New 9800XT or 5900 Ultra questions...

[cm123]

Given the driver issues with ATI right now (I know we all could just use an old driver - however how can one trust the issue is fixed or that ATI will not have another, I do not like the idea my any of display having issues, including my 21" LCD), of course there's the Nvidia Dx9 issues - that doesnt harm hardware although....

...anyways, 1st which card would you pick 9800XT or 5900Ultra given a choice today, then what is your take on the driver issue(s)...

...is the nvidia issue really a non-issue down the road anyway?... Do you think the 9800XT MAY have hardware issues that are aiding the issue?

http://www.anandtech.com/#20734
http://www.anandtech.com/news/index.html#20722 (ATI Monitor Death Issue from Cat 3.8 threads for those who are are aware)

 

[Richdog]

9800 XT without a doubt, and i'm no ATI fanboy, I currently have a Geforce3 Ti200

I think for DX9, when you take into account overall performance and image quality, ATI is just head and shoulders above Nvidia. Sad really because I used to love Nvidia, but have now become severely dissilusioned with them. They just aint what they used to be.:beer:

 

[Mardeth]

Originally posted by: Richdog
9800 XT without a doubt, and i'm no ATI fanboy, I currently have a Geforce3 Ti200

I think for DX9, when you take into account overall performance and image quality, ATI is just head and shoulders above Nvidia. Sad really because I used to love Nvidia, but have now become severely dissilusioned with them. They just aint what they used to be.:beer:

Agreed.

I havent heard of any major problems with the new Catalysts and even if there were ones I sure they will be fixed in no time.

 

[Genx87]

Well unless you consider frying monitors and cards a non-major issue

Realistically I would wait if I had the choice. The NV40 and R420 will be out in the next few months. But if you want a card right now then IMO it is sort of a toss up between the two. The ATI card appears to be possibly have a better shelf life for DX9 titles. But since the big one wont be around till after the R420 and NV40 release it would be pointless to buy a 9800 Pro XT for HL2. The 5900 Ultra is fast or faster than the 9800 Pro in todays games. How it will perform in the next generation of titles is still up in the air. We have seen what optimizations can do for the FX line of cards in some titles. Also if you are a Doom3 fan it appears the FX should hold a significant lead in that game.

Now arent you glad you asked the question?

 

[Pete]

XT, if you want to buy now. I'd recommend ATi over nVidia across the DX9 board, but $500 for a video card is really a frivolous purchase. Consider a $300 9800 Pro, or $250 9800.

 

Originally posted by: Richdog
9800 XT without a doubt, and i'm no ATI fanboy, I currently have a Geforce3 Ti200

I think for DX9, when you take into account overall performance and image quality, ATI is just head and shoulders above Nvidia. Sad really because I used to love Nvidia, but have now become severely dissilusioned with them. They just aint what they used to be.:beer:

And your saying all this because of course you have owned both a Radeon 9800XT and the 5900 Ultra and formed your own opinion on your real world experience with both of these cards. Am I correct? If not, how can you possibly recommend either of these cards?

I myself own both a Radeon 9700np and 5900nu. Granted, not a fair comparison speed wise because the 5900 steamrolls over the 9700, but its definately a better idea of performance than you would have. Based on real world experience with the above mentioned cards, the nvidia performed reliably without any glitches. My 9700, which is sitting on the shelf by the way, caused me to empty a small bottle of excedrin into my blood stream.

The performance of the 5900 is astounding. I can run UT,UT2003,UnrealII,Giants,Battlefield 1942,C&C Generals with all of the settings maxed and it just continues to blaze through them refusing to say die. It has power to spare.

I am not saying that the 9800XT isn't a powerhouse as well, I just shy away from ATI lately because of the compatability issues that I had.

GM

 

[cm123]

which 5900ultra did you choose? how is the noise?

(i too have a 9700pro collecting dust - would rather not turn off some bios settings, even if the effect is not really that much - when other cards just work)

 

[jiffylube1024]

Well, Anand recommended the XT over the 5900 Ultra/5950, and he details exactly why in his massive two-part review, and I'd agree with him.

Both are excellent cards, but Anand and Evan Lieb (second post) both say that the 9800XT is faster in most games by a slight but tangible margin.

I would trust their opinion, based on countless hours with both cards in a massive number of games over the opinion of a few potentially biased forum members .

 

[jiffylube1024]

Oh yeah, and you guys who have extra 9700 pro's collecting dust and depreciating in value - I'd be more than happy to buy one off either of you if you loathe them so much. Just give me a PM (I'm serious)!

 

[Jeff7181]

I'd say neither... the options I'd consider currently would be the following: FX5900 (non-ultra) for around $235-250... a 9800 (non-pro) for around $225-250... a 9700 Pro for around $200-225... or if you wanna save some money and get a card that'll do fine now, and then upgrade next spring when the new GPU's are out, I'd say 9600 Pro for around $150-175.

 

[cm123]

these are reviews before the hardware/software issues.... and only performance rated as if the cards damage hardware, doesnt matter how fast they are...


I will dig around a bit and find my 9700 pro... it was is retail box ATI - i have been wanting to ebay whenever i find it again since we moved it has been missing in action... but i have it and yes i would sell it...