Review: XFX GeForce 8800 GTX 768MB DDR3 XXX Edition

Thoughts, awards, right2reply, where2buy

Our HEXUS.bang4buck graph illustrates that the XFX GeForce 8800 GTX XXX Edition, priced at around £460, doesn't offer particularly impressive value for money, but that would be missing the point somewhat. This SKU has been designed for technology leadership and is the fastest single card we've ever tested. Its target market, then, is a small band of enthusiasts where performance is the primary criterion.

The very fact that XFX has released a reference-cooled GeForce 8800 GTX card with such impressive frequencies shows that G80 yields are good and a super-clocked SKU - direct from NVIDIA - is just around the corner.

We reckon the bundle could do with a revamp to include, say, a game and the correct hardware. Looking at the bigger picture, we'd like XFX to review its policy on not including warranty cover on cards which are sold on, but our gripes finish there.

The conclusion for the XFX GeForce 8800 GTX XXX Edition is a pretty simple one. It's recommended to the enthusiast who wants cutting-edge performance from a regular card. For everyone else, a stock-clocked GeForce 8800 GTX is more than fast enough, and it's cheaper, as well.

We could go on to say how a couple of SLI'd GeForce 8800 GTSs might be better and list any number of possible alternatives, but those that want this card - and you know who you are - will have already got their credit card out by the time they read this sentence.

Bottom line - the fastest graphics card we've tested and one that will continue to impress as DX10 titles hit the shelves. £460 is a lot of money, sure, but the XXX Edition is naughtily tempting nonetheless.

We cannot award the XFX GeForce 8800 GTX XXX Edition with an outright recommendation to buy because its appeal is limited to a fraction of our readers. If that happens to be you, it is, currently, the best there is.

HEXUS Awards

The XFX GeForce 8800 GTX XXX Edition (PV-T80F-SHD9) is awarded the HEXUS Extreme Speed award for, well, being the fastest card in town.

XFX GeForce 8800 GTX XXX Edition (PV-T80F-SHD9

HEXUS Where2Buy

At the time of writing, you can purchase the XFX GeForce 8800 GTX XXX Edition, here for £460 including VAT.

HEXUS Right2Reply

At HEXUS.net, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any of XFX's representatives choose to do so, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.

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Hi there. Just joined to query one part of your review. Obviously, the 7950GX2 came out top in the price/performance part of the battle, but where on earth can you find such a card for £220, let alone call it an “average street price”?

I think you guys got confused and used the 7950GT pricing instead, as those few places where the 7950GX2 cards are still available are listing them at £330 (the cheapest I could find) and up to the £500 mark.

But if there's one out there for £220, please let me know :) My credit card would be out faster than you could pass wind. ;)

I have one of these and they are nice cards but not worth the price cos most of the 8800gtx can be very easily overclocked to the XXX speeds.

MuffinMan
Hi there. Just joined to query one part of your review. Obviously, the 7950GX2 came out top in the price/performance part of the battle, but where on earth can you find such a card for £220, let alone call it an “average street price”?

I think you guys got confused and used the 7950GT pricing instead, as those few places where the 7950GX2 cards are still available are listing them at £330 (the cheapest I could find) and up to the £500 mark.

But if there's one out there for £220, please let me know :) My credit card would be out faster than you could pass wind. ;)

MuffinMan,

That's interesting.

I took that price from Scan's website last Wednesday.

They had two cards, an ASUS and XFX, priced at £290 and £220, respectively. I'm sure Scan can confirm this.

Looking at the site now, however, both cards have been removed from the website, suggesting that there's just no more of that SKU left.

In view of this, I'll amend the graph with new pricing of £300.

Update: 8.20am - edited to reflect the current pricing.

Pretty fast card, i think 8800gtx will be on the top until amd-ati's r600 come out.

7950gx2 is cheap at price 220 pounds. But i would get a 8800gts for about 30-40 pounds more. Similar speed or on some games 7950gx2 is faster, but for future gaming you must get 8800 series or wait for a dx 10 games releases. You'll have more choices of graphics cards from both nvidia and amd.

madmobile
Pretty fast card, i think 8800gtx will be on the top until amd-ati's r600 come out.

7950gx2 is cheap at price 220 pounds. But i would get a 8800gts for about 30-40 pounds more. Similar speed or on some games 7950gx2 is faster, but for future gaming you must get 8800 series or wait for a dx 10 games releases. You'll have more choices of graphics cards from both nvidia and amd.

nvidia and amd? i diddt know amd made graphics cards hehe:) but on a serious note i think i will wait to see what ATI has to offer and i may wait til the 2nd generation of dx10 cards to come out before i make my decision in upgrading my ageing pc(the legendary P4 Northwood :) )