Is the 9800GX2 HOT or NOT?

[jay2tall]

Ok so here is a crazy poll. I am curious to see what people think of the new 9800GX2. Now that Tom has it's review on it and other sites as well, what do you all think?

I personally think it is a commodity for people who have the cash and just want to have the "best" single card out there. I think with the correct SLI setup of 9600gt,8800gt, or 8800GTS's it would easily and more cost effectively surpass this cards performance. I think the cooler is better than the previous 7950GX2, but it will limit the cards overclocking ability and also aftermarket cooling choices. Since it is basically (2) 8800GTS's running at 600MHZ sharing the same heat sink, it is limited right out of the box.

 

[Kataklyzm]

799.99 in Canada /cry

 

[lostandwandering]

I voted no comment, but I do have a comment. I think it falls under both categories. It outperforms the 3870X2 in most cases, so based on that it's hot. It also cost a little under double what the x2 costs so for that it's not. Also add in the limited amount of memory to the "Not" list.

Give it a lower price tag and at least another 256mb of memory (for high res' and textures) and I think more people would be willing to buy it. Not worth it atm though.

 

[Undying89]

Well i think that 9800GTX will be best buy (if the price 349$ is true) but GX2 is way overpriced card and its not worth of spending soo much money on card

 

[pongrules]

I vote not. It barely has better performance than the 8800 Ultra and is priced higher as well. That, and it sends the heat from the card to the inside of the case. What? Who had their head up their arse on this design? Finally, lack of memory - this card should have been much better, and you know what...it will. They'll call it the 9900 X2, they'll finally get it right and they'll charge a few more hundred dollars for a card that should have been done right to begin with.

I'll be sticking with my 8800 GTX.

 

[itotallybelieveyou]

.... Only reason this card would be sold is for show off rights.

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

I vote not. It barely has better performance than the 8800 Ultra and is priced higher as well. That, and it sends the heat from the card to the inside of the case. What? Who had their head up their arse on this design? Finally, lack of memory - this card should have been much better, and you know what...it will. They'll call it the 9900 X2, they'll finally get it right and they'll charge a few more hundred dollars for a card that should have been done right to begin with.

I'll be sticking with my 8800 GTX.

They set the card to put the heat into the case? In other words you'd have to put a slot cooler under it to properly vent the heat outside. I am sure that's a great card and the people who designed it are great engineers, but who in their right mind knowing that heat kills components vents the heat into the case??????

 

[Emperor36]

This card is two 8800 gts' 512mb, wtf that's retarded. It's like the 7950 gx2 when it came out. None the less, one Ultra comes close to it's performance and the 3870x2 is right on it's back. To me guy's this is not worth $$$, I'm waiting for the next gen cards to come out, you'll see whats going to happen. they'll come out with the 10 series and it'll be better even yet. Just by looking at it has a heat issue already. What I think Nvidia should do is an accual dual core gpu not discrete with two boards. Make the SOB 45nm and have it clocked @ 1gz with a bad A$$ heat sink, 1ghz of mem, 768mb bus. Now i'm dreaming.lol BUt anyway good luck to whom ever buy's this card i hope it does well for you.

 

[boredguy8]

This card series needs some more work, but it has great potential.

Ars Technica has a great analysis of how rendering has changed for the new card, which Tom's Review doesn't detail: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080318-build-your-own-quad-sli-nvidia-launches-the-9800gx2.html

 

[EXT64]

Well, it is definately hot, but not in the way you meant it.

 

[pauldh]

I agree with you on your analysis Jay.

It's surely the new top single card (if you want to call it that), but not impressive for the money. It seems to match dual 8800GT which is under $400. Dual 8800GTS 512MB will beat it for $450-500. Those who don't want an NV chipset or have money to burn on two of these someday, then maybe it's worth it. To me, it's a big waste of $150-$250 vs other SLI solutions you mentioned. I guess performance wise, it's exactly as expected really.

edit: I need another vote option though. I think people are better off with SLI 9600GT, 8800GT, or 8800GTS 512MB than spend $600 or more on this thing. I guess option two just limited to a single sub $300 card.

 

[spaztic7]

The more time is passing, the happier I am with my 8800GTX OC2.

 

[njalterio]

The 9800X2 only performs much greater than the 8800 Ultra and 3870X2 IF you are gaming at ridiculous high resolutions. If you have the monitors to pull that off, then the price probably is not an issue for you. If you do not game at that kind of resolution, then just go with something around $400 for high end graphics.

 

[mpavao81]

from what i have seen in benchmarks the 9800 X2 isnt much faster than the 8800 ultra. and for the heavy price tag it carries its not worth it. And its not even DX 10.1. ill pass on this one.

 

[jay2tall]

The more time is passing, the happier I am with my 8800GTX OC2.

Anyone who has an 8800GTX happy. I don't know one person who isn't. Sure it was $$$$ when it came out but it has held its own passing what? 1-1.5 years now?

 

[kpo6969]

Carmen Electra is hot.
The card's temps are hot.
The card is not.

 

[tricky trees]

And so it should Jay2tall. You pay 5 hundred odd dollars for any card and it should hold water for at least that amount of time. Longer if you ask me or you've been screwed.

 

[Guest]

Enthusiast builds only at this point.

If the card were $400 like the 3870X2 I'd say go for it if you had the money. But if a 360 or PS3 can both be had under $400, why spend more than that on a damn video card?

I make it a point to NEVER spend $300 or more on a video card. Its just games people!

Now if you need the card (OpenGL and such) for work (CAD, etc.) this is entirely different.

 

[jkflipflop98]

Sucks. I hate that they're using their naming scheme to try and sell a few extra parts. These cards should be named the 8900 series pure and simple.

 

[Yoosty]

While being a owner of the 7950 GX2, Quad SLi cards. I will hold my judgement on the new 9800 Gx2, until I see some reviews on its capabilties using the HDMI port at 1920x1090 on a HDTV.

Since I have a Sharp AQUOS LC-32GP1U I would like to use.
http://www.sharpusa.com/products/ModelLanding/0,1058,1834,00.html

Since when using DVI to DVI you have to stretch the image to fit that resolution.. Lets see some Reviews when using HDMI port.....

 

[Mousemonkey]

The 3870X2 is nearly as fast for much much less money. Who's gonna buy this card? Plus with ATI about to release new cards, it wont be king for long.

Would that be the 3870x2 that 'smokes' Sli'd 8800GT's? http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3209&p=4 http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=716&p=8

 

[jkflipflop98]

LOL that idiot didn't actually say a X2 "SMOKES" 2x 8800GT's in SLi, did it? :lol:

 

[maverick7]

not quite sure yet

 

[apache_lives]

Sucks. I hate that they're using their naming scheme to try and sell a few extra parts. These cards should be named the 8900 series pure and simple.

Second that:

9800GX2 -> 8800GX2
9800GTS -> 8900
9600GT -> 8700

this is all ATi's fault when they Did the whole HD2900 - HD3870 thing!

Perhaps the 9800GX2 is for users who cant have SLI, the crap thing about that is my ASUS P5B Deluxe (Intel 965 chipset) cant do SLI, but it can do Crossfire - *waiting for ATI to return with a great card* (not happy with there flaws with some games) - nvidia isnt tempting me with this 9800 series, im not biting.

 

[John Vuong]

I vote "no comment" here. Though the card looks like but highly expensive. I'll think I'll wait for the GT200, though I was leaning towards this card when I heard the GTX was going to be a dud.

Good to hear it outperforms the 3870X2 though.