HD4850 or 9800GTX

quadomatic

Senior member
May 13, 2007
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I made a video card thread earlier, but I think I want to reconsider, since new cards are now priced at $199.

Lately, I've been very much opposed to the idea of buying another ATI video card. My last 2 cards have been a 9800 Pro and an X850 Pro, both of which have performed very well. The problem, however, is that I now like to use Linux. While the Linux drivers have gotten considerably better since late last year, running games in linux with an ATI video card is problematic to say the least. Playing any games that use GLSL shaders in WINE is next to impossible. I'm not sure when ATI will get around to fixing that.

After looking at some of the stuff that's been posted around here, it definitely looks like the HD4850 is much faster than the 9800GTX+, and the HD4850 is a bit cheaper. Other stuff shows that the 9800GTX is faster.

Which one does everyone else think is a better choice? The 9800GTX or the HD4850?

Thanks
 

AzN

Banned
Nov 26, 2001
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AMD has been expending linux support. I think you would be safe 4850.

Not that you can get a 9800gtx at $199 right now but you can get a 4850 for that price. 9800gtx is still around $260.
 

quadomatic

Senior member
May 13, 2007
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Ooh, it also looks like the 4850 has a low power requirement...I could maybe just keep the psu I'm using now instead of having to buy another one.
 

Sylvanas

Diamond Member
Jan 20, 2004
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The 4850 is the better option. AMD's intention to provide Open source drivers is continually moving forward (plenty of info in a Google search) and can only mean good things for Linux support.
 

Wreckage

Banned
Jul 1, 2005
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Originally posted by: quadomatic


Which one does everyone else think is a better choice? The 9800GTX or the HD4850?

Thanks

For Linux? The 9800GTX. NVIDIA has always had superior support for Linux. Even SLI is supported.
 

taltamir

Lifer
Mar 21, 2004
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the question is... would you want to wait a year? ATI was hostile to linux, no support at all.. AMD has actually opened the spec to make an open source linux driver.
But it needs more time to mature. Right now nvidia drivers are supported fully, but not as well as their windows drivers.

AMD drivers on the other hand just keep on getting better, and are not a black box binary but an open source driver that people can go nuts with. But they are really immature and lacking. its a tough call, but it is all up to you.
 

bryanW1995

Lifer
May 22, 2007
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I hate to agree with wreckage, but the only way I would risk an ati card on linux right now is if you can keep the same psu. That would make it worth imho, but otherwise snag a 9800gtx when they go down to $199 (should happen in the next few days).

what psu are you using?
 

taltamir

Lifer
Mar 21, 2004
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wait... you are looking to play GAMES on linux? why? just suck it up and duel boot vista + linux like everyone else.
 

quadomatic

Senior member
May 13, 2007
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I guess I was a bit overbearing with the linux issue. I dual boot XP and and some Linux distro at any given time. I would like to be able to play some games in WINE, like Team Fortress 2, but I'd rather not risk the gains the HD4850 has over the 9800GTX.

bryanW1995: I'm using an Ultra 400W PSU with 20A on the 12V rail. I'm not sure whether I should keep this PSU when moving to an HD4850. The Radeon X850 Pro (which I'm using now) has heavy power requirements, but I'm not sure that it's as heavy as those of an HD4850.
 

Sylvanas

Diamond Member
Jan 20, 2004
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Actually AMD, has come in leaps and bounds with their proprietary Linux support in addition to two Open Source projects. That article is a good read, in summary: Same day 48xx support (even included on driver CD), Near parity between windows and Linux drivers, Tux advertised on packaging (finally some recognition of the Linux community), incoming Crossfire support, many more extra features on the way. To quote the article:

In the January issue of Linux+DVD magazine I had shared my views with how AMD has went from being viewed as a company to hate within the Linux ecosystem to one that Linux users adore.

 

Rebel44

Senior member
Jun 19, 2006
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Originally posted by: Wreckage
Originally posted by: quadomatic


Which one does everyone else think is a better choice? The 9800GTX or the HD4850?

Thanks

For Linux? The 9800GTX. NVIDIA has always had superior support for Linux. Even SLI is supported.

Linux drivers for HD2xxx and 3xxx are IMHO pretty good so I dont expect problems (something I cannot say about NV drivers for Vista 64bit)
 

sliderule

Member
May 13, 2007
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I agree with some of the others, thanks to AMD the ati linux drivers have improved dramatically over the past few months.

In January I would've said skip on ati in favor nvidia, but AMD is taking linux seriously now. I have absolutely no problems running my hd3870 in ubuntu.
 

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
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AMD has been taking amazing steps with their linux drivers, while Nvidia has been stagnating with both their windows and linux drivers. Bad drivers are a stigma that ATI is still fighting, despite having superior windows drivers since late 2005. Unless you want to use a 3870X2 or the upcoming 4870X2, you'll be fine with an ATI card. And given AMD's future goals of multi-GPU solutions, you can be assured they will have linux crossfire support.
 

bryanW1995

Lifer
May 22, 2007
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ok, so it sounds like linux + 4850 will be ok. let's look at the psu: I personally would try it out with the 4850 as long as there's no overclocking going on, but realistically you'll probably need a new one. I've seen several earthwatts psus lately for ~ $30 AR, both the ea 380 and ea 430. they have iirc 24a and 27a on the 12v rail and are generally outstanding units, especially for the price. I have my ea 430 on my q6600 @ 3.5 running seti 24/7 and I've heard nary a peep out of it.

edit: oops, the ea 380 is 27a on the 12v rail, and it's $34.99 shipped at newegg RIGHT NOW. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371005
 

Griswold

Senior member
Dec 24, 2004
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Originally posted by: Cookie Monster
What has vista 64bit have to do with linux?

Nothing. But its a fact of life that most of what is coming from nvidia for the windows 64bit platform sucks donkey nuts - and thats not just the video card drivers. They drove me into the arms of Intel and AMD/ATI last year.

BTT
 

ajaidevsingh

Senior member
Mar 7, 2008
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Griswold is quite rite about older Nvidia 64bit drivers..but the one with 9800 gtx were much better than the old ones!!

Ati will have better linux drivers than any other vender within a year "opensource"..!!!
 

bryanW1995

Lifer
May 22, 2007
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beware of shangshang. he just signed up to shill for nvidia. I'm not saying that 9800gtx+ is not a good offering because it clearly is, but I wouldn't make any important decisions based upon this guy's input.
 

ajaidevsingh

Senior member
Mar 7, 2008
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I would think that 9800 GTX+ would be good if it was based on a handicapped GT200 core than a old G92... Same thing with my X-fi Audio and my old X-fi music!!!
 

quadomatic

Senior member
May 13, 2007
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Yeah, I do kind of feel like I would be ripped off if I went with the 9xxx series Nvidia cards, since they're just rehashes of cores they've had on the market for quite some time. HD4850 looks like its core has more improvements that make it better for playing newly released games than the 9800GTX would be.
 

bryanW1995

Lifer
May 22, 2007
11,144
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bfg has some interesting thoughts in the 4xxx thread right now. you might want to check them out.