Which graphics card is the best ?

[downquark1]

As I understand it the 9800 is superior, but both are very good cards for 'current' and close coming games - the 9600 is assuming you don't mind missing the 8x anti-aliasing.

My 9600 (non XT non PRO) runs that game I'm not allowed to talk about very well.

[Richard M]

Originally Posted by Bifta

I don't really need to make any comments, I was only going to add something about non pro 9800's having a 128bit memory interface, but I've been beaten to it. I've no experience of a 9600XT so can't really offer an opinion. On a similar note though, I've not overly impressed with the X800 series, I don't know if it's my CPU speed hampering it but I see only minor performance increases over my old 9800 pro.

Depends on the games you play.
You'll see the most increase during DX9/Pixelshader 2.0 games like Far Cry and Doom.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Richard M

Depends on the games you play.
You'll see the most increase during DX9/Pixelshader 2.0 games like Far Cry and Doom.

Far Cry performance was actually worse, even with PS2.0 enabled. Doom 3 appeared to be worse, a lot more stuttering, in fact, the only game I've noticed a slight performance increase in is Tiger Woods 2004, as for the Sims 2 .. the performance is bloody awful even at 1024 x 768, That's on a machine with a fresh install of XP, Cat. 4.9 and the latest Creative / Nvidia drivers.

Originally Posted by GDW1975

Also, look out for 9800SE which is a cut-down version of a 9800 but which can be soft-modded to unlock the 4 dormant pipes and magically turn it a full-blown 9800. These are a lot cheaper than a normal 9800 ....bout £90 at ebuyer, iirc.

You can find loadsa info on these cards by Googling

I've got an 'all in wonder' version - you need windows xp to enable the 'softmod', though

[Halcyon]

I've looked on the dabs site for the 9800 version that has 256kb bus but it doesnt seem to say.
Overclockers seem to have tonnes of them and Im not sure which one it is exactly thats the same one but with the 256 bus.
Can anyone guide me, there are loads:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatal...00_Series.html

[keithwalton]

Originally Posted by Bifta

Far Cry performance was actually worse, even with PS2.0 enabled. Doom 3 appeared to be worse, a lot more stuttering, in fact, the only game I've noticed a slight performance increase in is Tiger Woods 2004, as for the Sims 2 .. the performance is bloody awful even at 1024 x 768, That's on a machine with a fresh install of XP, Cat. 4.9 and the latest Creative / Nvidia drivers.

4.9's are notorious for there lack of performance and bugs. Aparrently there is an allocation of ram over 128megs bug in the 4.9's which has been fixed in the 4.10 beta's which goes along way to explain the 20-25% boost in performance seen in 3dmark 05.
What cpu are you running it off, and are you pushing AF and AA ?