Partyboy Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 I decided to upgrade my video card and i'm not sure which one to buy: ASUS GF 8800GT PCIE 1GB 256-BIT GDDR 3 or GF 9800GTX+ PCIE 512MB DDR3 2XDVI HDTV ? The price seems to be the same,with difference in 20 $ .Your input is appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazymodder Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 XFX 9800GTX is better. i hope you googling 1st and compare the clocks before buying a GPU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slamman Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Higher numbers = better, higher prices = better newer = better Now, the trick to this equation is..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazymodder Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Higher numbers = better, higher prices = better newer = better Now, the trick to this equation is..... get a hooker. googling before buying GPU and compare the speeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Partyboy Posted August 19, 2008 Author Share Posted August 19, 2008 The problem is 8800gt that i want to buy has 1gb and 9800gtx only 512mb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omega5002 Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Well the 1gb memory is really only useful if you have a monitor that produces very high resoultions like 1920 x 1200 or 2560 x 1600 so unless you have a 24+ monitor you should go with the 9800 gtx since it has alot better performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star-Lord Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 The problem is 8800gt that i want to buy has 1gb and 9800gtx only 512mb The memory size of a graphics cards refers to the extent to which it can support graphics operations without tapping into the PC’s memory. The 9800GTX is 15% faster in all benchmarks scores so it's a better choice compared to 8800GT. If you are a power user and what the best performance for your buck then buy the 9800GTX. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leik oh em jeez! Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 well, the specs are basically the same, when comparing a 9800gt and 8800gt, but the 9800gt would be slightly better. Now, This is a 9800GTX+, it would beast the 8800gt. (The 880GT would never use that much memory anyways, the 1Gb is just a gimmik to sell the cards, only like 7% upgrade in performance. Now, if you are going to go for a single card, and stay that way (not go with SLI) and can afford water cooling, go for 8800GT. While it might not need all of that memory now, it would after some heavy overclocking. BTW, from what I've read, XFX makes the best cards. They're usually $10 - $20 more expensive, but it's worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzy Fozborne Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 (edited) @pctechguy: Graphics cards never tap into the main system RAM unless they are either A) "turbocache" cards [Nvidia] B) "Hypermemory" cards [ATI] or C) Integrated graphics [any]. Graphics cards not listed as on of those have their own RAM that they use and it requires a specific chip for it to link into the main RAM. Also keep in mind that compared to even the fastest system RAM available, video card RAM just completely blows it away in terms of speed. @OP: get the 9800GTX. It's basically just an overclocked 8800GT with better cooling. By the time that the 8800GT would be able to use the extra RAM (at 1920 by 1080 or higher with all graphics on high), the GPU would cause it to lag due to not enough power. If they're the same price get the 9800GTX. Also keep in mind that cards with excessive amounts of RAM in relation to their GPU (the 8800GT in this case) are acutely slower than a similar card with less RAM (512MB is optimal) because the GPU has to hunt longer for the information it needs in the larger space. Edited August 19, 2008 by Fozzy Fozborne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Democrab Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 well, the specs are basically the same, when comparing a 9800gt and 8800gt, but the 9800gt would be slightly better. Now, This is a 9800GTX+, it would beast the 8800gt.(The 880GT would never use that much memory anyways, the 1Gb is just a gimmik to sell the cards, only like 7% upgrade in performance. Now, if you are going to go for a single card, and stay that way (not go with SLI) and can afford water cooling, go for 8800GT. While it might not need all of that memory now, it would after some heavy overclocking. BTW, from what I've read, XFX makes the best cards. They're usually $10 - $20 more expensive, but it's worth it. It can use it, but by the time it gets to a largeish point (About 800Mb of vram usage) the GPU can't keep up with the game if its using huge textures to use that space up.. 9800GTX pwns the 8800GT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SyphonPayne Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 9800GTX pwns the 8800GT. If by "pwn" you mean about 10% faster, then yes it pwns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slamman Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 (edited) To imply a universal truth that graphics GPU cards don't EVER tap into main RAM is not to say that BIOS and other non-GPU based instruction can be set up for Sharing Ram with the video processing, at least from what I've encountered. In my year 2000 Dell Dimension, that's a Pentium 3 machine, the video is based on the integrated North-Bridge (<Correction!<) and that's the familiar 82810E. The graphics here are AGP but the mobo is PCI only, so graphics cards added are PCI only, still AGP is integrated with the Intel option default. Well, looking at what Fozzy said, this is a case of Integrated graphics controller allowing shared video Ram with what is in the DIMM slots as well SDRAM/DRAM. I've seen both mobos and graphics cards with memory slots allowing a particular VRAM (vid) to be expanded... One I looked up for Matrox G200 (IIRC) was WRAM, or WindowsRAM, I believe, used for video memory on these old cards, the slots don't match SODIMMs typically found for main mem. What was odd as I was checking this out is utilities show I have 32MB of video RAM and I don't come across that in integrated video of this sort. It's also been seen listed in BIOS settings, where you can futz around with the level of virtual or physical shared memory too, though this is not common on OEM BIOS. How to play with these numbers in an OEM machine is something I'd been looking at doing, to get GTA3 on PC to work under older cards and setups, or even Vice City which needs 64MB video Ram Edited August 19, 2008 by Slamman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzy Fozborne Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 I meant modern graphics cards, due to the fact that we are indeed talking about modern cards. I'm only talking about what normal customers would by in a new computer. To amend: Modern graphics cards don't... And by modern cards I mean anything 6X00 series or greater that isn't one of those solutions. @Slam, it's called a Northbridge chip and it's integrated. Hence, it's the C in what I posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leik oh em jeez! Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 How to play with these numbers in an OEM machine is something I'd been looking at doing, to get GTA3 on PC to work under older cards and setups, or even Vice City which needs 64MB video Ram Required VRAM for GTA3 is 12Mb, 32Mb for VC, and 64Mb for SA. And I played SA for a year or so with my 32Mb onboard graphics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slamman Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Well, I am not so sure you are correct because I got two copies of GTA3 and I also have SA for PC as well... all the 3D ones, and 128MB is needed for vid graphics on SA, but 64MB I recall is the spec for Vice and 32MB is demanded from GTA3 during the actual install process. I do recall a pop up but not sure when it is presented, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leik oh em jeez! Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Are you claiming I played San Andreas for a year at 1024x768 and settings turned down with no lag with only 1/4 of the required VRAM? I am doubting this possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slamman Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 (edited) I'm using the minimum figures, however, I think it will run sluggishly. I can verify them, looking at the actual jewelboxes, but I am not currently doing that... I submitted them to memory, I thought . OK, I see the jewelbox for GTA3 doesn't have the specs, it's in the PC version manual, however, I have the SA version manual... it says 1Ghz minimum clock for the CPU, 256MB Ram, so that's good....BTW, a minimum CPU speed can be fudged as well, to a 933 or 966Mhz, perhaps, sometimes all that a 370 board may operate on. Athlon XP also supported.... Direct X9 is needed and can install on Windows 98, but 9c? I can't recall if I got that working on a 98 machine. I believe Direct X5 to 7 and 8 are common in that 98SE era. A Geforce3 nVidia with 64MB is listed in there, again, minimal specs. For GTA Vice City....A 450 Pentium 2, as I mentioned, these are the best of the P2 processors. I have a few, but sadly 233, the low end, are most commonly found, and are the worst to be stuck with. 16MB Ram for VC, WOW! I guess I was looking at optimal settings on that, my bad. Edited August 19, 2008 by Slamman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leik oh em jeez! Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 directly from README's: SA Minimum Hardware Requirements: 1GHz Intel Pentium III or AMD Athlon Processor 256 MB of RAM 8 speed DVD-ROM Drive 3.6 GB of free Hard Disk space for a minimal install 64 MB Video Card with DirectX 9 compatible drivers ("GeForce3" or better) DirectX 9 compatible Stereo Sound Card Keyboard Mouse Recommended Hardware Requirements: Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon XP processor (or better) 384(+) MB of RAM 16 speed DVD-ROM drive 4.7 GB of free Hard Disk space for a full install 128(+) MB Video Card with DirectX 9 compatible drivers ("GeForce4" or better) DirectX 9 compatible Surround Sound Card Game pad with twin axis analogue controls (USB or Joystick Port) Keyboard Mouse VC Minimum Hardware Requirements 800 MHz Intel Pentium III or 800 MHz AMD Athlon or 1.2GHz Intel Celeron or 1.2 GHz AMD Duron processor 128 MB of RAM 8 speed CD / DVD drive 915 MB of free hard disk space (+ 635 MB if video card does NOT support DirectX Texture Compression) 32 MB video card with DirectX 9.0 compatible drivers ("GeForce" or better) Sound Card with DirectX 9.0 compatible drivers Keyboard Mouse Recommended Hardware Requirements Intel Pentium IV or AMD Athlon XP processor 256(+) MB of RAM 16 speed CD / DVD drive 1.55 GB of free hard disk space (+ 635 MB if video card does NOT support DirectX Texture Compression) 64(+) MB video card with DirectX 9.0 compatible drivers ("GeForce 3" / "Radeon 8500" or better with DirectX Texture Compression support) DirectX 9.0 compatible sound card with surround sound Gamepad (USB or Joystick Port) Keyboard Mouse III Minimum Hardware Requirements 450 MHz Intel Pentium III or AMD Athlon processor 96 MB of RAM 4 speed CD / DVD drive 700 MB of free hard disk space 16 MB video card with DirectX 8.1 compatible drivers DirectX 8.1 compatible sound card Keyboard Mouse Recommended Hardware Requirements 700(+) MHz Intel Pentium III or AMD Athlon processor 128(+) MB of RAM 8 speed CD / DVD drive 700 MB of free hard disk space 32(+) MB DirectX 8.1 hardware video card DirectX 8.1 compatible sound card with surround sound Gamepad (USB or Joystick Port) Keyboard Mouse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slamman Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Better look again, Maybe they revamped something, I bought VC late in the game, after stores like BB stopped carrying it! It says Pentium 2 at 450Mhz is minimum, so that is far less then a 800Mhz P3! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leik oh em jeez! Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Better look again, Maybe they revamped something, I bought VC late in the game, after stores like BB stopped carrying it! It says Pentium 2 at 450Mhz is minimum, so that is far less then a 800Mhz P3! what is your source? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abel. Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Better look again, Maybe they revamped something, I bought VC late in the game, after stores like BB stopped carrying it! It says Pentium 2 at 450Mhz is minimum, so that is far less then a 800Mhz P3! Pentium 2?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slamman Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Yep, you know Maximum PC picked the Intel Pentium 2 as one of the most noteworthy CPUs ever invented. It had a short run and was over due in the 1990s, but XP can run on it, and it still can perform to this day, despite the lack of support since it's usurping. In fact, I have a Kayak HP server I refurbed with SCSI drives and two dual CPU PIIs at 450Mhz each! Now I get up to 1Ghz ...almost, from those very stable Pentium 2s. Regardless of the specs they have, I know that for video (MPEG2, etc.), 700Mhz is the best jumping off point. Plenty of specs from that era claim around 500Mhz and that's why they go to 450 here, I think. 500 runs DVDs as doesn Win98, but it's not very good, it has many shortcomings, so I would say more then just memory amounts, the right actual hardware with the bus speeds, voltages, the like, can make more performance then a machine bearing the same specs at a glance. With older boards, I think the design and layout contributed. Now we all look at things from Plug N Play stand points, but the mobo is still paramount to data travelling around at the right pace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Partyboy Posted August 19, 2008 Author Share Posted August 19, 2008 Thank you for your input guys,i'm gonna buy 9800. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leik oh em jeez! Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 exelent choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slamman Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 We derailed this one good! hahaha Actually, I keep checking cards at the stores here, and the PCI ones offered are the nVidia 6200 or is it 6300? Either way, same card I bought but with better RAM. It's for PCI and AGP users. I am really surprised AGP died off now. I thought it would hang in there, but PCI-Express is a major feat in technology with it's wide data paths and bus speeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 I was looking at Nvidia cards recently myself, but I plan to have Dual SLI. Bumming about the next suggests that the 8800GTS is generally better for Dual SLI whereas the 9800GTX is better for Triple SLI. Can anyone shed any light onto this? Sorry for trying to topic hijack too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leik oh em jeez! Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 I would go with dual 8800GT's. Wait, that is what I'm going with, getting them for christmas. Anyways, yeah, the 8800GTS is a dual slot while the 8800GT is a single slot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazymodder Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 going on with 9800GTX+ thats a very amazing card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starion Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 going on with 9800GTX+ thats a very amazing card. I've been reading some reviews and benchmarks of the 9800 GTX+ on guru3d all today, it does seem like an amazing card for the money. I'm seriously tempted to buy one now actually. I may need a processor upgrade later on though. Darn AMD 4200 X2, I'll need a 6000 or above to avoid any bottlenecks really. mod it with Nitrous Oxide and chassis dyno. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abel. Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 I was looking at Nvidia cards recently myself, but I plan to have Dual SLI. Bumming about the next suggests that the 8800GTS is generally better for Dual SLI whereas the 9800GTX is better for Triple SLI. Can anyone shed any light onto this? Sorry for trying to topic hijack too Get the new 8800GTS G92 revision, it uses the same G92 chip as more costly GPU's out there. Can't wait for my new GPU...Don't knw which one I'll get though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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