9800 gt question

[alisbin]

hey all,
been away for awhile and finally getting some cash together to upgrade my age old 7600 GT.
now, i'm pretty sure i'm gonna get a 9800 GT since it seems to offer good performance for cost, but from what i remember, SOME 9800 GTs are really just rebranded 8800 GTs while others are actually of a slightly newer design with lower energy use and run cooler (65 nm vs 55 nm if i remember right).
so my question is, how do i tell between the two? i assume there is SOME way to tell?

 

[B00kWyrm]

See -> http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2009/03/13/nvidia-not-to-rebrand-9800-gt-as-gts-240/1

and

The 9800GTX+ is the 55nm part, while the plain 9800GTX (no +) is the slightly older brother built on a 65nm process. I believe the 9800GT is still 65nm too. the 9800GTX+ should be available most places, Newegg seems to have three in stock right now.

per http://forums.hardwarelogic.com/f13/9800-gt-55nm-availiablity-14720.html

I did a quick check at Newegg, and they have 9800GTX+ from several makers, ranging from $125 to $175.

HTH

 

[alisbin]

ah, interesting, thanks a bunch for the info

 

[B00kWyrm]

Thanks for asking the question... I learned something too!

 

[klepto12]

i would say grab an ati 4770 card there like $100 and they have alot better performance than a 9800gt.

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

The 9800GT is indeed available in 55nm variants, but it is impossible to tell which is which by looking at them. The Sparkle 9800GT with passive cooling is the only one that can be confirmed as 55nm, since Fudzilla had a look under the HSF. Check out their review here.

 

[alisbin]

looks like i might be better off with the 9800 GTX+ since thats confirmed as 55nm and is only a few bucks cheaper.
again, thanks for the info mates.

 

[klepto12]

the ati 4850 would be a better buy man trust me its great.

 

[alisbin]

i dunno, i've never had much luck with ati cards plus my case is old is old as the hills and hard to ventilate even marginally so i'm attracted to the lower temps of nvidia cards

 

[klepto12]

I don't think the 4850 will have a problem with temps just go to catalyst control center and turn the fan speed up to like 75% and you should be fine those cards can operate at high temps anyways there not the same as cpus. but trust me the ati card is worth it . for the money just don't waste your money on an 9800 gt not worth it imo when the ati cards are so much better.

 

[evilsmith]

Well HD4850 is basically performs the same as 9800GTX. And the 4850 I think runs a little cooler so yea I'd probably go with the 4850.

 

[alisbin]

reviews i read was that the 9800 gtx+ ran cooler then equivalent ati cards...

 

[klepto12]

it depends my 4850 in my wifes computer idles at 39c and gets to like 53c when under load i think thats pretty good.

 

[alisbin]

legitreviews showed the 4850 having a higher idle temp then the 9800gtx+'s load temp... as i said i can't take chances on that, my current case is about 12 years old and tends to get pretty warm even with my old 7600gt (which is currently UNDERclocked for stability). i'm gonna get 2 more fans but those will just replace the ones that just burnt out.
http://www.legitreviews.com/images/reviews/731/temps.jpg

 

[klepto12]

yes but that review is with the 4850s fan set to 20% and the 9800s at 100% thats what i was trying to tell you my temps were really high like 79c and i turned the fan speed up to 95% and mine runs in the 40c area far lower than even the 9800 gtx.