooose. i would be buying a PNY card. i have looked at test results, where the 8600GT absolutely tore to shreds the 8500GT, with its faster DDR3 memory, and higher shader, core, and memory clocks. however, the 8600GT is $50 more, and that 50 dollars is probably 50 dollars more than i would be allowed to spend. the highest resolution i would be playing at is 1280x1024 (monitor doenst go higher) playing oblivion. The games i play are>> Flight Simulator 2004 @ high settings (1280x1024 w/AA, 32bit color) Oblivion, @ 1280x1024, medium settings, (CPU/GPU/MEMBAND) limited, and C&C 3. teh ones im most worried about, are Obivion and CC3. especially CC3. my older Radeon9600 could play oblivion on low/med settings at normal speed. but, CC3 when the computer is bogged down, it slows the whole game down, things move very slow, not jerky, like it was put on slomo. will the 8500GT be able to handle it, or should i upgrade to the 8600GT. also, the 8500GT i want has 512MB vs. 256 for the 86. im leaning toward the 8500, but i want some clarification

Heya AW_3_3,

One thing that might help you choose is that more video memory is really only going to help you if you do go to a higher resolution. From what I understand, you only need more memory on a video card if you want to play games at higher resolutions. Actual performance will come much more from the core and memory clock speeds of the video cards.

However, if you can't spend the extra money, you just can't. But if you do have the choice I'd bump up to the 8600 GT just for the better clock rates...or even the GTS which would only be another small difference in cost...

On top of it all, I'm pretty sure both cards will play those games phenominally just due to the fact you are getting such superior clock speeds.

well, i also plan on overclocking them. when i had the 6600gT which died,(the Video BIOS was corrupted) i had the stock 425mhz core, overclocked to 505mhz. and this one is supposed to overclock like never before, the 8500GT. so its not beyond the realm of possibility to take it up to near, or equal levels of the 8600GT.