How does 9800 Pro compare with modern cards?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bobby
  • Start date Start date
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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).
 
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!
 
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)
Click to expand...

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"
 
Doug said:
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.
Click to expand...


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.
 
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
 
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. :-p 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.
 
Doug said:
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).
Click to expand...

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
 
Julian said:
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.
Click to expand...

I've read some bad stuff on the web about them in terms of botching returns.
 
Bobby said:
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
Click to expand...

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.
 
Doug said:
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.
Click to expand...

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 wrote:

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

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

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.
 
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.
 
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