x800 v. 9800 pro

[jonin]

I'm currently building a pc for myself and I'm trying to decide which video card to get.

the relevant specs (I think) are P4 2.8c and 1gig DDR400 ram (it's a micro-atx)

I know I'm getting ATI because I want it to run cooler and only take up one slot, but I'm torn between x800 and a 9800.

Other than for Winning Eleven a high-end video card isn't that much of an important thing for me. I just want something that'll be capable of decently playing whatever I want to.

How long can I expect to be able to use the P4 2.8c before it needs to be replace? I figure it ought to be longer than the video card meaning that I'll have to replace the video card with another AGP one eventually.

I figure that since the x800 must be close to the last of the AGP video cards since PCI-X is coming out, the x800 may be future-proof as far as AGP is concerned, no?

Will the x800 outlast the 9800 by an amount significant enough to make it the most cost-effective to buy in the long run, or would buying the 9800 and expecting to replace it be better?

 

[jagec]

buy the 9800pro for now....by the time you need to upgrade it, you'll probably have to upgrade your whole system anyway. That x800 will bottleneck pretty much the fastest of processors :Q

So yeah, unless you're a hardcore gamer, 9800 pro until PCI express comes out.

 

[Corporate Thug]

get the 9800 pro

X800 and such new gen cards are those who demand the most out of their PC i.e. running all their games @ 1600*1200 with AA and AF enabled

 

[bunnyfubbles]

9800 Pro at half the X800Pro price is definately a good deal, save your $200 for a later upgrade

 

[videoclone]

yep 9800 Pro !!! good buy for sure but mind you it runs just as hot as a nvidia 5900XT so i dont know what your talking about cool !!! if you want it cool and cool your micro atx case down at the same time grab a VGA silencer ! otherwise drill an 80mm case fan wole at the top of your case otherwise you will screw your system with the heat while gaming

If you want a cool running card you cant go past a Radeon 9600 Pro ... very very cool running card for sure!

X800 Pro runs hotter then hell.

 

[LTC8K6]

The X800pro is not "hotter than hell", it consumes no more power than previous gen cards and is no hotter than they were.

 

[Bartokomus]

gotta agree with you; i had to leave my Biostar IDEQ 200T because my 9800 was freaking hot. I put it back in my Lian Li and she as right as rain. All in all the SFF experiment was a disappointment in terms of performance parts...

 

[The Green Bean]

9800pro

 

[Tab]

Whats wrong with you people? The x800 is is cooler than the 9800 Pro. If you're just using it for a TV I would recommend at 9600XT AIW or something simaller. Even so, computer displays look like as on TVs.

 

[EarthwormJim]

Personally, I would splurge and go with a x800pro. At times it offers twice the performance as the 9800pro, and my experience with Far Cry and my 9700pro (performs pretty close to a 9800pro) would make me want a x800pro. I believe the x800pro comes with VIVO too.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: EarthwormJim
Personally, I would splurge and go with a x800pro. At times it offers twice the performance as the 9800pro, and my experience with Far Cry and my 9700pro (performs pretty close to a 9800pro) would make me want a x800pro. I believe the x800pro comes with VIVO too.

Gotta agree with Jim.

If I could find an X800 PRO in stock locally, I'd be installing it today.

 

[KillaKilla]

Originally posted by: joninit's a micro-atx

Why? Did you already order the case/MB?

Originally posted by: joninWill the x800 outlast the 9800 by an amount significant enough to make it the most cost-effective to buy in the long run, or would buying the 9800 and expecting to replace it be better?

It would be better to wait for PCI-E to come out to get a X800, they just aren't worth the money as of yet with that CPU. As far as I can tell, FX-53's do not even max out it's potential.

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
The X800pro is not "hotter than hell", it consumes no more power than previous gen cards and is no hotter than they were.

Actually they use less power than 9800XTs, and give ~ double the performance.

 

[mrwxyz]

get the x800pro so when u build ur next system the video card wont be a priority to upgrade. And it will improve performance or ur machine compared to the 9800 with higher settings.

 

[mrwxyz]

get the x800pro so when u build ur next system the video card wont be a priority to upgrade. And it will improve performance or ur machine compared to the 9800 with higher settings.

 

[mrwxyz]

get the x800pro so when u build ur next system the video card wont be a priority to upgrade. And it will improve performance or ur machine compared to the 9800 with higher settings.

 

[mrwxyz]

get the x800pro so when u build ur next system the video card wont be a priority to upgrade. And it will improve performance or ur machine compared to the 9800 with higher settings.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: KillaKilla

Originally posted by: joninit's a micro-atx

Why? Did you already order the case/MB?

Originally posted by: joninWill the x800 outlast the 9800 by an amount significant enough to make it the most cost-effective to buy in the long run, or would buying the 9800 and expecting to replace it be better?

It would be better to wait for PCI-E to come out to get a X800, they just aren't worth the money as of yet with that CPU. As far as I can tell, FX-53's do not even max out it's potential.

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
The X800pro is not "hotter than hell", it consumes no more power than previous gen cards and is no hotter than they were.

Actually they use less power than 9800XTs, and give ~ double the performance.

It consumes less at idle, but I believe it is right about the same give or take a watt when under load.(which is awesome considering the performance difference)

 

[superbooga]

When deciding what type of video card to buy, you need to consider what size/type of display you have, and whether or not you plan on upgrading that. If you're still using a 17" or under CRT, then definately get the 9800 Pro.

 

[ForceCalibur]

Only the X800XT will be bottlenecked by Processor. You will have little problem with an X800Pro. But the latter is also, IMO, not worth the money at all.

 

[CaiNaM]

Using Max settings. r9800pro (420/730) / x800pro (475/900)

1024x768: Average FPS: 47.66 / 56.25
1280x1024: Average FPS: 36.13 / 56.15
1600x1200: Average FPS: 21.24 / 49.00

Min/Max FPS comparison @ 1600:

Min FPS: 15.95 at frame 569, Max FPS: 28.35 at frame 403
Min FPS: 36.47 at frame 569, Max FPS: 59.58 at frame 873

one thing to note.. you mention heat is an issue - my x800p runs about 30f hotter than my 9800p according the thermal sensor on back of gpu (built in thermal shows about 74c @ full load on x800p)

 

[LeChuck59]

Originally posted by: jonin

I know I'm getting ATI because I want it to run cooler and only take up one slot, but I'm torn between x800 and a 9800.

I just thought I should point out (I looked and I don't think this has been mentioned) that the 6800 GT is a single slot, single molex card. It should then be just as small and run just as cool as the X800 Pro. If availability is an issue, well then forget it, the obvious answer is the X800 Pro. However, if you can wait, I'd suggets that you do. Wait for the GT to come out and then compare benches between it and the X800 Pro.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: CaiNaM

one thing to note.. you mention heat is an issue - my x800p runs about 30f hotter than my 9800p according the thermal sensor on back of gpu (built in thermal shows about 74c @ full load on x800p)

:Q holy crap that's hot...maybe you should set up a mini-still on the GPU so you can make moonshine while you game?

 

[jonin]

Originally posted by: KillaKilla

Originally posted by: joninit's a micro-atx

Why? Did you already order the case/MB?

Yeah, I already own the case and the motherboard.

I'd also like to have this computer built within a few weeks so I don't want to be waiting too long for parts.

Right now, and for the forseeable future (which may not be that far, given...) a 9800pro is probably more than I really need. My concern is that since, due to socket changes and pci-x, when I need to reaplce my CPU, I'll need to basically buy everything new, but I figure (and I could be wrong) that before I need to replace the CPU, I'd need to replace the video card. If I spend more now for the x800, do I end up saving money in the long run not having to buy a replacement card, for the 9800, as soon (for the AGP slot), or even not have to buy a replacement (AGP) video card at all?