8800GT vs 130GT

thunderclap · Mar 3, 2009, 08:33 PM

As I mentioned in a previous post I ordered a new iMac with the nVidia 130GT graphics card to replace my older Mac Pro with an nVidia 8800GT. After reading all the backlash about the new Mac upgrades I'm starting to get a little concerned I made the wrong choice.

So my question is which card is better? The nVidia 8800GT or the 130GT? Also, this is NOT a Windows vs Mac debate, so please don't start one. It's a serious question about the graphics card ONLY. Thank you.

Vikingod · Mar 3, 2009, 08:48 PM

I bet the 8800gt is faster by a bit, especially in shader intensive games. From what I read, the 130gt is pretty close to the 9600gt and uses a unified architecture.

blibbax · Mar 3, 2009, 11:18 PM

Yes, GT130 is pretty similar to 9600GT, which is the model down from the 9800GT, which is pretty much identical to the 8800GT. Yes, you've got it, the 8800GT is better, though not in a totally different league.

You've gotta love Nvidia naming systems, and also wonder why Apple doesn't let you choose what you want.

thunderclap · Mar 3, 2009, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blibbax

Yes, GT130 is pretty similar to 9600GT, which is the model down from the 9800GT, which is pretty much identical to the 8800GT. Yes, you've got it, the 8800GT is better, though not in a totally different league.

You've gotta love Nvidia naming systems, and also wonder why Apple doesn't let you choose what you want.

If I was going based on numbers I'd assume that 9600GT was better than the 8800GT, not the other way around. Nice job confusing people!

As for Apple not letting you choose they actually do. It's just limited. I had the choice of the nVidia GT130 or the ATI Radeon HD 4850. As I had terrible experience with ATI in the past I decided to stick with nVidia.

IvanV · Mar 4, 2009, 12:36 AM

The first digit in a model number simply marks the generation, the second marks the market segment a card is targeting. A low end card from the latest generation will thus have a higher model number than the high end model from the previous (for example 9400 and 8800), but the previous generation's high end is always faster.

In your case, you've got a high(ish) end card from the eight generation, the 8800GT, and a mid-range card from the ninth, the 9600GT, and it can't be decided which is faster just by comparing the model numbers. It's been like that for years already. It's also quite similar on ATi's side where Radeon 4670 isn't really faster than 3850, so one really needs to get informed before purchasing.

BlueMak · Mar 4, 2009, 03:15 AM

4850 should be faster than those two, i think.

Vikingod · Mar 4, 2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueMak

4850 should be faster than those two, i think.

I was thinking the same thing.

Cow_160483 · Mar 4, 2009, 04:13 PM

grate minds think alike, but am pretty sure that you should have gone for the ATI (4850) card , but no point crying over spilt milk. as for the difference between those two card i think the 8800gt would be a bit faster not by much mind you !

Vikingod · Mar 4, 2009, 05:18 PM

Really you should look at it from the point of what you plan to do with the machine. If it's not your primary gaming rig, you should be fine.

If it is, why would you buy a Mactop to be a gaming rig?

blibbax · Mar 4, 2009, 06:14 PM

How do Apple computers respond to modding these days? I'm thinking you could maybe retrofit a better card somewhere down the line?

thunderclap · Mar 4, 2009, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vikingod

Really you should look at it from the point of what you plan to do with the machine. If it's not your primary gaming rig, you should be fine.

If it is, why would you buy a Mactop to be a gaming rig?

Now now. I said this shouldn't be a flame war.

In answer to your question about 50% of my work is video editing and I'm most comfortable with Final Cut Studio. I don't have room for two computers so an iMac is the best setup for me. OS X for business side, Windows for my gaming.

And upon further research it turns out the GT 130 is not an integrated graphic card like I first thought. It's in fact it's own graphics card in the machine.

Vikingod · Mar 4, 2009, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunderclap

Now now. I said this shouldn't be a flame war.

In answer to your question about 50% of my work is video editing and I'm most comfortable with Final Cut Studio. I don't have room for two computers so an iMac is the best setup for me. OS X for business side, Windows for my gaming.

And upon further research it turns out the GT 130 is not an integrated graphic card like I first thought. It's in fact it's own graphics card in the machine.

Right, and it should work just fine for you if you are doing video editing.

~~joytime365~~ · Mar 6, 2009, 03:24 AM

8800GT should be better choice man.

Mar 3, 2009, 08:33 PM	#1
thunderclap HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 348 Rep Power: 32	8800GT vs 130GT As I mentioned in a previous post I ordered a new iMac with the nVidia 130GT graphics card to replace my older Mac Pro with an nVidia 8800GT. After reading all the backlash about the new Mac upgrades I'm starting to get a little concerned I made the wrong choice. So my question is which card is better? The nVidia 8800GT or the 130GT? Also, this is NOT a Windows vs Mac debate, so please don't start one. It's a serious question about the graphics card ONLY. Thank you. __________________ Marc B. Genrefinity.net - Your source for all things in the horror, science fiction and fantasy genres

Mar 3, 2009, 08:48 PM	#2
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,187 Rep Power: 109 System Specs	Re: 8800GT vs 130GT I bet the 8800gt is faster by a bit, especially in shader intensive games. From what I read, the 130gt is pretty close to the 9600gt and uses a unified architecture. __________________ *How You Can Help DriverHeaven By Using Digg*

Mar 3, 2009, 11:18 PM	#3
blibbax What does this do? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 3,696 Rep Power: 169 System Specs	Re: 8800GT vs 130GT Yes, GT130 is pretty similar to 9600GT, which is the model down from the 9800GT, which is pretty much identical to the 8800GT. Yes, you've got it, the 8800GT is better, though not in a totally different league. You've gotta love Nvidia naming systems, and also wonder why Apple doesn't let you choose what you want. __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!

Mar 4, 2009, 12:36 AM	#5
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,653 Rep Power: 280 System Specs	Re: 8800GT vs 130GT The first digit in a model number simply marks the generation, the second marks the market segment a card is targeting. A low end card from the latest generation will thus have a higher model number than the high end model from the previous (for example 9400 and 8800), but the previous generation's high end is always faster. In your case, you've got a high(ish) end card from the eight generation, the 8800GT, and a mid-range card from the ninth, the 9600GT, and it can't be decided which is faster just by comparing the model numbers. It's been like that for years already. It's also quite similar on ATi's side where Radeon 4670 isn't really faster than 3850, so one really needs to get informed before purchasing. __________________ Our Folding@home stats:

Mar 4, 2009, 03:15 AM	#6
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,247 Rep Power: 326 System Specs	Re: 8800GT vs 130GT 4850 should be faster than those two, i think. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Mar 4, 2009, 04:13 PM	#8
Cow_160483 HH's only cow moooooo... Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: BOTSWANA Posts: 6,687 Rep Power: 280 System Specs	Re: 8800GT vs 130GT grate minds think alike, but am pretty sure that you should have gone for the ATI (4850) card , but no point crying over spilt milk. as for the difference between those two card i think the 8800gt would be a bit faster not by much mind you ! __________________ Decode! Muhahahahah!

Mar 4, 2009, 05:18 PM	#9
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,187 Rep Power: 109 System Specs	Re: 8800GT vs 130GT Really you should look at it from the point of what you plan to do with the machine. If it's not your primary gaming rig, you should be fine. If it is, why would you buy a Mactop to be a gaming rig? __________________ *How You Can Help DriverHeaven By Using Digg*

Mar 4, 2009, 06:14 PM	#10
blibbax What does this do? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 3,696 Rep Power: 169 System Specs	Re: 8800GT vs 130GT How do Apple computers respond to modding these days? I'm thinking you could maybe retrofit a better card somewhere down the line? __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!

Mar 6, 2009, 03:24 AM	#13
~~joytime365~~ Banned Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 22 Rep Power: 0	Re: 8800GT vs 130GT 8800GT should be better choice man.