Well, a little over a month ago we looked at NVIDIA's GeForce 8800 GT graphics processing unit, which brought the high-end performance of the GeForce 8800 series down to mainstream prices. Building on the success of the GeForce 8800 GT, NVIDIA today is lauching the GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB. Unlike the 320MB and 640MB models of the GeForce 8800 GTS that debuted last November, the GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB is manufactured using a smaller 65nm fabrication process with a scaled back 256-bit memory bus. Compared to the GeForce 8800 GT, the GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB features 128 stream processors along with higher core, shader, and memory clock speeds. - nV News

XFX GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB XXX Graphics Review

The XFX GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB Alpha Dog edition we received was running at 678MHz core, 1700MHz shader and 1972MHz memory clock speed. The GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB also features a dual slot cooling solution, which gives it an edge over the GeForce 8800 GT with lower GPU temperatures and less fan noise. Since this is the the XXX Alpha Dog edition, it means pre-overclocked settings which do need some extra cooling which is nicely provided by this dual slot version. And for those with a GeForce 8800 GT, there is a big chance that this cooler will also fit perfectly on those cards.

The XFX GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB is a solid implementation of NVIDIA's reference design and competes with the much higher priced GeForce 8800 GTX. However, the GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB faces stiff competition from the GeForce 8800 GT, which can pose a difficult decision in choosing one model over the other. The added performance of the GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB over the GeForce 8800 GT is not enough to warrant the additional expense, but the dual slot cooling solution could be a deciding factor. Other factors will include rebates, bundle, accessories, and of course availability.