hartono

Distinguished
Dec 28, 2004
12
0
18,510
I just purchased Elsa 9800 Pro 128 MB (Falcox 980 FX) for $185, but I haven't got a chance to test it yet because my motherboard is currently being repaired. I want to ask people's opinion on this card. Is it a good one and can it support today's game well?

Intel 865PERL 3GHz
512 DDR PC3200
 

cleeve

Illustrious
Sure, 9800 PROs are still good cards. There are better out there of course, but they're still quite good.

________________
<b>Radeon <font color=red>9700 PRO</b></font color=red> <i>(o/c 332/345)</i>
<b>AthlonXP <font color=red>3200+</b></font color=red> <i>(Barton 2500+ o/c 400 FSB)</i>
<b>3dMark03: <font color=red>5,354</b>
 
im not sure about that specific card, but my 9800aiw will run any game right now at the highest settings without any problems.

"Never underestimate the predictability of Stupidity."
<A HREF="http://www.cameronwilliamson.com" target="_new">-={Neurotic Narcissist.}=-</A>
<font color=blue>R.I.P. O.D.B.</font color=blue>
 

addiarmadar

Distinguished
May 26, 2003
2,558
0
20,780
The 9800 pro was probably ATIs last good AGP card but anyways the 9800pro are good and run whats currently out the. As for that specific card's OC capabilities, thats relative.

<i><font color=red>Only an overclocker can make a computer into a convectional oven.</i></font color=red>
 

pauldh

Illustrious
The 9800 pro was probably ATIs last good AGP card
Oh really, and why is that? I have two of them, and I'll gladly trade you one for an X800XT or XTpe. :lol: I'll even throw in a few Ti4200's too.

IMO, The X800XTpe is the best performing AGP card, and it's based off the same architechure as the 9800 pro. What does the 9800 pro have to offer now that the X800 pro, xt, xtpe don't have? Or is it just that NV has something that competes now, so ATI doesn't have a good card? :wink: I'd agree that the 9800 pro spanked the FX5900U period, and that the X800XTpe/GF6800U battle is more a matter of personal preference with no clear winner, but your statement above makes no sense apart from that.





<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=3400555" target="_new"> My</A>
<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=8268935" target="_new">Gamer</A>
 

pauldh

Illustrious
A quick google search indicates it's a 256-bit clocked 380/340. So, at least it has the right specs, and the price was right. Otherwise, don't know much about it.

Not sure what games you want to play, but two of the bigger titles of recent times are Farcry and HL2. Farcry will run well at 1024x768 High, no AA/AF. HL2 will run well at 1280x1024 Highest with no AA/AF. Older games will play well with high res and AA/AF, but in newer games, the 9800 pro will struggle with AA on unless you lower the resolution. Personally I like higher res better that AA most of the time, although both would be nice. The 9800 pro was bar far the best $200 card for a long time and is still a solid card. Even now you have to spend over $200 to beat it, with cards like the GF6600GT and 6800.



<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=3400555" target="_new"> My</A>
<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=8268935" target="_new">Gamer</A>
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Pauldh on 12/28/04 07:33 PM.</EM></FONT></P>
 

hartono

Distinguished
Dec 28, 2004
12
0
18,510
Thank you then, I prefer rts games to fps games, and run at 1024x 768. Actually, I’m more concerned about the “Elsa” brand rather than the 9800 chip. Several days ago, I compared several cards that I was going to buy by browsing through tom’s hardware benchmarks, 9800 pro is near the top of the list. By the way, do gamers out there always overclock their card? Is there really a noticable effect and is it safe? My last card broke after 1 year even without overclocking, it was asus geforce 4mx…
 

pauldh

Illustrious
The "Elsa" name is the part I can't comment on. :tongue: Never used one.

The short answer is: No, not everyone overclocks. Matter of fact, most gamers don't, but many enthusiasts do. Which is why here it seems more common.

There are some who overclock everything, all the time. It's basically addictive, but stems from getting more for your money. Take CPU's. For me it started when I bought a Celeron 300a. It costed $130 tops, yet it overclocked easily to 464MHz and outbenched the Pentium II 450, which was the top cpu and cost $800-$1000 at the time. Needless to say, I was hooked, and my next 4-5 systems were all overclocked celerons or PIII's. I had a home LAN for gaming with friends, and almost every system had an overclocked cpu, and later on video cards too. I used to be that way, but now I typically overclock 1) for fun to see what a cpu or video card can do, 2) to whip out high benchies and compare with others :redface: , and 3) When I need to. Basically I don't OC much on my gaming rig now unless I need a little more performance to remain playable at the settings I want to play at. Reason 3 is the best time to OC, but I still have one system that was purely built just to OC (NF7-S, Mobile XP2500+ @ 2.6GHz, and typically a GF4Ti4200 clocked 340/620 (yet i throw lots of cards in there for benchies).

Anyway, the 9800 pro should excel at what you intend to use it for. No need to OC. IF/When you need more performance, then it's time to OC before/instead of shopping for an new system & card.


<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=3400555" target="_new"> My</A>
<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=8268935" target="_new">Gamer</A>
 
yeah im a victim of oc everything i get my hands on or at least modding it some...

"Never underestimate the predictability of Stupidity."
<A HREF="http://www.cameronwilliamson.com" target="_new">-={Neurotic Narcissist.}=-</A>
<font color=blue>R.I.P. O.D.B.</font color=blue>