3870X2 or 9800GTX

Hi guys,

I am planning on buying a new vid card, cant decide btw the 2

I currently have this

E6400 - OC @3GHZ
Asus P5WDH-Delux -975x Chipset
Corsair - 2x1 GB PC6400 Ram
ATI Radeon 1900XT 256 mb
Antec 450W PSU (included with Sonata case)
Viewsonic VX-2245WM - 22'

I want to know if the 2 cards i am considering would be bottlenecked by my CPU? I intend getting the Q6700/Q9450 if so.

DO u guys also think a PSU change would be needed?

As for the 2 gfx cards..I am really confused....from online reviews I figure that ATI's new drivers and hotfix, have really increases the performance of the 3870X2.

Id like to game at 1680x1050, but might upgrade to 24' Dell, and would like to game at native resolutions..

So pls suggest accorfingly! Thanks.

Reply to jasku

Allrighty, well if you want to even talk those cards in the same breath as 450 W then forget it. You need a new PSU for sure. Those GPUS have two very hungry cores. THe 9800GTX runs hot like hell too so hmmmmm I would have to say go with the 8800GTS G92, it does better performance/price ratio wise. Clock-for-clock, it does better than a 9800GTX and costs less to boot.

Message edited by DarthPiggie on 04-27-2008 at 10:50:15 AM

------------------------------ Do not fall prey to perceived obsolescence.
Reply to DarthPiggie

Yes, you need a new PSU. You want one with at least 34 amps on the 12v rail combined.
However, I suggest waiting until the new ati/amd cards come out in May and have been reveiwed before you make your purchase. nvidia is also releasing their next gen chips this summer. They are rumored to be released in June/July. Since new tech is about to be released from both camps, I believe that now is not a good time to buy a new vid card. Even if the new tech is too expensive (I doubt that, at least for ATI), the new tech may drive down the prices for the 9800/3800.

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------------------------------ 3 more years to get my BSEE @ UNH

975 go with the x2 - you can add another for quad crossfire!

Reply to dragonsprayer

First, get a new PSU. 450W ain't gonna take you no where.
Get the 9800GTX, it performs better, and it's cheaper, and you can get 3 of them for maximum performance.

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Reply to romulus47plus1

Yes thats true but tri-sli still has it's glitches, except at high res where it shows it's power

The 3870 X2 does outperform the 9800 GTX slightly but thats because it's Dual GPU. I'd say you'd benefit from the 9800 GTX as well because the 3870 will take a heavy hit from filtering such as AA.

------------------------------ PSN: L1qu1dat1on
i7 920 @ 4.02 GHZ, OCZ 6 gig DDR3, EVGA/PNY 480 GTX sli, Corsair 1000HX, Windows 7 Pro 64, 128 Gig SSD + 2 TB Seagate
Reply to L1qu1d

Yeah, go for the 9800GTX

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Reply to romulus47plus1

soloman02 wrote :

Yes, you need a new PSU. You want one with at least 34 amps on the 12v rail combined.
However, I suggest waiting until the new ati/amd cards come out in May and have been reveiwed before you make your purchase. nvidia is also releasing their next gen chips this summer. They are rumored to be released in June/July. Since new tech is about to be released from both camps, I believe that now is not a good time to buy a new vid card. Even if the new tech is too expensive (I doubt that, at least for ATI), the new tech may drive down the prices for the 9800/3800.

yup i do plan to buy a new PSU, have this one mind
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341002

Pls let me know if you think its enough and if it is compatible with both the 3870x2 and the 9800GTX??, or mite have to go for a higher wattage jus to give my self a little headroom?

Yea I read about the new series from ATI and Nvidia- guess ill hold on...but wanna keep this rig untill (jus the mobo, will get the q6700) the Nehalem, so watever it takes to hold till then.

Quote :

975 go with the x2 - you can add another for quad crossfire!

Yes i am more inclined towards the 3870X2, but my board doesnt have pci-e 2.0 dunno how much of a performance issue that would make?!

Quote :

First, get a new PSU. 450W ain't gonna take you no where.
Get the 9800GTX, it performs better, and it's cheaper, and you can get 3 of them for maximum performance.

Yea dude..for taht ill have to shift to Nvidia chipset, which prolly do wen the NEhalem comes out, I can do it rite now, but dont see that much of a gain!

Quote :

Yes thats true but tri-sli still has it's glitches, except at high res where it shows it's power

The 3870 X2 does outperform the 9800 GTX slightly but thats because it's Dual GPU. I'd say you'd benefit from the 9800 GTX as well because the 3870 will take a heavy hit from filtering such as AA.

Man are u sure abt this?..coz I thot the ATI's had an advantage with the AA/AF turned on at higher resolutions, most of the benchies also confirm that!...with the latest drivers 8.4 with hotfix!

Message edited by jasku on 04-27-2008 at 04:55:30 PM

Reply to jasku

nope not at all. ATI cards are behind Nvidia even with the increase in AA, but the truth is that AA doesn't help them at all

Example the 9600 GT vs 3870

the 3870 has the advantage up until the AA is on, whre the 9600 GT starts go infront.

Take a look

Here is where the Dual GPU comes in handy.

High Res Crysis...

I mean the results are mixed, but your paying 100$ more for just a little frame gain.

I don't think its worth it unless your planning on going quad and your afraid of your power bill

2 9800 GTXs would destroy 1 3870 X2, but it would cost 200$ more.

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ PSN: L1qu1dat1on
i7 920 @ 4.02 GHZ, OCZ 6 gig DDR3, EVGA/PNY 480 GTX sli, Corsair 1000HX, Windows 7 Pro 64, 128 Gig SSD + 2 TB Seagate
Reply to L1qu1d

Are you comparing the 2gpu 3870x2 to 1gpu 9800gtx? Well that a bit unfair, isn't it?

For an idea of 9800gtx performance, see this benchmark: :na:
http://en.expreview.com/2008/04/03 [...] review/12/

------------------------------ Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB + 1.5TB hdds, 850watt psu
Reply to dagger

L1qu1d wrote :

nope not at all. ATI cards are behind Nvidia even with the increase in AA, but the truth is that AA doesn't help them at all

Example the 9600 GT vs 3870

the 3870 has the advantage up until the AA is on, whre the 9600 GT starts go infront.

Take a look

http://img.tomshardware.com/us/200 [...] _small.png

http://img.tomshardware.com/us/200 [...] od_big.png

Here is where the Dual GPU comes in handy.

http://img.tomshardware.com/us/200 [...] is_big.png

High Res Crysis...

http://img.tomshardware.com/us/200 [...] et_big.png

I mean the results are mixed, but your paying 100$ more for just a little frame gain.

I don't think its worth it unless your planning on going quad and your afraid of your power bill

2 9800 GTXs would destroy 1 3870 X2, but it would cost 200$ more.

I am guessing this review from TOm's was before the Catalyst 8.4 with Hotfix came out......Check out these bechies

http://en.expreview.com/2008/04/03 [...] review/13/

Also
http://www.guru3d.com/article/content/516/1/

Let me know if you agree??!!

Reply to jasku

yes but remember the 3870 is a dual card. 9800 gtx is single,also 100$ cheaper

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ PSN: L1qu1dat1on
i7 920 @ 4.02 GHZ, OCZ 6 gig DDR3, EVGA/PNY 480 GTX sli, Corsair 1000HX, Windows 7 Pro 64, 128 Gig SSD + 2 TB Seagate
Reply to L1qu1d

Yeah, use that 100$ and buy girl a good meal.

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Reply to romulus47plus1

L1qu1d wrote :

yes but remember the 3870 is a dual card. 9800 gtx is single,also 100$ cheaper

LOL dude jus noticed, you have a 9800GX2!...is taht good?..are u happy? dual GPU!

Quote :

Yeah, use that 100$ and buy girl a good meal.

Yes good idea!!

Reply to jasku

Use that 100$ to buy a one way flight ticket to Rapture.

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Reply to romulus47plus1

The only way to make the ATI 3870X2 look good is to compare it to single Nvidia cards.Somebody post benchmarks with it against SLI cards or the GX2!!!No matter how you AMD/ATI Lover's show it,they are inferior products to Intel,and Nvidia'a top offerings!!!Dont bring money into the equation,its all about who makes the BEST,and FASTEST product!!!AMD/ATI,are not the fastest solution now!!!

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Reply to kellytm3

I have a GX2 because I'm a frame fanatic and I'm going 1080p I need the power. I paid 500$ cash on release date, where as the 3870 X2 was 415$ I paid 85$ more and get twice the performance almost of the 3870 X2.

I'm very happy with it, High settings crysis 50+ frames, Very high 40-60 frames.

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ PSN: L1qu1dat1on
i7 920 @ 4.02 GHZ, OCZ 6 gig DDR3, EVGA/PNY 480 GTX sli, Corsair 1000HX, Windows 7 Pro 64, 128 Gig SSD + 2 TB Seagate
Reply to L1qu1d

kellytm3 wrote :

The only way to make the ATI 3870X2 look good is to compare it to single Nvidia cards.Somebody post benchmarks with it against SLI cards or the GX2!!!No matter how you AMD/ATI Lover's show it,they are inferior products to Intel,and Nvidia'a top offerings!!!Dont bring money into the equation,its all about who makes the BEST,and FASTEST product!!!AMD/ATI,are not the fastest solution now!!!

Ofcourse Nvidia, has the top performer, but I am looking at the best VFM option that would be best for me...I cant SLI with my current mobo, If i could I would prolly have gone for 8800GT / 9600GT SLI, which leaves me with the 3870x2 and the 9800GTX, ofcourse the 9800GX2 as well..but I think my current setup will prolly bolttleneck it.

Which leaves me with the above mentioned options...also prolly jus get a 8800gt and wait for the new releases this summer

Quote :

I have a GX2 because I'm a frame fanatic and I'm going 1080p I need the power. I paid 500$ cash on release date, where as the 3870 X2 was 415$ I paid 85$ more and get twice the performance almost of the 3870 X2.

I'm very happy with it, High settings crysis 50+ frames, Very high 40-60 frames.

Man ...do you think my current setup would botleneck the 9800gx2??...

Reply to jasku

It won't don't worry

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Reply to romulus47plus1

in my opinion go with the 9800gtx over the 3870x2 because it uses less power and stays cooler. When enabling aa doesnt take performance hit like the ati cards. The 9800gtx is kinda long so make sure it fits. And in my opinion u dont need a new psu with the 9800gtx it will run fine on a 450 assuming ur not overclocking the gpu much.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by invisik on 04-27-2008 at 07:23:32 PM

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Reply to invisik

Invisik is totally damn right!

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Reply to romulus47plus1

invisik wrote :

in my opinion go with the 9800gtx over the 3870x2 because it uses less power and stays cooler. When enabling aa doesnt take performance hit like the ati cards. The 9800gtx is kinda long so make sure it fits. And in my opinion u dont need a new psu with the 9800gtx it will run fine on a 450 assuming ur not overclocking the gpu much.

See benchmark:
http://en.expreview.com/2008/04/03 [...] review/12/

------------------------------ Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB + 1.5TB hdds, 850watt psu
Reply to dagger

If you go with nvidia, make sure you go with EVGA as they have the step-up program which allows you to "step up" to a more expensive card withing 90 days. I suggest waiting until maid may to buy the 8800GT/GTS (G92). That way when the new nvidia cards come out you can get one without a huge investment.

As others have said, that OCZ PSU will be enough and will allow you to not worry about not having enough power.

------------------------------ 3 more years to get my BSEE @ UNH

L1qu1d wrote :

I have a GX2 because I'm a frame fanatic and I'm going 1080p I need the power. I paid 500$ cash on release date, where as the 3870 X2 was 415$ I paid 85$ more and get twice the performance almost of the 3870 X2 .

I'm very happy with it, High settings crysis 50+ frames, Very high 40-60 frames.

LoL at twice the performance ! :pt1cable:

well it still is better lol it does doulbe the X2 in certain games The 3870 X2 is around 8800 Ultra speeds, slightly faster. while the 9800 GX2 comes close to 2 8800 GTS (512) slghtly down clocked

------------------------------ PSN: L1qu1dat1on
i7 920 @ 4.02 GHZ, OCZ 6 gig DDR3, EVGA/PNY 480 GTX sli, Corsair 1000HX, Windows 7 Pro 64, 128 Gig SSD + 2 TB Seagate
Reply to L1qu1d

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