3800X2 or 9800X2?

[ikyr]

Hi, again...
I'm now here to ask you what is the best buy, paying attention to perfomance and price...

It's best to buy a HD3870X2 or an nVidia 9800X2?

I know that none of them are available for now but I'll buy one of them so, I want your opinion...

Thanks a lot...

 

[pchoi04]

I know we're all anxious for some new cards... but really, your going to need to be patient just like everyone else (not trying to sound like an ass). No one can have an opinion yet because very little has been mentioned on price and performance. Everything else is purely speculation.

 

[Shadow703793]

^Agreed.

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

Well frankly this should be fairly easy to find out. We know the 3870x2 performs just like two 3870s in crossfire, and we know a 9800GTX2 performs 30%-50% better than an ultra. So compare the scores of two 3870s in crossfire to those of an ultra times .30 plus the original score. That should actually be fairly accurate, and as for price... both are right now expected to be $450 suggested retail, but both could easily be over.

 

[vaker5]

Probably like 489.99 plus tax, if it is just two.

 

[tamalero]

considering the rumors says the 9800X2 will be roughtly the same price as trhe ultra.. I find it insane.. ( 600 USD )

 

[Evilonigiri]

I believe that the price would be near $600, especially the OCed versions.

 

[Guest]

I'm settling on getting the Asus Maximus Formula MB soon and probably overclocking a Q6600 (on air).
So I'll be looking (if it can handle) 2 of the 3870x2 cards and run them both together each at full 16x.

However, for me coming from a P4 3.4 Ghz with X800Pro graphics - I'm sure this will be an enjoyable upgrade experience.

It doesn't bother me much when the Nvidia is faster. It shouldn't affect by personal experience at all, something that we sometimes overlook when we try to upgrade to the best - on paper.

Let's wait and see what the results will be and I'm sure there will be a decent experience available for everyone given their needs.

 

[Pyros777]

I think without a doubt the 9800x2 will be faster, but I'm not so sure it will be worth the cost or heat output except for the most hard core gamers. I prefer my pair of 3870s to a pair of 8800s for exactly those reasons, plus crossfire currently scales better than SLI.

Slap an aftermarket cooler on the 8800s though, and I'd say its a pretty clear cut decision. Faster + Cooler = Better.

I wonder what kind of aftermarket cooling solutions will be available for the 9800x2 and its dual PCB design?

Ultimately we just have to WAIT for either of these products to hit the store shelves and reviewers hands before jumping to any conclusions.

 

[cnumartyr]

2 8800 GTS's in SLI > 9800 GX2.

 

[Evilonigiri]

2 8800 GTS's in SLI > 9800 GX2.

But the mere fact it's SLI makes me frown.

 

[cnumartyr]

But the mere fact it's SLI makes me frown.

9800 GX2 = SLI on a card.

Edit: AND A SINGLE SLOT COOLING SOLUTION PER CARD!

 

[Evilonigiri]

9800 GX2 = SLI on a card.

Edit: AND A SINGLE SLOT COOLING SOLUTION PER CARD!

Well...
2 x 9800GX2 >>> 2 x 8800GTS 512MB

 

[cnumartyr]

Well...
2 x 9800GX2 >>> 2 x 8800GTS 512MB

Lol... I don't know.

The Quad SLI drivers aren't even out. How diminishing are the returns going to be?

Well.. atleast I'll be able to use it as a space heater and cook my eggs in the morning. Multitasking ftw.

 

[bwdsmart]

i thought i read somthing about the 9800gx2 was goign to cost as much as the ultra...ill look for a link.

 

[cnumartyr]

i thought i read somthing about the 9800gx2 was goign to cost as much as the ultra...ill look for a link.

It probably will. It will outperform the Ultra (in SLI situations) by 30% and be 2 8800 GTS's smashed together. I'd look for a $600+ price point. It will be nVidia's highend and will kill ATi. And what does nVidia do? Oh that's right.. Price gouge.

 

[Evilonigiri]

Lol... I don't know.

The Quad SLI drivers aren't even out. How diminishing are the returns going to be?

Well.. atleast I'll be able to use it as a space heater and cook my eggs in the morning. Multitasking ftw.

lol nice one.

I believe the theoretical performance gain will be around 300% over one card.

 

[cnumartyr]

lol nice one.

I believe the theoretical performance gain will be around 300% over one card.

So considering the theoritcal performance of single SLI = 80%.. and the real is maybe 20%-40% on average...

The Quad will be a 75-150% improvement over a single card setup. It will cost 4 times as much as a single card setup..

Yea..

 

[Evilonigiri]

So considering the theoritcal performance of single SLI = 80%.. and the real is maybe 20%-40% on average...

The Quad will be a 75-150% improvement over a single card setup. It will cost 4 times as much as a single card setup..

Yea..

Which is why I do not recommend SLI.

I dunno about SLI on one slot tho...

 

[cnumartyr]

Which is why I do not recommend SLI.

I dunno about SLI on one slot tho...

Quick random side note.. The guys at Microcenter when I was there just chillin were talking to me and trying to sell me stuff. I know one of the guys that works there and he hooks me up with stuff and lets me pick out Q6600s for my friends (by Batch #, let's me check his stock).

So anyways.. we were standing there and they start talking to me. I talk to the guy and play dumb. Next thing I know he's trying to sell me 2 8600 GTs in SLI because they outperform an 8800 GTS. When my buddy got back I told him about it and found out why. They are commission based, and the 2 8600 GTs were more expensive than a single 8800 GTS. I love crap like that. Actually it pisses me off, because then people get on this forum to cry about low scores and crappy FPS. SLI should be limited to the high end.

ANYWAYS:

I think single slot will perform similarly to regular SLI unless they REALLY optimize the drivers.

 

[Evilonigiri]

They are commission based, and the 2 8600 GTs were more expensive than a single 8800 GTS. I love crap like that. Actually it pisses me off, because then people get on this forum to cry about low scores and crappy FPS. SLI should be limited to the high end.

ANYWAYS:

I think single slot will perform similarly to regular SLI unless they REALLY optimize the drivers.

That's why I hate salesman. They are so frekin annoying. I also hate the car dealers, man that market is so black...

Also do your homework before buying anything is what I say. And read some consumer reviews (Grrr...my P35C DS3R...).

Do you need an SLI board to run the 9800GX2?

 

[cnumartyr]

That's why I hate salesman. They are so frekin annoying. I also hate the car dealers, man that market is so black...

Also do your homework before buying anything is what I say. And read some consumer reviews (Grrr...my P35C DS3R...).

Do you need an SLI board to run the 9800GX2?

I'm not sure to be honest. I can't remember.. anyone remember the 7950 GX2 and if it worked on non-SLI boards?

I think you do.. It's another way for nVidia to force consumers to buy nVidia motherboards. That's another problem I have with them. The nForce 200 chip enables SLI on other boards. A mobo maker dropped it onto an X38 and it didn't work. It's an obvious driver limitation. There have been hacked drivers that enabled SLI in the past.

nVidia should be slapped with a law suit for not allowing SLI on any platform. They tie consumers into their motherboards by only allowing SLI on them.. I can't buy a board based on merit if I want an SLI setup. ATi lets me buy based on merit.

Also Evil, instead of reading reviews, just ask me.

 

[Evilonigiri]

I'm not sure to be honest. I can't remember.. anyone remember the 7950 GX2 and if it worked on non-SLI boards?

I think you do.. It's another way for nVidia to force consumers to buy nVidia motherboards. That's another problem I have with them. The nForce 200 chip enables SLI on other boards. A mobo maker dropped it onto an X38 and it didn't work. It's an obvious driver limitation. There have been hacked drivers that enabled SLI in the past.

nVidia should be slapped with a law suit for not allowing SLI on any platform. They tie consumers into their motherboards by only allowing SLI on them.. I can't buy a board based on merit if I want an SLI setup. ATi lets me buy based on merit.

Well the mere fact about the 9800GX2 using a 8pin connector puts me off.

I like SLI better than Crossfire. Crossfire just sounds...corny.

Also Evil, instead of reading reviews, just ask me.

I've been doing that for quite awhile now if you haven't noticed in the past few threads we hijacked. :lol:

Many thanks as always!

 

[cnumartyr]

Lol, no problem.

I love Crossfire.

DON'T GET CAUGHT IN IT!

 

[Evilonigiri]

Lol, no problem.

I love Crossfire.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e189/cnumartyr/Crossfire.jpg

DON'T GET CAUGHT IN IT!

That's not exactly what I had in mind... :lol:

They should have come up with something better.

I still remember the external dongle the crossfire had to use....eww.