Hello,
 
I am in the process of getting a 24" monitor...which means I am going to need some serious balls to drive the thing for games.  Assume a E8400 CPU.  Previously, I was going to get the 9600GT because I was just going to run a 1280x1024 LCD.
 
Anyway, reading the review for the card, they said it was loud, where as the 8800GT is in the low 40's, the 9800 is in the mid 50's
 
It that as bad as it sounds?  I like my computer to be fairly quiet.
 
Next thing, I have a 6600GT with an all-copper Zalman cooler I installed myself, and it is SILENT (I cannot here it at all).
 
If I got the 9800 and it was too loud, how hard would be it to do an aftermarket cooler?  I am under the impression there are memory heat issues and other concerns.
 
Finally, I assume a 9600GT would not let me game at 1920x1200 very well?
 
Thanks!!!

The 8800GT cannot achieve temperatures less than a 9800GTX without being louder (assuming stock cooling.)
 
The stock cooling for the 9800GTX is very good, by the way. You really don't need an after market cooler. The noise of the fan at 60% is nothing above the rest of the computer.

The only review that has said that the 9800GTX is loud is the Tom's review.  They used the first sample card that was avaiable (forgive me but I can't think of the brand atm).  I believe that might have just been a fluke with either that brand or that sample.  Perhaps it was the first sample available for a reason?

Great info, thanks!
 
If I am going with a 24" LCD and want to use it at native resolution, is this the card I need (I am not interested in SLI).

I might actually recommend the 8800GTX, since the greater memory is supposed to be more useful at those resolutions.
 
Wait for someone to confirm, though.

The 9800GTX will run that resolution fine, although performance will drop further behind that of a 8800GTX once you start to crank the AA up. And despite what anyone tells you, yes AA at 1920 x 1200 DOES make a difference.

who the heck cares I, have an 8800 GT you can barely hear it when you put your ear next to the case as long as its fast

You will be happiest with the 9800GTX. The cooler should not be that loud, only when gaming and the explosions should drowned that out. My GTS runs quiet when not gaming and has the same fan as the GTX. The stock GT has a smaller cooler so has to run harder to keep cool on load.  However if you get a GT i would recommend one of the brands that has a non stock cooler, like MSI. They are much larger and are quieter.  

Thanks again everyone.
 
*I* do care about the noise because 90% of the time, I am doing Word, Excel, interw3b, 2D CAD, etc. - so I would hope it would behave itself at idle.  If its loud during GAMES, thats cool.
 
Does anyone make a aftermarket cooler for the 9800GTX?

 
You don't need an aftermarket cooler for the GTX.  The GTS and GTX have good stock coolers. The GT has some limitations but that is why some manufactures are offering ones with better cooling solutions.  Don't get an aftermarket cooler.  If the 9800GTX is to steep of a price get the 8800GTS

I have my 9800GTX stock fan speed set at 85%.  It is quite noisy and adds to my already loud as hell Antec 900 case going full boar. I'm fairly tolerant of white noise and usually can filter it out. When I do notice it I remember that's the price you pay to have it air cooled and overclocked @ 800/2000/1150(2300) and still idle at 35C.

my question is y do ppl always complain about noise? if ur not on it turn it off and the odds of u actually hearing your PC when its on, cause u either have ur speakers jacked or u cant hear anything over ur headphones  

Well, some people don't want to tuen off their computer every time they leave the room, yet they don't want to hear it either. It's just a personal preference. I personally don't mind, which is why I max out the fans. If I was easily irritated by noise I'd go liquid cooling I guess.