How does 9800 Pro compare with modern cards?

[Bobby]

OK. I have. Ordered today. Due to arrive Thursday from www.ebuyer.com for
£84.00.

Full 256 bit retail version with Arctic cooler:

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=55198

Bobby

 

[ofn01]

OK. I have. Ordered today. Due to arrive Thursday from www.ebuyer.com for
£84.00.

Full 256 bit retail version with Arctic cooler:

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=55198

Bobby

Getting one with an artic cooler is a pretty good idea. I think that
card will be good - I recommend the 4.12 drivers by the way.

(I would be interested to find out how the ebuyer service is in terms of
delivering the right product on time)

 

[Bobby]

I recommend the 4.12 drivers by the way.

Where can I download this version? I'm currently running a later version (on
my 9600 Pro).

Bobby

 

[Doug]

One of the moderators on Rage3d did just this (switched from a 9800Pro to a
6800 GT AGP) he just about doubled his framerates even though he's only
running an Athlon XP 3200! I'd make the switch but I don't have the cash for
it right now.

 

[Doug]

I have to say the 9800 Pro also chugs on Doom3 at high detail, 2xAA, 8xAF,
1024x768 the game stutters noticeably on the boss levels and some user-made
maps. On some user-made maps the game chugs even @ 800x600. I've got a gig
of RAM and a mobile athlon XP running @ 2580. I'd recommend the OP look for
a higher end card than the 9800Pro or get a 9800Pro off of ebay for cheap.

 

[Doug]

Supposedly the Catalyst 5.6 has the best perf and most bug fixes (that's
what I'm using). It does have the higest benchs I've ever got in Doom3 (but
only by 1 FPS).

 

[Doug]

Personally, I think you just threw your money away buying dead tech. I
would've saved my nickels and dimes for something better. But if you didn't
have any other video card maybe you didn't have a choice!

 

[Julian Richards]

Getting one with an artic cooler is a pretty good idea. I think that
card will be good - I recommend the 4.12 drivers by the way.

(I would be interested to find out how the ebuyer service is in terms of
delivering the right product on time)

I've had a lot of stuff from them in my time and never had a problem
but I never had to return anything either.
--

Julian Richards
computer "at" richardsuk.f9.co.uk

www.richardsuk.f9.co.uk
Website of "Robot Wars" middleweight "Broadsword IV"

 

[NightSky 421]

I have to say the 9800 Pro also chugs on Doom3 at high detail, 2xAA, 8xAF,
1024x768 the game stutters noticeably on the boss levels and some user-made
maps. On some user-made maps the game chugs even @ 800x600. I've got a gig
of RAM and a mobile athlon XP running @ 2580. I'd recommend the OP look for
a higher end card than the 9800Pro or get a 9800Pro off of ebay for cheap.

For Doom 3, I was running in 1024x768 but with AA and AF both turned off.
My experience was good except for the odd split-second pause when a new
monster showed up in an area. Running in Medium or High detail didn't make
much of a noticeable performance difference for me even though my card only
has 128MB. However, in Resurrection of Evil, I had to turn the resolution
down to 800x600 to get a fluid frame rate during the final boss battle of
the game. Otherwise 1024x768 was fine for the expansion.

 

[Bobby]

Doug - Strictly a cash decision.

9800 Pro ~ £85
6600GT (AGP) - £140
6800GT - you're having a laugh.

I have a 9600 Pro right now that I need to replace (in fact, I need to give
it to my daughter to speed-up her PC - an Athlon 2000 - to play The Sims) so
I needed a cheap replacement - but one that would noticeably improve my PC.

Bobby

 

[mhicaoidh]

Taking a moment's reflection, Doug mused:
|
| I have to say the 9800 Pro also chugs on Doom3 at high detail, 2xAA,
| 8xAF, 1024x768 the game stutters noticeably on the boss levels and
| some user-made maps. On some user-made maps the game chugs even @
| 800x600. I've got a gig of RAM and a mobile athlon XP running @ 2580.


Turn off the 2xAA and the 8xAF then. Played through D3 at
1024x768 just fine on a Athlon XP 1.6 GHz, GeForce Ti4400 no AA or AF,
and shadows turned off. Played through it again on 9800 Pro with
shadows on. No real time to notice aliasing when you are blasting
stuff.

 

[ofn01]

Supposedly the Catalyst 5.6 has the best perf and most bug fixes (that's
what I'm using). It does have the higest benchs I've ever got in Doom3 (but
only by 1 FPS).

I tried the 5.6 drivers on my 9800 pro system and noticed no increase in
games and a drop in performance for some synthetic benchmarks and a
marginal improvement in others. I went back to 4.12

 

[ofn01]

I've had a lot of stuff from them in my time and never had a problem
but I never had to return anything either.

I've read some bad stuff on the web about them in terms of botching returns.

 

[ofn01]

Where can I download this version? I'm currently running a later version (on
my 9600 Pro).

Bobby

Google is your friend!
here is one of the links searching for 'Catalyst 4.12 download'
http://www.techspot.com/story16517.html

 

[ofn01]

Doug - Strictly a cash decision.

9800 Pro ~ £85
6600GT (AGP) - £140
6800GT - you're having a laugh.

I have a 9600 Pro right now that I need to replace (in fact, I need to give
it to my daughter to speed-up her PC - an Athlon 2000 - to play The Sims) so
I needed a cheap replacement - but one that would noticeably improve my PC.

Bobby

At £85 a 9800 Pro *with* an artic cooler is a steal. It is bargain
basement price for a DX9 card with 8 pipes a 256bit memory bus and it
will happily play current modern games at 1024x768 on high and I suspect
for another year you'll get very similar performance.

 

[ofn01]

I have to say the 9800 Pro also chugs on Doom3 at high detail, 2xAA, 8xAF,
1024x768 the game stutters noticeably on the boss levels and some user-made
maps. On some user-made maps the game chugs even @ 800x600. I've got a gig
of RAM and a mobile athlon XP running @ 2580. I'd recommend the OP look for
a higher end card than the 9800Pro or get a 9800Pro off of ebay for cheap.

Its the AA that will be crippling things.
High Detail in Doom 3 automatically turns on 8xAF, but at 1024x768 a
9800 Pro is fine. Adding AA though pushes it down to sub-playable framerates

 

[Julian Richards]

Julian Richards wrote:

I've read some bad stuff on the web about them in terms of botching returns.

So have I. As I said, I've been lucky enough to never need to return
anything in having 20 or 30 items.

--

Julian Richards
computer "at" richardsuk.f9.co.uk

www.richardsuk.f9.co.uk
Website of "Robot Wars" middleweight "Broadsword IV"

 

[higgy]

OK. I have. Ordered today. Due to arrive Thursday from www.ebuyer.com
for £84.00.

Full 256 bit retail version with Arctic cooler:

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=8316958861&action
=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=55198

Nice one - that's actually the same card I have!


higgy.

 

[higgy]

So have I. As I said, I've been lucky enough to never need to return
anything in having 20 or 30 items.

Same here and, to be fair, I've seen lots of comments in the comp and
vendors groups that suggest RMA's are processed much more smoothly than
they used to be. I think most of the bad rep is from years ago.


higgy.

 

[Bobby]

At £85 a 9800 Pro *with* an artic cooler is a steal.

Yes. It is. I bought my son a 9800 Pro last Xmas for £150 (without cooler).

I'm not a huge gamer (odd game of HL2 and Doom/Quake). But a good gfx card
makes Windows much nicer to use. When you go back to a vanilla PC (or a Mac)
the whole thing seems incredibly slow after using a PC with a decent graphic
card. I'm surprised more people don't comment on this.