Asus EN9800GTX 512MB Videocard Review

[screwballl]

If I had any I would... all I have is ICD7 and AS5... and the AS5 is almost gone so I may as well toss it since ICD7 is superior in my testing

[azianai]

yeah im still trying to figure out how to apply IC7 onto my GX2 without basically breaking the GPU @_@.

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by One4yu2c

Nvidia kind of shot themselves in the foot by already releasing the G92 core in 8800 trim. The 9800GTX destroys the original G80 based 8800 cards, and by itself, the pricing isn't bad either. But compared with the second run 8800GT and second run 8800GTS, the 9800GTX loses a bit of bang/buck.

Compared to some of the factory OC'ed 8800GTS 512MB, the 9800GTX is just a different name for a few bucks more.
Good review though Paul.

[Quakindude]

I don't know if saying the 9800 is just a different name. It runs significantly cooler, and from my research, overclocks significantly better, than the 8800 GT/GTS G92 cores. Remember, a five+ degree drop in temps with higher clocks/overclocks and minimal additional amps is worthy of note. And when you consider the 8800GTX, a $500-$600 card when first released, is either on par or outperformed by a $300 card, there's more than just an incremental revision here IMHO.

I completely agree that it sure as hell shouldn't have been dubbed a 9800GTX suggesting a complete core revision, should have been an 8900GTX IMO, but this video card is superior in many ways. I'd hate for someone reading this review to purchase a more expensive solution, or something like SLI'ed 9600's, thinking the 9800GTX isn't worth the money. It definitely is worth the $300 admittance fee. Having said that, I certainly wouldn't upgrade from an 8800 series G92 card to this. But anything G80 and below except for the 8800GTX/Ultra's, I wouldn't hesitate pulling the trigger on this card.

But then, after losing my 8800GTS G80 core card, and having been the recipient of a 9800GTX for my birthday from my bro-in-law, I'm pretty impressed by this 9800GTX.

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

I don't know if saying the 9800 is just a different name. It runs significantly cooler, and from my research, overclocks significantly better, than the 8800 GT/GTS G92 cores. Remember, a five+ degree drop in temps with higher clocks/overclocks and minimal additional amps is worthy of note. And when you consider the 8800GTX, a $500-$600 card when first released, is either on par or outperformed by a $300 card, there's more than just an incremental revision here IMHO.

I completely agree that it sure as hell shouldn't have been dubbed a 9800GTX suggesting a complete core revision, should have been an 8900GTX IMO, but this video card is superior in many ways. I'd hate for someone reading this review to purchase a more expensive solution, or something like SLI'ed 9600's, thinking the 9800GTX isn't worth the money. It definitely is worth the $300 admittance fee. Having said that, I certainly wouldn't upgrade from an 8800 series G92 card to this. But anything G80 and below except for the 8800GTX/Ultra's, I wouldn't hesitate pulling the trigger on this card.

But then, after losing my 8800GTS G80 core card, and having been the recipient of a 9800GTX for my birthday from my bro-in-law, I'm pretty impressed by this 9800GTX.

There's virtually no difference in the GPU, aside that the 9800GTX might be using a new revision of the G92 core (G92-270 is 8800GT 512MB, G92-400 was the 8800GTS 512 IIRC and if you pop the cover off your 9800 GTX you will see G92-400-A2 like the 8800GTS)
If it's a new revision (weird though, because normally they would increment, either A3 or B something) it would explain the better 'overclockability'. Although I strongly believe the better overclockability is due to a better board.
nVidia touts it has HD decoding yadda yadda that only GeForce 9 series has, I call bullshit on that. It wouldn't be the first time it's all controlled by the driver and not the hardware.

To me, it doesn't justify the $100 difference (and more) between the 8800GTS 512MB reference design and the 9800GTX reference design. Clocked the same, you get the same frame rate in your games.

Edit: Memory is different though. 0.8ns on the 9800GTX (explains the 1100MHz base)

[Quakindude]

Performance numbers don't lie though:
Crysis Frame Rates for 9800GTX and 8800GT at different resolutions from this page.

1024x768 - +19% Win to the 9800GTX
1280x1024 - +9% win to the 9800GTX
1680x1050 - +16.2% win to the 9800GTX
1920x1200 - +15.4% win to the 9800GTX.

Overlocked 9800GTX wins are even better.

1680x1050 - +20.6% win to the 9800GTX
1920x1200 - +29.1% win to the 9800GTX

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

Performance numbers don't lie though:
Crysis Frame Rates for 9800GTX and 8800GT at different resolutions from this page.

1024x768 - +19% Win to the 9800GTX
1280x1024 - +9% win to the 9800GTX
1680x1050 - +16.2% win to the 9800GTX
1920x1200 - +15.4% win to the 9800GTX.

Overlocked 9800GTX wins are even better.

1680x1050 - +20.6% win to the 9800GTX
1920x1200 - +29.1% win to the 9800GTX

Shoddy graphs, to say the least.
Notice how in Crysis (DX10 or DX9?? Vista 64 or Vista 32?) the 9800GTX stock is better than the 9800GTX overclocked @ 1024x768. They even say so. What gives? Unstable overclock, or plain old shitty benching.
Or how the 8800GT performs better than the 8800GTS G92, which is apparently what they've used if you come back to the page before.
However, 8800GTS takes the lead over 8800GT in other tests...
Worst, the 8800GTS slams the 9800GTX in CoD4. *cough*

I'll say this only once, bring me something more tangible than OC Club reviews.

Regarding GPU overclocking, something I forgot is that the GPU is fed 0.02v more too. This helps with the better PCB, better PWMs and better cooler.

[screwballl]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

But then, after losing my 8800GTS G80 core card, and having been the recipient of a 9800GTX for my birthday from my bro-in-law, I'm pretty impressed by this 9800GTX.

Wow how do I join that family....

[Quakindude]

Originally Posted by polobunny

I'll say this only once, bring me something more tangible than OC Club reviews.

You'll say it only once? Give me a break. You aren't talking to a child here buddy. Why is it that when you disagree with the opinion, all of a sudden, the site linked isn't worth spit? You're gonna run out of sites at this rate.

Get defensive about it as much as you wish. If you've read what I've written, I didn't slam the review or anyones thoughts on it. However, I personally view the 9800GTX as more than just an overlocked G92. There's been some incremental improvements, and no...I'm not aware of what all they are and could care less, that make it a card worth serious consideration and you can't deny it performs better than the other G92 cards. The 8800GTS G92 cards approaching the clocks of the 9800GTX are easily well over the $200 price point.

I coulda swore I said I wouldn't upgrade to this card from another G92. But I have a shitty memory, so maybe not. If I'm gonna get hammered like this for expressing an opinion, I'll stop saying anything at all. This is the third time I've expressed an opinion that doesn't fall directly inline with the review opinion where people have "sorta" jumped me for having a different opinion than the one offered. I'll say it only once. I don't appreciate it.

[One4yu2c]

That's it, Quakindude and Polobunny are hereby issued a 2 minute hugging penalty.

But on a serious note, opinions are always welcomed, whether they agree with a particular review and/or majority, or not. As a site, my/HL's job is to provide readers with the information necessary to make an informed purchasing decision. As it relates to the 9800GTX, we have to point out that it's essentially the same card as the G92 8800GTS, albeit higher clocked. It's up the reader to do with that info as they please, whether that means picking up a sub-$200 8800GTS and OCing', or paying a bit more up front for the faster 9800GTX at stock, also with a fair bit of OCing headroom.

And Quakin and Polo, you two can stop hugging now - the groping has started making members uncomfortable.