About the 9800GX2...

[rrm]

Hi, first time poster. I am thinking about getting an EVGA SSC 9800GX2 but wondered how well will it play games like fallout 3, far cry 2 and others that will come out later this year. I know the system requirements for those games are not known yet, but what do you think anyway?

I would wait for the g200 chip from Nvidia but it seems to be like 3 months away, and I'm impatient to play modern games since currently I've got a crappy computer with integrated video. Maybe I can use the Step up program from EVGA if the 9900's are not very far away???

any help is appreciated.

 

[mhouck]

like you said, there is no way to know. But you could use the EVGA step up or BFG's new option. Keep in mind even if you get the SSC from EVGA you can only upgrade to the "vanilla" model. If you have to upgrade, go ahead. If you are upgrading to upgrade again just as soon as the next best card comes out, you are going to be spending a lot of money every 6 months.

 

[v8envy]

Scratch that upgrade itch with a 9600GT or 8800GS. That'll let you hang on until R700 and GT200 are not only out, but the price gouging has died down.

Step up is only 'worth it' if you overpay for your original card, AND if EVGA makes the cards you want available for step-up. Remember that these cards are going to be the first single GPU performance increase in 1.5-2 years -- they'll be hard to find and price gouged hard for months. You're not the only one unable to scratch that upgrade itch.

If it were my money I'd bet on a midrange card today, saving the budget to buy the high end card once it's available and no longer price gouged. Oh wait, I *DID* just do exactly that, for CPU and GPU.

 

[imported_Shaq]

BFG has a 100 day step up and includes the 6 to 8 pin power adapter and just went down to $529 AR at Newegg and you can OC it yourself to SSC speeds (SSC is $619). The GT200 should be out within 100 days from now. The GX2 when OC'd will likely beat the GT/GTS model of the GT200. And if you want to upgrade to the GTX model it will only be $100 or so if they are available in sufficient quantities. And you will have the fastest video card for the next 2-3 months.

 

[rrm]

lol, I just read that the Step Up program can only be used in north america and europe and I live in South America. Since I really don't want a 9600, I guess I'll be brave and just wait 3 months

 

[Jax Omen]

Yeah, if you don't want a stopgap card I'd wait. It's *really* not worth going for the GX2 with new cards this close.

 

[daveybrat]

I'd get a 9600GT right now which will be 300x faster than your integrated graphics and then simply sell it for a small loss and use that to buy the next-gen cards.

 

[sgrinavi]

Originally posted by: rrm


I would wait for the g200 chip from Nvidia but it seems to be like 3 months away, and I'm impatient to play modern games since currently I've got a crappy computer with integrated video. Maybe I can use the Step up program from EVGA if the 9900's are not very far away???

.

Ever get the feeling of Deja Vu

We can do this again.. a cruddy computer is not going to turn into a great one by adding a top of the line video card.

What are your system specs? PSU, Motherboard, CPU, RAM

 

[rrm]

I'm buying a whole new system, 4 gigs of ram, E8400, Corsair 750TX psu, gygabyte P35 DS3L mobo.

 

[chinaman1472]

Depends on what resolution you play at. 1440x900 is a completely ball game compared to 1920x1080
Depends on what settings you play at. AF/AA can drop the frame rates pretty fast.

Of course the 9800GX2 will play games fine in a years time if its at a medium-high resolution on medium-high detail.

Video cards don't become obsolete that fast. It's a common misconception between "obsolete" and "no longer the fastest."

 

[sgrinavi]

Personally I am not a fan of vapor-ware. You may wait 2 months or 12..... until there is an annoucement/release date from Nvida you are just farting in the wind. I would get something nicer, maybe an 8800GTS/g92 for the 'short' term.....

 

[rrm]

well I plan to game at 1680x1050. Anyway, I think I'll get a 8800gt and sell it when the 9900gx2 comes out

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: rrm
well I plan to game at 1680x1050. Anyway, I think I'll get a 8800gt and sell it when the 9900gx2 comes out

best solution...
And the step up plan is a ripoff.