TechReport compares seven different GeForce 8800 series graphics cards from BFG, EVGA, Foxconn, MSI, OCZ, PNY and XFX. The contestants are split between three GTS cards and four GTXs, most of which are running at stock speeds (513MHz appears to be the actual stock clock speed for the 8800 GTS). There are a couple of exceptions, though. EVGA's GeForce 8800 GTX ACS pushes the GTX's clocks to 626MHz core and an effective 2.0GHz memory, while Foxconn's FV-N88SMBD2-ONOC cranks the GTS up to GTX speeds.

On the GTS front, I was first torn between the BFG and Foxconn cards. The Foxconn's factory "overclocking" and bundled game controller weigh heavily in its favor, and it is $10 cheaper than the BFG. However, Foxconn's warranty spoils the deal-a measly two years of coverage in a market filled with lifetime warranties is a joke. So surely the BFG, with its lifetime warranty, excellent tech support, and freebie t-shirt and mouse feet, would win me over. But not quite. You see, the BFG card is also the most expensive GeForce 8800 GTS of the bunch, but it runs at stock speeds, and our card's memory didn't overclock nearly as well as that of the others.

As it turns out, I was looking in the wrong direction all along. PNY's XLR8 GeForce 8800 GTS may lack the flash of bundled extras, higher stock frequencies, or a lifetime warranty, but for just $385, it's a heck of a deal. The money you save can purchase extras you actually want. As our overclocking results show, the fact that PNY doesn't offer faster clock speeds out of the box doesn't mean you can't get there on your own. Couple that with a three-year warranty that goes up to five years with registration, and you have our first Editor's Choice.

Finding the pick of the GeForce 8800 GTX litter was considerably easier. MSI gets knocked out of the running early for providing only a three-year parts, two-year labor warranty-Serious Sam II doesn't even come close to making up for that, although the NX8800GTX is the cheapest GTX in the round-up by $10. At over $620 online, OCZ's GeForce 8800 GTX is simply too expensive for a reference card running at stock speeds with few intriguing extras. We're happy to see OCZ back in the graphics game, but we think they can do better, especially for a card that commands a higher price premium than the EVGA ACS3.

The EVGA card does look tempting, if not for the exotic heatsink shroud, then for the performance advantage that the card's higher clock speeds provide. We really like the idea behind the Step-Up program, too, but EVGA's warranty policy leaves a sour aftertaste. Lifetime warranties are great, but cutting coverage to a single year if users don't register within 30 days of purchase is unnecessarily restrictive for a card that costs north of $600. That leaves us with XFX's GeForce 8800 GTX, which just happens to be one of the more affordable GTX options on the market. You don't get fancy bundled extras or tweaked clock speeds, but you save a bit of cash. With some luck, you should be able to hit the higher clock speeds of the EVGA card on your own. Throw in a warranty that enhances the resale value of the card by extending coverage to its second owner, and you have our second Editor's Choice.