How long untill the 9800gt becomes Obsolete

[omar954]

How long will this card be able to run games at 1440x900 and 1650x1200 at smooth fps? I'm, building my first gaming rig and I hear that this is the best price/performance nvidia card out there ($99.99 at newegg after rebate). I was thinking this card might not be enough for a gaming rig but if I SLI it when it starts getting obsolete it last a while longer. What do you guys think?

 

[jerreece]

Graphics cards are pretty difficult. They probably last the shortest time period of any part in your computer as far as gaming upgrades go. It ultimately depends on the resolutions you play at, and how you set graphics options. If you want everything to run at Very High levels, with Anti-Aliasing turned on, then the 9800GT is probably at the point now where new game releases will start putting pressure on it.

I use an 8800GTS (G92 512MB version) and play Crysis at 1440x900 @ Very High and get like 26-29FPS in the beginning jungle levels. My card technically should be slightly faster than the 9800GT I think. Granted Crysis isn't the best game for balancing a video card's true performance. Other games like CoD4 would play beautifully with a 9800GT.

The reality is this. Spend what you can afford on a video card. Get the best you can afford today, and just accept the fact that it'll be more challenged by the games released tomorrow. It's just how the gaming world goes. Nothing wrong with buying a 9800GT right now, as it plays stuff fine. You just may not have every single setting maxed out, with max resolution, and 16x AA.

For $100, the 9800GT is the best bang for your buck. Again, for $100.

If you can afford an HD4850 (and find a really good deal on it) it's probably the best overall bang for anyone's buck.

 

[L1qu1d]

The 9800 GT has already been out for a year (with a different name 8800 GT). So I think its pretty much reaching its end. It is already struggling when the graphics are cranked up in the latest game: Stalker, Crysis warhead, far Cry 2.

On low settings I'd give it another couple of months for 1 9800 GT.

But we'll never kno for sure

 

[eric54]

I remember when it would take at least 400.00 bucks to get a card that performed decently. 2008 has probably been the best year yet as far as performance/dollar is concerned. For 99.00 today you would have to spend four times that get get the same FPS (and we arent talking about largely different architecture either). I dont see prices getting much lower in the future so really, whatever you spend today, expect to spend the same amount.

I have a hunch that future pricetags will look something like this

299.99 <- Highest high end (comparable gtx "x2" etc. today)
199.99 <- High end (comparable to gts 4870 etc today)
99.99 <- Mainstream (comparable to 4850, 260 etc today)

So the best strategy really is just spending what you want on a card. Chances are it'll take less of a hit than last years cards did (as far as depreciation) and you'll be able to get a new one thats better a lot cheaper.

 

[dirtmountain]

Great answer by Jerreece.

 

[rambo117]

The 9800 GT has already been out for a year (with a different name 8800 GT). So I think its pretty much reaching its end. It is already struggling when the graphics are cranked up in the latest game: Stalker, Crysis warhead, far Cry 2.

On low settings I'd give it another couple of months for 1 9800 GT.

But we'll never kno for sure

not nessisarily, nvidia added a few "9 series" features. and gave it tri sli the 9800gt sounds to be like a really great card for the money, id go for it... or save up about an extra 50-60 dollars and get a 4850

 

[L1qu1d]

I wouldn't recommend the 9800 GT for tri sli.

I would give it an extra couple of bux, an get the 4850 which beats even the 9800 GTX+ and will eventually be able to tri sli with a 4850 X2


The 9800 GT to me seems like a last chance to sell out the 8800 GT GPUs. If under 100$ and ur under a really tight budget then they might be worth it. But tri-sli wouldn't be enough to tempt me for this card.

I'd be more willing to do 9800 GTX or 9800 GTX+ for tri sli.

The only 9800 GT I think would do it justice is the Asus 9800 GT Ultimate, which is basically a 9800 GTX/8800 GTS.

 

[rambo117]

yesss but the 9800gtx looses to the 4850 and its about 40-50dollars cheaper depending on the manufacturer so in that scenario, id get the 4850. but still, if tri sli is the way you were thinkin then go with three 9800gtx or gtx+.

 

[L1qu1d]

yeah I recommened the 4850 over the 9800 GTX as well.

But it all depends on his mobo or what he might change to.

 

[mopman]

i would recommend 3 gtx 280's on a skulltrail system running 64gb's of ddr6 RAM. but the 4850 is pretty good to

 

[L1qu1d]

funny

 

[rambo117]

i would recommend 3 gtx 280's on a skulltrail system running 64gb's of ddr6 RAM. but the 4850 is pretty good to

tehe, we all wish....

 

[rangers]

the 4830 comes out on the 23rd

http://www.vr-zone.com/articles/MSI_Radeon_HD_4830_First_Look/6121.html

supposedly for $150 but i think it will retail for much cheaper than that, future games will shine with this card especially when DX10.1 and DX11 games touch down

 

[omar954]

my current mobo is 750i p5n-d, but the thing is putting 2 dual slot gpus on it doesnt really fit. So maybe 4850 later xfire with a p45 (could some1 reccomend a good model) but im not so sure about ati...
Current Specs:
p182 case
e8400 plan to OC to 3.4 with an after-market cooler.
650tx psu

 

[rangers]

i would say the cheapest asus p45 motherboard (lots of overclocking head room) you dont have to worry about, going with ati there drivers are better than nvidia now and even linux support is spot on now

 

[omar954]

OK looking at benchmarks, 4850 seems worse than 8800gt including sli and xfire
=on&prod[2115]=on&prod[2116]=on&prod[2074]=on]http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/gaming-graphics-charts-q3-2008/compare,798.html?prod[2073]=on&prod[2115]=on&prod[2116]=on&prod[2074]=on

 

[L1qu1d]

Tom's charts are worth just a little over nothing. Actually a little below. Those charts make absolutely no sense and shouldn't be followed even as a joke.

Here are some real charts:

http://www.guru3d.com/category/call_duty_4_pc/

 

[omar954]

oh nice, so do u think the 4850 single/xfire will be better when more drivers come out?
also any p45 recommendations?

 

[L1qu1d]

yup its got alot to grow DX 10.1 as well apparently free AA

 

[nrnx]

Who knows what concrete features the 4830 will have at this point though. Maybe it won't end up being a better cheaper choice then just going 4850 if they gimp on features.

 

[omar954]

screw 4830
how will a 4850 xfire be at only x8 link shouldn't it be x16 like like nvidia' sli??
(still need help on a good p45 mobo)