Playing Pickle: 9800 Pro or GeForce 5900 Ultra

[breklin]

Hey All,

I'm new here and came for some decision settling advice. I'm in the market for a new video card. I'm currently running an OC'd Crucial Radeon 8500LE @ 280/185, respectively. I'm looking at the Radeon 9800 Pro (128 or 256) OR the Geforce 5900 Ultra.

I've read tons of reviews and comparisons on both. I know that if the get a Radeon 9800p 256mb, I can flash it to XT or just OC it. I hear you can do that with the 128mb as well.

I read that the 5900 kicks ATI's ass when it comes to speed but that ATI poops on the 5900 when it comes to rendering.

Just looking for a general consensus, not looking to revive the Ford Vs. Chevy debate.

Also, if you are an ATI-connoisseur, I was looking at the MSI R9800 Pro. Would you recommend a built by ATI or an affiliate card? I hear Sapphire is 2nd to a built by but ASUS (albeit more $$) is almost better than the ATI built cards.

Thanks for the help.

In case it's needed or relevant, I am running:
P4 2.4 533mhz
Asus P4PE* MB
80GB WD Caviar 8mb hd
40BG WD hd
1GB Crucial RAM
350-375w PS

 

[Todd33]

5900 for Doom 3 and OpenGL.
9800 for DX9 like Far Cry and maybe HL2.

It's really a push, I like the Nvidia drivers better too, but I have the 9800p.

 

[GeneralGrievous]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/misc/picture/?src=/images/video/graphics_cards_1H-1004_charts/perf_mainstream2_1280_pure.gif&1=1

Enable AA/AF and the gap increases.

 

[breklin]

thanks for the link. that makes it bit easier to choose. looks like 9800 pro does better overall. sh*t, maybe i'll just go with the 256MB and flash the bios to XT.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: breklin
thanks for the link. that makes it bit easier to choose. looks like 9800 pro does better overall. sh*t, maybe i'll just go with the 256MB and flash the bios to XT.

Save your BIOS work and just overclock instead. What does flashing to an XT get you other than a default overclock?