9800 Pro too expensive?

**Petros** · November 19th, 2003

I see a 9700 Pro on Pricewatch for a minimum price of $229 and a 9800 Pro for a minimum of $302 at the time of this posting). I'm debating on buying one of the two so I ask this: Does the 9800 Pro's performance warrant a 31% price increase?

On my budget, I can't even think about an XT! :wah:

**LeeJend** · November 19th, 2003

Is $300 too much for a video card? Hell yes!

Is the 9800 Pro 30% faster than a 9700 pro? Not really

Having bought a 9500 Pro last spring would I drop the extra $75 for the 9800 pro if I could change my mind right now. HELL YES!

I seem to be having some compatibility problems with the latest radeon drivers, my computer and the 9500 pro. Works like a dream with the older 3.4 drivers. That leaves me a little nervous about how long the 9700 PRO will be rock solid. Based on what I've seen on my system I think the 9600 PRO is going to be weak as games go "MORE" DX9 next spring.

That leaves the 9800 PRO as the option of choice. Do it! Give up coffee and cookies or cigarettes or whatever for few months to fund the extra $75.

**Sazar** · November 19th, 2003

Originally posted by HandyBuddy
I see a 9700 Pro on Pricewatch for a minimum price of $229 and a 9800 Pro for a minimum of $302 at the time of this posting). I'm debating on buying one of the two so I ask this: Does the 9800 Pro's performance warrant a 31% price increase?

On my budget, I can't even think about an XT! :wah:

not really... the performance increase is around 5-10% in most cases..

correlate that and go from there..

Black-Syth · November 20th, 2003

Originally posted by Sazar
not really... the performance increase is around 5-10% in most cases..

correlate that and go from there..

From what I've seen, not even 5%. The 9800s aren't a huge leap over the 9700s.

In reply to #1

I believe that the extra cash isn't worth it when it comes to the performance difference. Sure, the extra power doesn't hurt, only if you're willing to dish out the cash. Your call really.

**Sazar** · November 20th, 2003

Originally posted by black-syth
From what I've seen, not even 5%. The 9800s aren't a huge leap over the 9700s.

In reply to #1

I believe that the extra cash isn't worth it when it comes to the performance difference. Sure, the extra power doesn't hurt, only if you're willing to dish out the cash. Your call really.

depends on the situation

there are some tweaks to the marchitecture that allow for improvements in some areas... not all benchmarks or applications will show the same increases however... which is why I put a variance instead of a standard figure...

**Friend of Bill** · November 20th, 2003

I would shun the collection plate and get the 9800 Pro.

**Xie** · November 20th, 2003

yeah i would go w/ the 9800 if you can afford $75 more ... also i would run the 3.7 cats instead of the "newest" drivers for a bit from what i've seen/read.

**Sazar** · November 20th, 2003

the latest drivers work fine

if you do have problems there is hotfix that fixes the problems people are having (incl call of duty and the all-in-wonder OGL fix)

November 19th, 2003	Top \| #1
Petros Thief IV Joined: May 2003 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 3,038 Reputation: 1647 Power: 153	9800 Pro too expensive? I see a 9700 Pro on Pricewatch for a minimum price of $229 and a 9800 Pro for a minimum of $302 at the time of this posting). I'm debating on buying one of the two so I ask this: Does the 9800 Pro's performance warrant a 31% price increase? On my budget, I can't even think about an XT! :wah:

November 19th, 2003	Top \| #2
LeeJend OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: January 2003 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 5,255 Reputation: 3386 Power: 196	Is $300 too much for a video card? Hell yes! Is the 9800 Pro 30% faster than a 9700 pro? Not really Having bought a 9500 Pro last spring would I drop the extra $75 for the 9800 pro if I could change my mind right now. HELL YES! I seem to be having some compatibility problems with the latest radeon drivers, my computer and the 9500 pro. Works like a dream with the older 3.4 drivers. That leaves me a little nervous about how long the 9700 PRO will be rock solid. Based on what I've seen on my system I think the 9600 PRO is going to be weak as games go "MORE" DX9 next spring. That leaves the 9800 PRO as the option of choice. Do it! Give up coffee and cookies or cigarettes or whatever for few months to fund the extra $75. Thought for the new millenium: In a world without walls and fences, who needs Windows and Gates? - Open Office - Firefox - Thunderbird - Gimp -Ubuntu - Red Hat -

November 19th, 2003	Top \| #3
Sazar F@H - Is it in you? Joined: April 2002 Location: Between Austin and Tampa Posts: 14,880 Reputation: 4110 Power: 309	Re: 9800 Pro too expensive? Originally posted by HandyBuddy I see a 9700 Pro on Pricewatch for a minimum price of $229 and a 9800 Pro for a minimum of $302 at the time of this posting). I'm debating on buying one of the two so I ask this: Does the 9800 Pro's performance warrant a 31% price increase? On my budget, I can't even think about an XT! :wah: not really... the performance increase is around 5-10% in most cases.. correlate that and go from there.. Help to find cures for Alzheimer's, Mad Cow (BSE), CJD, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease, and many Cancers. Folding@Home, is it in you?

November 20th, 2003	Top \| #4
Black-Syth Comalies Joined: February 2003 Posts: 259 Reputation: 20 Power: 112	Re: Re: 9800 Pro too expensive? Originally posted by Sazar not really... the performance increase is around 5-10% in most cases.. correlate that and go from there.. From what I've seen, not even 5%. The 9800s aren't a huge leap over the 9700s. In reply to #1 I believe that the extra cash isn't worth it when it comes to the performance difference. Sure, the extra power doesn't hurt, only if you're willing to dish out the cash. Your call really. Athlon X2 4800+ \| 2GB Corsair XMS \| 4 74Gb WD Raptors \| 2 nVidia 7800 GTX \| -> Goddamn, I love Christmas

November 20th, 2003	Top \| #5
Sazar F@H - Is it in you? Joined: April 2002 Location: Between Austin and Tampa Posts: 14,880 Reputation: 4110 Power: 309	Re: Re: Re: 9800 Pro too expensive? Originally posted by black-syth From what I've seen, not even 5%. The 9800s aren't a huge leap over the 9700s. In reply to #1 I believe that the extra cash isn't worth it when it comes to the performance difference. Sure, the extra power doesn't hurt, only if you're willing to dish out the cash. Your call really. depends on the situation there are some tweaks to the marchitecture that allow for improvements in some areas... not all benchmarks or applications will show the same increases however... which is why I put a variance instead of a standard figure... Help to find cures for Alzheimer's, Mad Cow (BSE), CJD, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease, and many Cancers. Folding@Home, is it in you?

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November 20th, 2003	Top \| #6
Friend of Bill What, me worry? Joined: April 2002 Posts: 1,572 Reputation: 20 Power: 136	I would shun the collection plate and get the 9800 Pro.

November 20th, 2003	Top \| #7
Xie - geek - Joined: September 2003 Location: NY, USA Posts: 5,216 Reputation: 1730 Power: 171	yeah i would go w/ the 9800 if you can afford $75 more ... also i would run the 3.7 cats instead of the "newest" drivers for a bit from what i've seen/read. tehgeek \| tehgeek \| geeking out to tech \| IRC \| Parted Magic \| A+ Certified Professional

November 20th, 2003	Top \| #8
Sazar F@H - Is it in you? Joined: April 2002 Location: Between Austin and Tampa Posts: 14,880 Reputation: 4110 Power: 309	the latest drivers work fine if you do have problems there is hotfix that fixes the problems people are having (incl call of duty and the all-in-wonder OGL fix) Help to find cures for Alzheimer's, Mad Cow (BSE), CJD, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease, and many Cancers. Folding@Home, is it in you?

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