4850 vs 9800gtx

[exlene]

Im looking to upgrade my entire system and am getting hung up on which video card on the market right now is the best buy for around $200. Any suggestions as how to improve the rest of my upgrade list would be appreciated.

Asus P5Q Intel p45 mobo
XFX 9800 gtx XXX OR Sapphire Radeon HD 4850
Intel E8400 (wolfdale 45nm)
G.Skill 4gb ddr2 800
Seagate Barracuda 500gb

 

[virtualskunk]

4850 or bust.

 

[error8]

4850 is faster

 

[exlene]

See thats the thing... i've seen people say that about the 4850 but is it just a preference of ATI of nVidia or is it because the 4850 will outperform the slightly more expensive 9800?

 

[error8]

It is because the 4850 will outperform the more expensive 9800GTX. This is why Nvidia released a 9800GTX+, to trade blows with the little cheap "monster", which is the 4850.

 

[exlene]

OK. Then next question is whether its worth breaking my budget for the 4870 over the 4850. And whether its worth spending the extra money when it might mean cutting back somewhere else.

 

[Qbah]

I'd say:

1680x1050 - grab the HD4850
1920x1200 - grab the HD4870

Higher? Grab two of either or wait for the X2 card.

And no, none of those can run Crysis at Very High at those resolutions (I don't think anything can actually...). Everything else will run like a dream.

 

[MBentz]

Theres a PNY 9800GTX for $149 AR at TigerDirect.

Between the two you listed, I'd take the XFX for the double lifetime warranty, great customer service and easy RMA service.

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: Qbah
I'd say:

1680x1050 - grab the HD4850
1920x1200 - grab the HD4870

Higher? Grab two of either or wait for the X2 card.

And no, none of those can run Crysis at Very High at those resolutions (I don't think anything can actually...). Everything else will run like a dream.

:thumbsup:

 

[OCGuy]

Id take the dual-slot cooler and better OC ability of the 9800GTX+.

 

[SSChevy2001]

Just wait more cards are coming are still going to drop.

1GB 4870
2GB 4850x2
2GB 4870x2

55nm
GTX260
GTX280

Either way I think it's time look for video cards with more than 512MB. If your in a rush GTX260.

 

[Hugh H]

See the benches for yourself.

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3340&p=3

It seems that the 4850 wins in some, the 9800 gtx in others.

One thing though, the 9800 gtx's drivers are more mature, it runs cooler, consumes less power, and can overclock better. But if you want to be cool like everyone else, then get a 4850.

 

[tvdang7]

Originally posted by: Hugh H
See the benches for yourself.

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3340&p=3

It seems that the 4850 wins in some, the 9800 gtx in others.

One thing though, the 9800 gtx's drivers are more mature, it runs cooler, consumes less power, and can overclock better. But if you want to be cool like everyone else, then get a 4850.

says the guy with 2 gtx's get the 4850 cheaper and better for the long run (dx10.1).

 

[Cookie Monster]

By the time you count in the long run (maybe ~2 years?), there will be better cards by then. Just enjoy whats best now.

 

[Hugh H]

Originally posted by: tvdang7

Originally posted by: Hugh H
See the benches for yourself.

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3340&p=3

It seems that the 4850 wins in some, the 9800 gtx in others.

One thing though, the 9800 gtx's drivers are more mature, it runs cooler, consumes less power, and can overclock better. But if you want to be cool like everyone else, then get a 4850.

says the guy with 2 gtx's get the 4850 cheaper and better for the long run (dx10.1).

Haha well, it doesn't make my post any less truthful. And Dx 11 was just announced, dx10.1 is inconsequential now given that no games properly support it and by the time they do, Dx 11 will likely be here.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

Oh the irony of someone complaining about the 4850 power draw when he runs dual 9800GTX in SLI on a 1200W PSU.

 

[exlene]

Well this turned into what i mentioned earlier. A pretty much equal response from people who like both cards. Correct me if i'm wrong but, what it comes down to in the end is preference of Nvidia or ATI since the performance differences are obviously arguable.

 

[Hugh H]

Originally posted by: OneOfTheseDays
Oh the irony of someone complaining about the 4850 power draw when he runs dual 9800GTX in SLI on a 1200W PSU.

I wasn't complaining, I was explaining the differences between the cards... just in case the OP cares. For me, I plan to run two GT200b in SLI when they come out

 

[Qbah]

Originally posted by: Hugh H
See the benches for yourself.

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3340&p=3

It seems that the 4850 wins in some, the 9800 gtx in others.

One thing though, the 9800 gtx's drivers are more mature, it runs cooler, consumes less power, and can overclock better. But if you want to be cool like everyone else, then get a 4850.

Well, at my place the 4850 is cheaper (1100 vs 1400DKK), not everybody overclocks, the cards don't consume alot anyway and both of them stay within specifications. Nobody said anything about OCing the cards in the first place (not to mention the 4850 can reach high clocks anyway). So for me it's a no-brainer.

And yeah, getting the best out of the money you spend is probably considered a cool idea (ie. buying a 4850).

 

[taltamir]

the 9800GTX is slower then the 4850 and the 9800GTX+

the 4850 consumes less power, yet runs much hotter then the 9800GTX+, the reason is that the 4850 has a crap cooler. Some are starting to show up with a 3rd party cooling solution, either get one of those, or get a 4850 + an after market cooler (costs extra and voids warranty) or get a 9800GTX+. I don't forsee a long life for a stock 4850 running at 80c + degrees. (this reminds me of the 8800GT fiasco with its crappy cooler before all the companies started putting real coolers on them).

A 3870 or a 8800GT/S 512 are all potentially very good bang for the buck right now if you want to save more money and go with a 100$ card instead.

The 4870 is about 25% faster then the 4850.

also.. don't buy sapphire... horrible support and warranty, especially for a card that runs this hot.
Visiontek is the only ATI with lifetime warranty

 

[exlene]

Originally posted by: Hugh H
See the benches for yourself.

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3340&p=3

It seems that the 4850 wins in some, the 9800 gtx in others.

One thing though, the 9800 gtx's drivers are more mature, it runs cooler, consumes less power, and can overclock better. But if you want to be cool like everyone else, then get a 4850.

Going by these benchmarks 8800s in sli outdo anything anyone mentioned and are of a comparable price to say the 260gtx. Why is this not the best solution for my money?

o and thanks taltamir for the info and the impartiality

 

[taltamir]

SLI or CF requires you to pay an extra 100$ on your PSU, an extra 50 - 150$ on your motherboard, deal with more bugs, deal with much greater heat in the case, deal with microstutter, and costs much MUCH MUCH more in electricity to operate...