Having the fastest graphics card on the market is a real PR coup for any manufacturer, but the real business comes from the mainstream sector. Enthusiast gamers will purchase the graphics card that gives them the best performance and features for their budget. Brand loyalty is not as prevalent in this area and from generation to generation it is the best value for money card which sells the most units.
With the recent release of the Radeon 3850 and GeForce 8800 GS there is a new battle taking place for consumers with a budget of £100-£140 and today we have two such cards on our test bench, the XFX 8800 GS XXX 384Mb and the Sapphire 3850 256Mb. Which deserves your money?