Full Review: 9800GX2 vs HD3870X2 !!

[review_benchmark_hun]

Looks like the 9800 GX2 beats the 3870 X2 in almost every benchmarks! But there were a few games where the NV card can't run with AA turned on.

Both websites talk about the same thing:

in English:
http://lly316.blogspot.com/2008/03/geforce-9800-gx2-vs-radeon-hd-3870-x2.html

in Chinese:
http://www.pconline.com.cn/diy/graphics/reviews/0803/1241871.html

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

What wrong with AA in the GX2?

You forgot a few captures;

If AA doesn't work, there's a real limit to it's utility and it obviously isn't winning in almost every benchark if it gets 0 in four of them and is slower in Crysis (the other raison d'etre for uber cards for anyone looking to upgrade).

And that compatability issue on the Gigabyte board is a little troubling and very reminiscent of the original GF7GX2s.

I'll wait for a more reputable site (not a blogger.com site) to do more in depth view because this one didn't even go in to depth to find out why they had these problems.

At the price and this choppy performance, this is not compelling for anyone who already owns a high end rig. I don't think anyone would jump from the Ultra or even GTX to the GX2 based on this type of result.

Hopefully it's just this review.

 

[San Pedro]

Seems to be a monster card, but also seems to have some pretty major issues (if this article is true) like not being able to run some games with AA and not being able to work on an X48 motherboard. I think Nvidia will need to fix these if they want their flagship card to sell at $600.

 

[rallyimprezive]

Im sure under developed drivers have a lot to do with the problems being noted so far. It seems like many of the cards that are benched before their offical release have problems.

That is the specific reason the card has not been releases yet...they arent ready!

 

[spaztic7]

It looks like immature drivers. Nvidia normally does really well with AA so to see fps that low with AA on is quiet strange.

 

[Guest]

Im sure under developed drivers have a lot to do with the problems being noted so far. It seems like many of the cards that are benched before their offical release have problems.

That is the specific reason the card has not been releases yet...they arent ready!

LoL how come when ATI fans say this about drivers.. its an excuse for a poor Video Card but Nvidia its ok. So says the two 8800 owners in the posts above me.

Black Kettles I say !!!!

 

[review_benchmark_hun]

What wrong with AA in the GX2?

You forgot a few captures;

If AA doesn't work, there's a real limit to it's utility and it obviously isn't winning in almost every benchark if it gets 0 in four of them and is slower in Crysis (the other raison d'etre for uber cards for anyone looking to upgrade).

And that compatability issue on the Gigabyte board is a little troubling and very reminiscent of the original GF7GX2s.

I'll wait for a more reputable site (not a blogger.com site) to do more in depth view because this one didn't even go in to depth to find out why they had these problems.

At the price and this choppy performance, this is not compelling for anyone who already owns a high end rig. I don't think anyone would jump from the Ultra or even GTX to the GX2 based on this type of result.

Hopefully it's just this review.

Hopefully new drivers would solve the AA problem.

That blogspot is just an English translated version of the original, taken from that Chinese web site.

Given that 3870X2 has a better price/performance ratio plsu it is going to have another price cut, I wouldn't take another look at the obesely expensive GX2.

 

[dafeeessh]

i hope it will drop the 8800 gtx prices so i can go sli or maybe tri sli

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Ah ok, PConline is know (like HKePC and exPreview) , still not as good as the major sites, but better than someone's blogpost. Didn't really take note of the second link at first glance.

Yeah the main thing will be hopefully this is immature drivers for the AA issue, the non-compatability issue is a little more disturbing.

 

[Ycon]

LoL how come when ATI fans say this about drivers.. its an excuse for a poor Video Card but Nvidia its ok. So says the two 8800 owners in the posts above me.

Black Kettles I say !!!!

AMD says that drivers will improve their lackluster performance, but when something very ordinary does not work at all, then it really is a driver issue.

 

[rallyimprezive]

LoL how come when ATI fans say this about drivers.. its an excuse for a poor Video Card but Nvidia its ok. So says the two 8800 owners in the posts above me.

Black Kettles I say !!!!

Im really not sure what you are talking about, I dont get involved in those type of debates.

Any card, ATI or nVidia, that is benched before its release, is most likely on beta drivers, and will have a negative impact on performance, and compatibilty.

So put the gas and matches away, you wont get a flame war from me.

 

[Mousemonkey]

LoL how come when ATI fans say this about drivers.. its an excuse for a poor Video Card but Nvidia its ok. So says the two 8800 owners in the posts above me.

Black Kettles I say !!!!

[:mousemonkey:5]

I've already tried to make the point in another earlier thread about this 'new' 9800GX2, and I still feel that nVidia should just drag that card around to the back of the factory and shoot it in the face and be done, move on, leave 'Sli on a stick' alone and concentrate on making single cards work together.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

I think the major difference IMO of the driver issue is the history. nV's GF7GX2's had driver issues their entire lives, and also had MOBO compatability issues at launch and their entire lives.

I was skeptical about the early ATi gemini cards ever improving too because of their R9800MAXX experience, but they proved to figure it out on the low end before ever making it one of these high end cards.

To me that's the difference.

I'm hopefully it's just immature drivers, but I definitely wouldn't spend my money or the money of someone I like on this product unless things change by launch, because the history of it's predecessors doesn't make me confident about how quickly these same issues will be fixed.

However it's far to early to condemn anythinguntil shipping drivers and launch updates/tweaks are used.

 

[Hatman]

AA problems are probably just driver issues.. forced AA didnt work for like months on the 8800s.

 

[Mousemonkey]

However it's far to early to condemn anythinguntil shipping drivers and launch updates/tweaks are used.

And if after the dust has settled and the performance is anything less than stellar, then can we have it shot at dawn?

 

[lostandwandering]

And if after the dust has settled and the performance is anything less than stellar, then can we have it shot at dawn?

I don't see why not.

 

[San Pedro]

And if after the dust has settled and the performance is anything less than stellar, then can we have it shot at dawn?

And someone was accusing you of being an nvidia fanboy today. . .

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

And if after the dust has settled and the performance is anything less than stellar, then can we have it shot at dawn?

Yep absot00tly, although I'd say hang it by it's 8pin power connector to save on bullets (they expensive now you know). [:mousemonkey:1]

 

[review_benchmark_hun]

Ah ok, PConline is know (like HKePC and exPreview) , still not as good as the major sites, but better than someone's blogpost. Didn't really take note of the second link at first glance.

Yeah the main thing will be hopefully this is immature drivers for the AA issue, the non-compatability issue is a little more disturbing.

Ic, not much idea about the reputation of Chinese sites.

I trust info from Anandtech, Xbitlabs, Techpowerup etc.. oh, and Tom's hardware

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Yeah I trust the Chinese sites usually for pictures (because they rarely change and they get them early [hmm wonder if being near the factory helps ]), but I trust the major sites for things like proper drivers/setup at launch for a thorough review.

 

[satanpro]

What I really want to see is 9800gx2 vs 8800gt sli. I've got 8800gt sli now, but should I exchange them for a gx2? Or wait to use my evga step-up to get two 9800gtx ?

 

[Mousemonkey]

And someone was accusing you of being an nvidia fanboy today. . .

And they may well have been correct, which is why the 9800GX2 should be shown no mercy if it fails to live up to expectations. For the good of the company and all that. :lol:

 

[San Pedro]

I'd be happy with 8800gt sli until new generation of cards. 9xxx series from Nvidia is supposedly more of a repackged 8xxx series.

 

[satanpro]

I'd be happy with 8800gt sli until new generation of cards. 9xxx series from Nvidia is supposedly more of a repackged 8xxx series.

agreed, but step-up only lasts so long. Mine lasts until the end of may... the new stuff won't be out then.

 

[review_benchmark_hun]

I'd be happy with 8800gt sli until new generation of cards. 9xxx series from Nvidia is supposedly more of a repackged 8xxx series.

same here :lol: