Radeon 9800 vs Geforce FX 5900 128MB

Discussion in 'Video Cards, Displays and TV Tuners' started by loaded_chambers, Jun 23, 2003.

  1. loaded_chambers

    loaded_chambers Geek Trainee

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    Okay, time for the 5800 Ultra to go. I'm definitely getting a new video card. It's a great card but the noise is getting to me finally. I'm interested in either 128MB versions of either the Geforce FX 5900 or the Radeon 9800. I've been looking for comparisons but could only find them for the 256MB versions. If anyone could give me a link to a review or would like to give me some insight please do. The new 800fsb cpu with dual channel ddr400 is incredibly fast. I have to get a better video card now. I've come this far, better not stop yet. Also, does anyone know of a good cpu water cooler?
     
  2. Sniper

    Sniper Administrator Staff Member

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  3. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

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    Hercules has a 128MB version of the 9800 Pro available, but they tend to have higher priced items than other companies. ATi's own 9800 Pro 128MB runs about $40 cheaper. I'm not having much luck finding the price on a 5900 or 5900 Ultra. So far, Newegg lists Gainward's 5900 with at ETA of 7/3/03. It is a 128MB model.
    5900 Reviews
    http://firingsquad.gamers.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_fx_5900_ultra/
    http://content.guru3d.com/article.php?cat=review&id=40&pagenumber=1

    The 5900's are huge. Probably the longest consumer card since the Voodoo 5 5500. So keep that in mind when considering your system as well.
     
  4. loaded_chambers

    loaded_chambers Geek Trainee

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  5. harrack52

    harrack52 Supreme Geek

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    What I'll say is based purely on what I read. But I'd get the ATI if I were you. The performance between the two cards should be pretty much the same, but I bet the ATI will be cheaper than the GeForce.

    On a side note, what games can you not play with a ATI 9800 Pro, that you can play with another card ?
    My personal guess is there are none.
     
  6. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

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    If your sig is right, that FX5800 Ultra may have issues, but you're paying alot more but not necessarily getting a ton more performance. They may be faster in benchmarks, but when it comes to actual gameplay, you can't always tell.

    Before you go and buy from any retailer online, hit up www.resellerratings.com . Personally, I like Newegg---great service, generally great prices, and they've also got a pretty good score at Reseller Ratings.
     
  7. harrack52

    harrack52 Supreme Geek

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  8. loaded_chambers

    loaded_chambers Geek Trainee

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    Geez, I don't know which to get. It's a back and forth debate. I was going to get the powercolor Radeon 9800 PRO but then read several posts and reviews that say the 5900 outperforms the Radeon. Then I was looking at an Evga 5900 but then read that some cards were shipped with a bad bios. *sigh* Thanks for the link Harrack, you got me even more muddled on which to get. Now I'm totally lost..heh heh..My card still has a couple days left on Ebay so I'll just wait it out and hope I come to a conclusion. Radeon or Geforce FX? Bleh, I'm tired of thinking..
     
  9. loaded_chambers

    loaded_chambers Geek Trainee

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  10. harrack52

    harrack52 Supreme Geek

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    I'm not sure, the 9800np is not even mentionned on www.ati.com.
     
  11. loaded_chambers

    loaded_chambers Geek Trainee

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    Im guessing the pro is clocked higher or something. From what I've been reading it sounds like the 9800 pro and gffx 5900 are pretty even until AA and AF are enabled. From most of the benchmarks I've seen the 5900 smokes the radeon. I think I'll trust nVIDIA this time. I know they can't be releasing another 5800....I hope.
     
  12. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

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    No. They definitely did some major work on the 5900 this time and re-engineered their FlowFX cooling.

    I'm not sure if they've done this, but ATi changed the number of pipelines in the Pro and non-pro versions of the 9500/9700 chips.
     
  13. loaded_chambers

    loaded_chambers Geek Trainee

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    http://www.essencompu.com/nupplysingar.asp?ID=4552

    I've never heard of this company before, are their cards any good? I couldn't find any reviews or nothing but the "WinFast TwinTurbo-II Cooling System"kinda looks intriguing but loud at the same time. Thats my main concern. My case can handle the length but I can't handle any more excessive noise. It's between this one an eVGA or a prolink(never heard of this company either).
     
  14. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

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    Leadtek produces the Winfast cards. I've never used them before, but they're a decent name.

    Personally, I've been pretty happy with my GeForce 3 from Gainward. Not the cheapest brand, but the 5900 they have out only takes up one slot and is pretty quiet.

    I'd suggest Hercules as well, but since they started doing ATI cards, they've severed ties with nVidia. Shame too, since they made some sweet GF2 cards.
     
  15. harrack52

    harrack52 Supreme Geek

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  16. lol, so im on the same problem that u are at but i think that i'm gonna go with the eVGA nVIDIA FX5900. i am currently running the eVGA nVidia GeForce 4 Ti-4200 64meg card and i love it. i have actually just overclocked it (within the last week) with the core at 330 Mhz and the memory at 600 mhz, runs perfect. My friend has the MSI ti-4200 128meg card and we got the same score on 3DMark 2001 (before mine was overclocked). my other friend JUST got the radeon 9800 128 card and it works great but no benchmarks yet. AA up to 6x and anisotropic at 16x and still runs awesome on Allied Assault. Tomorrow i'm gonna get 3DMark 2001 and test it . But i always follow my guy feeling and it is saying the fx5900 and hey i found it for $257 at http://shop.store.yahoo.com/e-datatek/evgefx12ddrt.html w/ FREE S&H
     
  17. harrack52

    harrack52 Supreme Geek

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    I suggest you get a Sapphire 9800np 128mb.
    Chances are you'll have Samsung memory on it

    So you'll be able to flash the bios with a 9800 pro bios so you'll end up with a 9800 pro that cost you only $249 at newegg. It'll be noticeably faster than a FX5900.

    But it has to be a Sapphire since it seems they all have Samsung memory on it. (the 9800nps that is).
     
  18. harrack52

    harrack52 Supreme Geek

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    Hey, hope you didn't buy that FX just yet.

    http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33711543

    You should read this, this is one of the countless threads about the 5900 Ultra being slower than the 9800 Pro for DX 9 games, and this one comes from the man itself, so I think we should believe him.

    That, and add tthe fact that ATI is cheaper, I don't see why you'd go the nvidia route.

    I'm not a fan boy, but right now I'm really happy I didn't spend my hard-earned money on a FX.
     

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