Asus 9800 GTX 512MB EN9800GTX
Introduction, Packaging, Package and Specification
Published: 2nd April 2008 | Source: Asus | Price: £223 |
Introduction
Nvidia have been piling the pressure on ATI recently with a swathe of high spec, high speed cards. Today sees the launch of yet another speedster, the 9800 GTX. With a super-clocked GPU running at 675MHz and the 128 stream processors clocked at 1688MHz, the GTX really is cranked up a notch. Nvidia also saw fit to grab some GDDR3 that weighs in at 2200MHz, not bad.
Asus sent us a 9800 GTX to put through its paces in the labs so we grabbed the usual benching suspects off of the shelf and started to bench it.
Read on to see how it gets on.
Packaging
Asus are returning to the CGI character style packaging with the box of this stock clocked GTX. Its bright lime green should stand out from the crowd but for the sake of the environment: please Asus: make the packaging smaller!
The inside is the usual Asus affair with a lot of room and a decent amount of packaging to ensure that the GTX stays safe.
Now onto the bundle...
Package
The package with this particular Asus 9800 GTX is pretty sparse and doesn't seem to come with much out of the box at all.
We have:
* 1 x Leather CD wallet
* 1 x Quick start guide
* 1 x Driver CD
* 1 x CD-based instruction manual
* 1 x DVI to VGA connector
* 1 x Dual molex to PCI-e 6PIN power
* 1 x S-Video to component out
The Asus 9800 GTX is a stock clocked example of the 9800 GTX, so perhaps you can forgive Asus for a slightly sparse bundle. I'm sure a "Top" Edition will be out there with a game bundle and an armful of hardware floating around inside that capacious box.
Specifications
The specs on the 9800 GTX are as follows:
| GeForce 8600 GTS | Radeon HD 3850 | Radeon HD 3870 | GeForce 9600 GT | GeForce 8800 GTS | GeForce 8800 GT | GeForce 8800 GTS | Radeon HD 2900 XT | GeForce 8800 GTX | GeForce 9800 GTX | GeForce 8800 Ultra | |
| Shader units | 32 | 320 | 320 | 64 | 96 | 112 | 128 | 320 | 128 | 128 | 128 |
| ROPs | 8 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 16 x2 | 24 | 16 | 24 |
| GPU | G84 | RV670 | RV670 | G94 | G80 | G92 | G92 | R600 | G80 | G92 | G80 |
| Transistors | 289M | 666M | 666M | 505M | 681M | 754M | 754M | 700M | 681M | 754M | 681M |
| Memory Size | 256 MB | 256 MB | 512 MB | 512 MB | 320 MB 640 MB | 512 MB | 512 MB | 512 MB | 768 MB | 512 MB | 768 MB |
| Memory Bus Width | 128 bit | 256 bit | 256 bit | 256 bit | 320 bit | 256 bit | 256 bit | 512 bit | 384 bit | 256 bit | 384 bit |
| Core Clock | 675 MHz | 670 MHz | 777 MHz | 650 MHz | 500 MHz | 600 MHz | 650 MHz | 742 MHz | 575 MHz | 675 MHz | 612 MHz |
| Memory Clock | 1000 MHz | 828 MHz | 1126 MHz | 900 MHz | 800 MHz | 900 MHz | 970 MHz | 825 MHz | 900 MHz | 1100 MHz | 1080 MHz |
The 9800 is basically an 8800 GTS with a bit more horsepower. Nvidia keeps the 256bit bus which many feel hinders the G92 chips, but we'll see how it goes.
Most Recent Comments
Ahhh man gotta go work... no time to read.
Will take a look at lunch.
Will take a look at lunch.
Good review mate.
I'm not very impressed with the 98** series so far, but at least the card is reasonably priced and is a good buy for someone who doesn't currently own an 88** card.
I'm not very impressed with the 98** series so far, but at least the card is reasonably priced and is a good buy for someone who doesn't currently own an 88** card.
That's a good, well rounded review - much appreciated.
I won't be swapping my 8800GTX - but for for someone buying a card, well... is a much lower priced 8800gt better value?
How would anyone feel spending £210 on this (lowest I've seen), knowing the next gen chips (if they really are next gen) are just a few months away?
It looks quite a good card - but the timing of it's release seems a bit strange.
I won't be swapping my 8800GTX - but for for someone buying a card, well... is a much lower priced 8800gt better value?
How would anyone feel spending £210 on this (lowest I've seen), knowing the next gen chips (if they really are next gen) are just a few months away?
It looks quite a good card - but the timing of it's release seems a bit strange.
I'm in a bit of a situation.
My X2 died a death and it needs replacing. It cost £270.
I was going to upgrade to the GX2 and cough up the extra £120ish as the other reviews I have seen of the gx2 show it smoking crysis etc (they included youtube vids/screenshots to give an idea, mascaras @ xs iirc). That and a few other things sold me.
Now, I have my 88GT atm as backup but it is sold to my mate who is the slowest pc builder in the world so I can't keep it forever.
The 9800GTX is ~£220 so if I got that as a replacement I'd get £50 back.
I demand performance, high res, aa/af etc. I get very angry if my gpu doesn't perform well, conversely I don't like wasting money and the new gpu's are coming, which are probably just die shrinks but who knows...
Does the gx2 justify the extra £170 over the 98gtx? This review suggests no...
Have you just been too nice Matt? I need to read this at lunch or after work... Food for thought.
My X2 died a death and it needs replacing. It cost £270.
I was going to upgrade to the GX2 and cough up the extra £120ish as the other reviews I have seen of the gx2 show it smoking crysis etc (they included youtube vids/screenshots to give an idea, mascaras @ xs iirc). That and a few other things sold me.
Now, I have my 88GT atm as backup but it is sold to my mate who is the slowest pc builder in the world so I can't keep it forever.
The 9800GTX is ~£220 so if I got that as a replacement I'd get £50 back.
I demand performance, high res, aa/af etc. I get very angry if my gpu doesn't perform well, conversely I don't like wasting money and the new gpu's are coming, which are probably just die shrinks but who knows...
Does the gx2 justify the extra £170 over the 98gtx? This review suggests no...
Have you just been too nice Matt? I need to read this at lunch or after work... Food for thought.
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Originally Posted by name='Jim'
Good review mate.
I'm not very impressed with the 98** series so far, but at least the card is reasonably priced and is a good buy for someone who doesn't currently own an 88** card. |
Nothing established as to the extra 6 pin power requirement ?
If I`m not buying for a new pc, I don`t think I`ll bother. Need to get out of this plateau of similar cards released ~£200.
9800GTX in SLI vS GX2 - that`d be interesting.
Thanks for the review Kemp.
should have been an 89xx
but all in all, a nice, well rounded card it seems
good review
but all in all, a nice, well rounded card it seems
good review
nice one, ace review. Got one on the way now
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Originally Posted by name='ionicle'
should have been an 89xx
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It's really a shame, imho... but if it works, we'll see more of that "next-gen" stupidity and buying graphics cards will get even more complicated.
Man I remember back in the days where you either had a GeForce (if you were rich), a Riva TNT or a Voodoo 2...
very interesting review there Kempez, and I would agree for people with a 8800 series card, it isn't really worth the upgrade, but some someone looking at spending £200 odd on a new card, its def the way to go.
Yeah seems decent for the price.
Like how it beats tri sli ultras in bioshock.. Very strange with the max frame rates but like you say the averages stay at a decent level so it doesn't really matter.
Ahhh well lets see what new drivers do for it.
Nice review anyway Matt... I shall more than likely be buying this to replace my GT for a couple of months until maybe something actually new comes out.
Get it under water though and I reckon that there is potential for some rather high overclocks.
Like how it beats tri sli ultras in bioshock.. Very strange with the max frame rates but like you say the averages stay at a decent level so it doesn't really matter.
Ahhh well lets see what new drivers do for it.
Nice review anyway Matt... I shall more than likely be buying this to replace my GT for a couple of months until maybe something actually new comes out.
Get it under water though and I reckon that there is potential for some rather high overclocks.
Would have been nice to see max stable OC tested on games to see what impact it had...
Yup, the overclock-test is definitely missing! And it'd be very interesting to know how much that thing clocks, in contrast to the 8800GT or 8800GTS
This IS overclockd3d, after all :-)
This IS overclockd3d, after all :-)
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='Mr. Smith'
Would have been nice to see max stable OC tested on games to see what impact it had...
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In all seriousness, I just didn't have time to do it
I haven't been nice to the card - it's just not a BAD card, just not next gen
Nice to see nvidia have decided to use decent stock coolers again, after the crappy 8800GT..
Shame it's nothing new though
Good review as always, Cheers!
Shame it's nothing new though
Good review as always, Cheers!
nice review as always
somehow I dont think I will get rid of my 88gt yet though as that does not seem to be worth it
somehow I dont think I will get rid of my 88gt yet though as that does not seem to be worth it
Fantastic review as usual Kemp. 
Not that good a card though.
Not that good a card though.
Something very weird is going on... Just been on crysis DX10 as in 'Very High' 1650x1050 with the 8800gt, 700/1750/975. FRAPS floated between 10-22fps, excluding cut scenes 15-22fps, WHICH WAS TOTALLY SMOOTH!? WTF
The x2 the other night gave me ~20fps, looked better but wasn't as smooth...
Looking at these review figures I'm at a loss... I don't know what to buy anymore! gts/gtx/gx2... So confused.
Edit: nepas - oops, forgot to say, this gt WAS mine, it's now my house mates but he's not using it atm, but will need it back in the next week or so!
The x2 the other night gave me ~20fps, looked better but wasn't as smooth...
Looking at these review figures I'm at a loss... I don't know what to buy anymore! gts/gtx/gx2... So confused.
Edit: nepas - oops, forgot to say, this gt WAS mine, it's now my house mates but he's not using it atm, but will need it back in the next week or so!
I would stick with your 8800gt back up card for now,the next gen cards are due in june-ish
Hmm I'm still within my 120 day trade in with EVGA, do I swap my 8800GTS directly for the 9800GTX or pay the extra for the GX2?
if you really wanna upgrade I would say gx2,because so far that looks as worthwhile as a 96gt......imo
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Originally Posted by name='nepas'
if you really wanna upgrade I would say gx2,because so far that looks as worthwhile as a 96gt......imo
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='Deshman'
Despite that it lingers around the 88gtx level?
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='Mr. Smith'
gx2 is much faster than the 88gtx!!!
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Not bothered how worthwhile it would be as an upgrade if it's a performance upgrade for little or no money
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