9800GT

[SlyReaper]

I'm just wondering if this card is any good? I've heard of the GTX and GX2 versions, but didn't know there was a plain GT available. Would I notice increased performance over a Radeon HD3850?

Edit: I've just noticed that on paper, it's exactly the same as an 8800GT but with a bigger cooler. What's the actual difference? Should I just go for an 8800GT instead?

 

[redballoon]

It's identical in performance to the 8800GT with a few extra (unimportant) features. A good upgrade from the 3850 but you can get the 4850 for a few more quid.

 

[Asha'man]

Yes you would notice an immediate performance increase. The card is very similar to an 8800 GT. You would need a Radeon 4850 for it to be beaten.

 

[SlyReaper]

What are the extra features the 9800 has over the 8800?

I would like to get a HD4850, but I'm wanting to run 3D stuff in Linux, so a nVidia card really is the way to go on this one.

 

[Mr Paul]

3D Linux drivers work fine for ATI

https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/674/9206/0/www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/catalyst_88_linux.html

System Requirements
Before attempting to install the ATI Catalyst™ Linux software suite, the following software must be installed:

XOrg 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3
Linux Kernel 2.6 and above
glibc version 2.2 or 2.3
POSIX Shared Memory (/dev/shm) support is required for 3D applications
The ATI Catalyst™ Linux software suite no longer provides precompiled Kernel Modules; all installations require GCC compiler and kernel-headers or kernel-source in order to enable 2D and 3D acceleration.

For best performance and ease of use, AMD recommends the following:

Kernel module build environment - should include the following:
Kernel source code: Either the Kernel Source or Kernel Headers packages
The rpm utility should be installed and configured correctly on your system, if you intend to install via RPM packages
The following packages must be installed in order for the ATI Catalyst™ Linux driver to install and work properly:

XFree86-Mesa-libGL
libstdc++
libgcc
XFree86-libs
fontconfig
freetype
zlib

 

[SlyReaper]

Well they certainly don't work fine for my HD3850. It runs 2D perfectly well, but God help you if you throw something 3D at it.

 

[EdGey]

get 8800GT

 

[LoadsaMoney]

What are the extra features the 9800 has over the 8800?

First 8 changed to a 9 and an extra 6x Pin connector added so you have to plug 2x in instead of 1x.

 

[Monkeynut]

ATI Radeon 3870 here, no troubles in 3D apart from not being able to run Compiz and games at the same time.

 

[redballoon]

What are the extra features the 9800 has over the 8800?

HybridPower for some of the cards I think? Useless.

Go for a cheaper 8800GT (although that passive 9800GT is an OK buy at the price) then.