9800GTX from 8800GTX? Is it worth it?

[Mango1970]

Just got a great deal possibly on a new eVGA 9800GTX 512. I can sell my 8800GTX to a bud at a reasonable price thus the upgrade would be practically 0$. However my 8800GTX has 768 mb.. whereas the 9800GTX has 512. Is this a downgrade? Is it about the same? Is it worth it or are there 9800GTX with 1024MB?

thanks

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Mango1970
Just got a great deal possibly on a new eVGA 9800GTX 512. I can sell my 8800GTX to a bud at a reasonable price thus the upgrade would be practically 0$. However my 8800GTX has 768 mb.. whereas the 9800GTX has 512. Is this a downgrade? Is it about the same? Is it worth it or are there 9800GTX with 1024MB?

thanks

There is no reason to do this. Each card has advantages, but you wouldn't notice the difference.

 

[shabby]

Yes its a downgrade, dont do it.

 

[Mango1970]

Heh thank you. Yah at times I just see the option to upgrade... sounds nice... looks nice... but I have to admit the 8800 GTX is still the best darn card I ever had. Bought it on the first day they came out and it has served me so well and still does very well. I shall wait hold on then

 

[Piuc2020]

It would be faster at lower resolutions (if you overclock it like you should) but overall about the same but it's not really worth it though your power consumption will go down considerably and they will be easier to SLI/Tri-SLI them later AND they might have a better resale value than a 8800GTX later on. Not to mention a brand new step-up, 90 days from now, it's very possible (according to rumors) some new cards will be out.

If the price is really 0$ then I say it's worth it for the reasons stated above but your performance will be practically the same. I'd do it personally but don't expect a performance increase.

 

[sgrinavi]

I went from an 8800 GTX to a 8800GTS (G92) about a month ago and made money... For the most part, noticed an improvement. My crysis benchies went up (1600x1050) an now I play COD4 with just about everything cranked up.

It makes less noise, less heat and uses less power.

You could probably get away with the 8800GTS (g92) and be just as happy.

 

[coreyb]

8800 GTX < 8800 GTS ?

 

[Nightmare225]

9800GTX slightly > 8800GTX.

A free upgrade is a great deal...

 

[JSt0rm]

anybody else think they just wanked the 9xxx product line so they could come out with new tech on a new naming scheme or 10000uberness?

I'm holding out for either fallout3/stalker2 (cuz I'm a sucker for post apocalyptic games) or another quantum jump in video cards.

 

[JAG87]

Originally posted by: Nightmare225
9800GTX slightly > 8800GTX.

A free upgrade is a great deal...

not always my friend, not always.

nvidia has no high end this generation. the 9800 GTX cannot be considered high end. the 8800 GTX, albeit weak on the shader side, destroys in ROP/ pixel fill rate, built around an expensive 384 bit PCB and equipped with 768MB of frame buffer. it is engineered to excel at high resolution with AA and AF turned on, and isn't that what we would expect from the high end? I don't consider a card that chokes at 2560x1600 with AA and AF a high end card. This might not bother 99% of people with their 1680x1050 monitors, but then again with that kind of resolution you shouldn't be buying a high end graphics card (never spend more on your graphics card than your monitor). Hence why the 9800 GTX is priced at 299, because that's all it's worth.

Anyways I could rant till tomorrow, what resolution are you running Mango1970? If you are running 1680x1050 and below you should make the trade, the 9800 GTX has more GPU horsepower at those resolutions. Anything above that, and you might potentially be downgrading (depending which games you play).

 

[n7]

I wouldn't do it.

The 8800 GTX is a stronger card overall IMO, not to mention that it sells for more than the 9800 GTX generally (or at least here in Canada), so you'd actually be somewhat screwing yourself over.

Now if you only game @ 1280x1024, i suppose it's not a bad deal, but again, i still wouldn't do it.

 

[bfdd]

Personally I wouldn't do it, I moved to two 9600 GTs in SLI away from a single 8800GTX because I was able to sell the 8800GTX for 250 and allowed me to only pay like 40 out of pocket for a SLI setup. I'd wait for the GT200 or the R700 to come out before upgrading the 8800 GTX.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

this is new to me. the NEW g92 9800gtx is slower (or equal to) the 8800gtx?

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
this is new to me. the NEW g92 9800gtx is slower (or equal to) the 8800gtx?

It's faster at lower resolutions; slower at high, since it's running a crippled memory bus & is lacking in vRAM.

 

[krnmastersgt]

So in this instance, wouldn't it come down to what the question usually filters down to, being what res this guy runs his apps/games at. If he doesn't game the sheer fact that it's cooler and uses less energy should be a plus no? And if the upgrade doesn't cost him anything eh. On the other hand if he games at a res higher than 1680x1050 than the 8800 would probably win.

 

[Blacklash]

There are times when a card with a 256 interface and 512Mb ram will fail miserably by comparison with a card that sports a 384 interface and 768Mb or greater ram.

http://img122.imageshack.us/im...9793/wic2560baruk1.jpg

Most of those situations involve high resolutions with AA and are often on the DX10 path.

In my mind, I consider the 9800GTX the 8900GTS.

I wouldn't move from an 8800GTX to a 8800GTS or 9800GTX. People with an older card like a 7900GT could move to an 8800GTS 512Mb which would be a nice upgrade considering their current price and the performance they may deliver for said cash. There's an MSI 8800GTS over at Newegg for 199usd with rebate, last I checked.

If rumors are correct, nVidia's true next gen will be available to us by the end of the summer or slightly earlier.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Or if marketing has their way, just weeks or days before Christmas.

 

[bamacre]

Wait, the 9800 GTX uses less power than the 8800 GTX, under full load?

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: bamacre
Wait, the 9800 GTX uses less power than the 8800 GTX, under full load?

Yes, it's the result of realizing the power savings of using a smaller manufacturing process which allows for lower operating voltage. It won't blow your socks off mind you, but there is a difference.

 

[lopri]

Folks with big monitors (1920x1200 and up) will know how badly G92 manages memory. It performs better than G80 when memory isn't in the equation, but once it hits the bandwidth/buffer threshold the performance tanks. I mean TANKS. (It literally goes from 80 FPS to 2 FPS)

Whether it's a design issue or a driver issue isn't clear, but I tend to think it's a driver issue and hope NV fixes this sooner than later.

 

[sourthings]

I run at 1920x1200, originally had an 8800gts g92 running at 800/1950/2100, found a good deal on an 8800GTX, gtx is much better at my res. These new cards from NV are okay if you are gaming at 1680x1050 or under, anything over that, the old gtx/ultra are still the best cards around.

 

[Mango1970]

Bah I just got a chance to read this and saw all the replies. Yes I play and do everything at 1920X1200 on my 28" monitor. From what everyone is saying, seems my 8800GTX still rules at the res I play and work at. Wow I cannot believe how long this card is lasting me and treating me so well. Best money I ever paid. Thanks again all.