Swap a HD3870X2 for a 9800GX2?

Durzel · 2 Apr 2008 at 16:12

I've got no brand loyalty at all (don't see the point - they're all as bad/good as eachother and would all as soon as stab you in the back as take your money with a smile) and was wondering whether or not it was worth jumping from a HD3870X2 to a 9800GX2?

I'm happy enough with my HD3870X2, but the general consensus seems to be that the 9800GX2 is king of the hill at the moment.

Coming from ATI drivers which are pretty much bulletproof, does the 9800GX2 "just work" out of the box? I know there have been issues with SLI in the past but presumably as this is just one card and the SLI is internal (like Crossfire on the HD3870X2) I wouldn't run into traditional SLI problems, would I?

Interested to hear some unbiased comments...

Secret_Window · 2 Apr 2008 at 16:17

It depends, you could sell your x2 and gain some cash back to put towards a gx2. However, I'm not sure whether it is 'worth' almost double what you paid for the x2.

In terms of working straight out the box, there has been some a bit of bother with the 6 to 8 pin requirements of the gx2. So make sure you have a PSU that has a 8 pin connector.

Yes, the SLI is internal just the like the crossfire.

Durzel · 2 Apr 2008 at 16:19

Well, I was one of the early adopters of HD3870X2 so ended up paying £249.99+VAT. I figured I would lose money either way really, and I don't really have a problem with that so long as there is a material difference between the two cards that would go some way to justifying the added expense.

perox · 2 Apr 2008 at 16:19

If you've got the cash to burn then go for it, it will definitely be a noticeable upgrade. Personally I would just wait, your card is one of the best out at the moment and with the 9900GTX and 9900GX2 announced for June I would just wait. I don't think the 9800GTX and GX2 are good investments at all.

Secret_Window · 2 Apr 2008 at 16:22

I suppose you could always sell the GX2 if it didn't satisfy you. So why not, you only live once right?

Mud · 2 Apr 2008 at 16:24

I say wait for det8.4s, then decide. Shouldn't be long now...

Secret_Window · 2 Apr 2008 at 16:32

why what's planned for the det 8.4 Mud? better performance in crysis?

Mud · 2 Apr 2008 at 16:43

Improved crossfire performance I believe, but if things don't improve sharpish then selling up without regret is easier (and the GX2 might get cheaper in the meantime). I suppose since the det8.3hotfix thinks it's really 8.4 betas then you might wish to jump the gun.

Secret_Window · 2 Apr 2008 at 17:04

ah, right. From what I heard, they still need to fix some bugs with the Hl2 engine as well.

VortexA1 · 2 Apr 2008 at 20:00

perox said:
If you've got the cash to burn then go for it, it will definitely be a noticeable upgrade. Personally I would just wait, your card is one of the best out at the moment and with the 9900GTX and 9900GX2 announced for June I would just wait. I don't think the 9800GTX and GX2 are good investments at all.

Yep I'd agree with that - also it depends on what games you play.

havoc08 · 2 Apr 2008 at 20:13

personally id give any new drivers a chance on the hd 3870x2 front. no doulbt the 9800gx2 is a good card so it should be for the price ,id hang on to the hd3870x2 intill the next gen cards arrive,

jigger · 2 Apr 2008 at 20:47

If your happy with the perfomance of the X2 then keep hold of it m8, mybe get a new quad core instead but saying that, you have one hell of an overclock on that e6700 you've got.

LoadsaMoney · 2 Apr 2008 at 20:55

I wouldn't bother changing cards for one game, surely your X2 is cutting through everything else fine and dandy.

SBD · 2 Apr 2008 at 22:12

well if u want more see how much it would cost u to upgrade to a GX2 and i bet its higher than buying a 3870XT. I would just get a 3870XT it should perform better than an GX2 then

Durzel · 2 Apr 2008 at 22:56

Thanks all for the comments. I'm getting over 100fps in TF2 @ 2560x1600 which is the main thing I'm playing at the moment so I guess I might as well hold off for a bit.

-iceblade^ · 2 Apr 2008 at 23:02

good call. No need or point to upgrade if your card is giving you excellent performance at the main game you want to play (and most others, too)

skunksta · 2 Apr 2008 at 23:02

Good choice got a x2 myself and bar one game at 1680x1050 it more than does the job.GX2 are for 3dmark freaks at this point of the game and price range if you ask me.Or people with 26/30" monitors who cant go with out AA/AF (cough silly).

perox · 2 Apr 2008 at 23:02

Durzel said:
Thanks all for the comments. I'm getting over 100fps in TF2 @ 2560x1600 which is the main thing I'm playing at the moment so I guess I might as well hold off for a bit.

Good decision I reckon.

I feel the same in that I constantly want to upgrade but at this moment in time there's just nothing worth upgrading to from an X2.

havoc08 · 3 Apr 2008 at 08:27

like i said before i think theres a lot more to come out of the hd 3870x2 with future drivers and as perox said what you going to upgrade to that is honestly worth the bucks and you get masive game improvements ,good decision x2