X1900 XT upgrade to 9800 GTX: Has anyone done it?

[Zak33]

I'm after really consistant frame rates. CoD 4 (which I've capped at 76fps) fluctuates down to 30 on the odd moment, and I wantt hat brought up.

I think a 9800 GTX could do that at my resolutions (I use an iiyama 22" monitor, but play slightly below it's perfect res at the mo, which is handles with good grace)

[kalniel]

If it's COD4 you want to play then you should really look at a review that tests it. For example:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=14

The 4850 is much faster than the 9800GTX and GTX+ in that game.

But yes, a 9800GTX will be enough to raise minimum frame rates I'm sure.

[Pob255]

CoD4 is dx10 isn't it? so not OpenGL based. (unless OpenGL 3.0 every gets off the ground)
AFAIK dx10 and opengl don't work together unlike the hybrid dx9+opengl 2 that's been used by a few games.

On that note I've ordered one of thoes 9800gtx today realy pleased as I like Leadtec cards.
Although I had to delay delivery untill tuesday

[Pob255]

I was just looking at a review of my new toy (ok I'll admit it, I'm getting my sefl hyped up in advance)
And I spotted the PhysX thing, I didn't know about this before.

Incase anyone else missed it, now that Nvidia have bought up AGEIS who made the PhysX cards they've used the lisence and more flexable "stream" gpu's to enable PhysX on the graphics card so you no longer need a seperate card.
So far it's only enabled on the 9800gtx and GTX2x0 cards (I think the 980gtx only works with beta drivers, need to check the numbers)

So what will it do? not much, most games that have this sort of "interactive" physics can be run on the cpu, however due to the nature of how cpu's work it's reduced compaired to a seperate ppu (physics processor unit)
So in theory with the new drivers spare GPU streams can be used to run PhysX calaculations, which in therory means higher amounts of "interactive" physics than just useing spare cpu processing. (or more prittyness not more fps)

[staffsMike]

COD4 is DX9 I think.

I don't think either card would dissapoint. They obviously trade blows at different resolutions/detail levels in different games.

[Guy]

How have I missed this thread?!

Zak I was in a similar situation a while back, although mine was a bit more of a jump!

I went from an X1800XT (at least I think it was T) to a 9800GTX, seriously at that price and for that resolution it'l run everything nicely

[Pob255]

correction cod4 is dx9 however it's not opengl or a hybrid opengl/dx

[Zak33]

Tis DX9, but I've still not "jumped" even thuogh those 9800 GTX are sooo cheap.

I'm missing a bargain, but awaiting the next one

[wzix]

people only choose 9800gtx over 4850 cause they look nicer !

[Zak33]

Luckily, I have never brought a card on what it looks like....except for IQ, clearly.

My radeon 9800 (this could get messy, same numbers all over the place) looked like hell, but was a great card.

[wzix]

yeah i know just joking

Im sure some people do though

[Noxvayl]

I'd get the HD4850 over the 9800GTX. Firstly nVidia are notorious for forgetting about the older series in terms of driver support and then you have to make do with beta drivers(which SUCK) or drivers not designed for your card so can sometimes cause issues.

I got the 512Mb 8800GTS just after it came out... I waited 4 months for the next WHQL tested driver to be released and all other drivers I tried in between crashed for at least one of my games(most of the time it was COD4 which suffered which was unacceptable). ATI on the other hand have there driver packages support all cards available in the market instead of providing specific drivers for each of there series which makes it easier for the customer and gives you less headaches with incompatibility.

Also I believe you'll find the HD4850 will perform better in the future because its drivers are still being optimised as well as its architecture is designed to cope better with future games. The 9800GTX is still the same old 8800 technology that is 2 years old and is reaching its peak in possible performance so you'll find its future performance in games will be pretty much the same while the HD4850 rises above it with improvements still to come.

I favour the newer technology because its more likely to be improved through drivers and games coding using the new architecture more effectively.

[Pob255]

However at the price it was being sold at scan it's cheaper, no way would I of bought the 9800gtx for £150+

The other thing I dislike about the 4850 is the stock cooler and high temps, ok it might work at thoes temps, but the non-venting cooler is going to push the case temps and I've never fully trusted high graphics temps ever since my old radion9700pro cooked it's self after 4 months of use.
Granted I could get an after market cooler for it, like I did with my current 7900gs but that adds a chunk to the cost that you have to factor in. (this is the reason I held out against a 8800gt)

Most card are stock so looks is down to a pic on the cooler, that doesn't bother me but the cooler it's self does.