Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > Graphics Cards > 3870 X2 oder 9800 GTX?

3870 X2 oder 9800 GTX?

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - 3870 X2 oder 9800 GTX?

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!

Ask the community Add a reply

Bottom Search this thread

Hi there!

I'm building a new PC right now and this is what I will buy definitely:

Intel Core2 Quad Q6700
Asus P5K Premium
2048MB DDR2RAM GEIL Ultra Series PC800 Kit
Miditower Cooler Master CM 690
Noctua NH-U12P
500GB 3,5" Samsung SpinPoint HD502IJ SATA 7200rpm 16MB

The System will be powered by my BeQuiet BQT E5-500W and a DVB-S card shall find a place in the case. Depending on the remaining space and OnBoard Sound quality my X-Fi Xtreme Music may be in the case, too. I chose the Q6700 because I don't OC (maybe in the future).

Now I'm not sure which graphic card I should buy: Either the Asus 1024MB 3870X2/G/3DHTI/1G (Its the Quad-DVI card) or an 9800 GTX.

I don't want to wait for the 4870, because my current system (Athlon XP 3000+, 7600 GS and 1GB DDR400) really needs an update (or better: replacement )!

If you think I should better buy a cheap PCI-E graphics card (3450/3650) and really wait for the 4xxx series, then tell me.

Best regards,
meilon

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by meilon on 05-22-2008 at 03:13:11 PM

Add a reply

MrsBytch wrote :

Go with the Q9300 over the Q6700. Better technology, better overclocking, cooler temps.
Id wait for the new 4800/4800X2 series.
You will likely need a beefier power supply no matter what you go with, especially if you decide to sli/x2 or overclock.

i,m not into overclocking but from what i,ve read the Q6700 is the better overclocker. It will use alot more power and run hotter, and that,s why I would go for the Q9300 and since I don,t overclock.

Reply to col-p-todd

what he said on all counts, 45nm quads are much better.

Reply to 50bmg

But I where you I would get this card (8800GT) and then wait for the 4800 series.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150280

Reply to col-p-todd

i had the same decision, if a company that sold the 3870x2 had a step up program i would have went with it. However i went with a evga 9800gtx and will probably exercise the step-up program with a month or so. I love the card and i haven't had any problems yet.

Reply to braves00fan7

If it's gaming you're mainly into I'd go for an E8400 - cheaper, cooler and a great overclocker. Pick up a 8800GT or GTS (cheap now) and wait until the next batch of cards appear in the next 2-3 months.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to Cybersciver

MrsBytch wrote :

Obviously he wants a quad core.

MrsBytch: misleads again! The q9300 is a piece o crap overclocker. Average quad overclocks are 3.6.
Q6700 needs 360 FSB, easy overclcok!
Q9300 needs 480 FSB, not so easy and requires a highend mobo and faster ram.
Q6600 needs 400 FSB Easy again and 1:1 with DDR2 800

I have no idea where you got your info, but the q9300 is not a good overclocker compared to q9700/q9600.

If the q9300 is so good why are they phasing it out already?

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to roadrunner197069

q9300 a better overclocker than the q6600? I doubt it since the q9300 has a 7.5x multiplier. Better have a mobo that's stable way over 450mhz fsb and some fast ass ram. q6600 and some pc2 6400 will take you to 3.2-3.6 with an air cooler. If energy is a concern, yeah, go with the q9300. The q6700 has a 10x multiplier and has better oc'ing potential than either the q6600 and q9300.

As for your psu, the BeQuiet is a really nice unit and 500w should suffice....but i'd feel safer with another 50-100w

Reply to clownbaby

Yep, I want a quad core. And like I already said, I'm not the overclocker guy right now, I don't want to OC right now, but anytime in the future.

If the most of you agree I should wait for the 4xxx, I rather would by a cheap ATI because mixing up ati and nvidia drivers isn't good, is it? I don't know if windows likes this.

Reply to meilon

Meilon, If possible just wait till the 4*** series of cards is released to build the machine.

If it were me and i couldn’t wait till 4*** series is released i would go get a 9800GX2 and forget about 4*** Plus you’ll get the step up program from EVGA which would allow you to snag the 9900 instead if you wanted.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to grieve

grieve wrote :

Meilon, If possible just wait till the 4*** series of cards is released to build the machine.

If it were me and i couldn%u2019t wait till 4*** series is released i would go get a 9800GX2 and forget about 4*** Plus you%u2019ll get the step up program from EVGA which would allow you to snag the 9900 instead if you wanted.

The 9800 GX2 is totally out of the question! It definitely blows up my budget.

Until now I came to the conclusion that I'll keep my 500W BeQuiet and buy a ATi 3650. It is still better than my GF 7600 GS, and I have more budget in 1-2 months when 4xxx is available. And with the spared money I maybe buy a Q9300 instead the Q6700 because it'll be nicer to my electricity bill. That also saves money

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by meilon on 05-22-2008 at 05:31:07 PM

Reply to meilon

overclock bit when you need it serves y good

Reply to spotless

hmm...

i find it hard to believe that a q9300 7.5x would beat a Q6600 9x. i mean, is it for everyday OC use? or like a one time high record OC? could depend on the OC-ing situation.

personally, i wouldn't wanna take my fsb into the 450+ range

------------------------------

http://valid.canardpc.com/cache/banner/590311.png

Reply to aznguy0028

MrsBytch wrote :

Wrong again BirdBrain. Maximum PC June 2008 page 16 Q6600 Vs Q9300.
Price: Q6600
Specs: Q9300
Compatability: Q6600
Overclocking: Q9300
Performance: Q9300
And the winner is: Q9300
All test done using Nforce 790i Ultra.

Read it and weep birdbrain.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that a $350+ motherboard?

From what I've heard, the Q6600 is the better overclocker since it has a lower FSB and a higher multiplier. You can probably get comparable core speeds, but the Q6600 is cheaper.

The Achille's heel of the Q9300 is the low multi. Since you're already starting at 333, you have to push the FSB really high to achieve a good overclock. It's not necessarily a limit of the CPU as much as it is of the motherboard - which is why you need a high end board to push the Q9300.

If you have disposable income, the Q9300 and a high-end MB are the way to go. But if cost is a concern - as it is in this case - you'd be better off with a lower priced Q6600 and MB.

Reply to EthylOH

meilon wrote :

The 9800 GX2 is totally out of the question! It definitely blows up my budget.

Until now I came to the conclusion that I'll keep my 500W BeQuiet and buy a ATi 3650. It is still better than my GF 7600 GS, and I have more budget in 1-2 months when 4xxx is available. And with the spared money I maybe buy a Q9300 instead the Q6700 because it'll be nicer to my electricity bill. That also saves money

Sorry but you are wrong all the way
You need min. PSU 550W for PC with 2 HDD, 1 graphic card, 2 drives, 1 sound card, 6 cooling fans
You add one more graphic card and you need MIN. a PSU with 750W
Q6700 is better than Q9300
It is almost impossible for normal users to push FSB to 450
North Bridge will be frying machine
400 MHz for FSB is moderate OC with acceptable voltage and temp
I do not know the price of ATi 3650
Get this card for 140 $
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814125088
It will serve you very well for min. 1year till prices of the new generation from ATI and nVidia drop down
I did my best
But it is your call
Best luck with your choices

Message edited by kad on 05-22-2008 at 08:29:33 PM

------------------------------ LianLi PC-A70 Case/Enermaqx Galaxy 1000W/Asus Rampage Formula/E8500/Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Lapped/Scythe S-Flex SFF21F/Crucial Ballistic Red Line DDR2800 PC6400(2X2)GB/8800GTS 512MB/WD Raptor2X150GB/ViewSonic VX922(1280X1024Max)
Reply to kad

I will only have 2 HDD, 1 graphic card, 1 drive, 2 PCI-Devices and max 4 cooling fans (cpu and gpu included). And the 3650 has only a small fan and doesn't heat up that much. A new PSU will come with a new graphic card.
And I think I'll never do crossfire on that board because the 2nd PCI-E x16 is x4 only.

Regarding Q6700 vs Q9300: I'm really confused! About 50% say: "Take the Q6700", the other 50% say "Take the Q9300". I understood that the Q9300 is not for OCing purposes (what I maybe won't do), but the Q6700 is draining very much power. I think I'll make it a last-minute decision.

The MSI R3650-T2D512-OC is about 100$/70€. It's not a gaming card, but it will serve my 1280x1024 screen with relative good images for a while (1-3 months).

Reply to meilon

I read this post too quickly, and thought you wanted to put a 3870x2 on your athlon 3000+!! haha.

Anyway, I would take the q6700. the 9300 is too expensive for the performance increase it gives over the 6700. And besides, I know you're not into OC'ing, but it's an option to take if you find the 6700 too slow. And your electric bill will be more GPU dependant rather than CPU dependant.

Reply to frozenlead

dont you love when you post in graphic & displays and ppl go off on something that had 0 relevance to your post.

Reply to braves00fan7

Well, I hope this is relevant. Try to wait till mid June. The 4850 will be the first to arrive (with DDR3) followed by the 4870 (DDR5).

Soon after, Nvidia will come out with the G280, a high end card that ATI will seek to match with the 4870x2 (which might not be due out until fall).

I do not advise anyone to buy a high end card this month. Wait for the soon to be released ATI and Nvidia refreshes.

meilon wrote :

If you think I should better buy a cheap PCI-E graphics card (3450/3650) and really wait for the 4xxx series, then tell me.

Best regards,
meilon

If you need to get something to hold you over. Get the cheapest card that will play the games you want to play right now. If you have a legacy card, even better. Anything you buy right now will be a generation behind in one month.

After all, a 4870 is expected to be as fast as a 3870x2 for less money and without Crossfire scaling issues. G280 is expected to be faster than a 9800gx2. This summer is the time to upgrade GPU's.

Hope this helps.

Message edited by yipsl on 05-23-2008 at 09:14:59 AM

------------------------------ Phenom 8750, ASUS M3A78T
4 gigs Kingston DDR2 800 two 1T SAMSUNG HD103UI
Sapphire 4870x2, Sony BDU-X10S BD-ROM
Antec Neo 650 PSU Antec Nine Hundred, Acer H213H 1080p LCD
Reply to yipsl

Okay, now I'm sure: I'll buy a Q6700 and a cheap graphic card and wait for the 4xxx series.

Thanks for help, this thread can be closed now!

Reply to meilon

Ask the community Add a reply

Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > Graphics Cards > 3870 X2 oder 9800 GTX?

Go to:

Help |
Forum rules

There are 787 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Page generated in 0.340 seconds

Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel

Twitter

3870 X2 oder 9800 GTX?

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - 3870 X2 oder 9800 GTX?

Please mind