9800 GX2 vs 8800 GTX for TF2

[Avalanche`]

I currently have a 8800 GTX. I wanted to find some 9800 GX2 benchmarks in TF2 for comparison, since I play at some pretty high resolutions.

So, I spent *FOREVER* Googling for ONE review that benchmarked both of them in TF2. I'm rarely this unlucky with the almighty Google. Maybe I was using an unlucky combination of search terms, but I finally found one. I had to settle on ZDNet. (They don't even post what the reference system is in this review-for-dummies. I wish I knew what CPU they were using. If you've found a better review that has both of these cards benchmarked in TF2, by all means... post it.)

Want to know the difference? In this case, a big fucking fat zero. Way to go, NVIDIA! You've saved me $530+, kthx. Send your marketing department my regards. (...on a 8000 series core rebranded a 9000 series... Anybody remember the old GeForce 4 MX stinkhole? ...Where it was less advanced than a GeForce 3 because it was based on the GeForce 2 architecture? Go marketing! "Novices of Dell's site will CERTAINLY pick a GeForce 4 MX over an "older" GeForce 3 because we ALL know 4 > 3.")

What to take away from this? If any of you are considering upgrading your video card only for TF2, do your research first and make sure you aren't screwing yourself.

Edit: As a side note: I guess TF2 is rather CPU-bound, as these benchmarks seem to confirm. If any of you are running a Q6600 CPU like me (sSpec: SLACR, Stepping: G0), note that you have one Intel's "golden processors." i.e., it's *extremely* overclockable. AND THEREFORE DO OVERCLOCK IT. I've rarely been one to overclock my CPU before because I want/need stability above all else. However, in this case, I went straight from 2.4 GHz to 3.0 GHz on the stock cooler and I've never had a single crash. This is because most users on forums are reporting that they went straight to 3.2 GHz without ever crashing either (but in most cases they weren't using the stock cooler any longer vs a 3.0 GHz overclock), but I guess I'm still being careful. (Nuke runs his identical-to-my-system at 3.0 GHz too without problems. So, again... overclock dat bitch! You'll probably net a 15% TF2 performance gain from the 25% gross clock increase.)

[Mr Poopy Pants]

The game would run twice as better if they would get their multi-threaded function to work properly.

Here is a good article about the x2. Well, I wouldn't know, I briefly browsed over it to see what it had. There is no info about TF2 but you can look at the stats and made a guesstimate.

[-Thief-]

yep, source is very CPU dependant. nice to hear that your overclock went so smoothly I too am using a Q6600, but I am waiting to overclock when I start playing games that give me FPS problems in the future.

some commands that might help your performance, written for a CS:S guide but they still apply, same engine

Launch Options

Source has many performance-friendly launch options built-in that you may find give you a significant performance gain.

Launch properties can be added by right-clicking Counter-Strike: Source in Steam's My Games menu, clicking Properties, then Launch Options.

-dxlevel: Sets the DirectX level Source runs in.

You may find that setting this value lower than what your card can actually support to yield a performance increase. For example, a DirectX 9 card may run significantly faster in DirectX 8. Below is the recommended usage:

-dxlevel 90 for DirectX 9
-dxlevel 81 for DirectX 8.1
-dxlevel 80 for DirectX 8
-dxlevel 70 for DirectX 7

-heapsize: Dedicates a specific amount of memory to Source.

Increasing the allotted memory can yield substantial performance gains. However, it is important that you dedicate the right amount of memory. Dedicating too much or too little could actually cause a performance decrease.

It is recommended you dedicate half of your system memory. Below is the recommended usage:

512MB System Memory: -heapsize 262144
1GB System Memory: -heapsize 524288
2GB System Memory: -heapsize 1048576

[FaKToR]

I wouldn't recommend using a lower directx setting unless you don't mind it looking like shit.

[Whisper]

I wouldn't reccomend anything Nvidia. I just got my computer working again after windows updated my display driver. Now I can't use any nvidia drivers and apparently it's a "known issue" without any resolution yet. Bad Nvidia, bad!

[Evilpeяsoи]

I'm usin a Q6600 but conveiniently (lol sarcasm) the stock cooler doesnt fit right on my mobo (nForce 680i SLI LT) because of a chipset that is conveiniently (lol i'm made of sarcasm today) place right next to the CPU preventing the 2 side cooler pegs to sit right. If any of you have the same mobo and know of a cooler that fits well, works well and isnt expensive as hell please tell me. I'm having trouble replacing this shit considering i dont feel like going through a guess and check buying process. There isnt really a specification for cpu fans that refers to their height off the mobo an inch off the right side of the cpu about 45 degrees downward......

With that said, help me out so i can OC my cpu and add to the heat in my already overheating case (wtf gpu's)

note to self: need liquid cooling

[Enddk]

Originally Posted by Avalanche`

I currently have a 8800 GTX. I wanted to find some 9800 GX2 benchmarks in TF2 for comparison, since I play at some pretty high resolutions.

So, I spent *FOREVER* Googling for ONE review that benchmarked both of them in TF2. I'm rarely this unlucky with the almighty Google. Maybe I was using an unlucky combination of search terms, but I finally found one. I had to settle on ZDNet. (They don't even post what the reference system is in this review-for-dummies. I wish I knew what CPU they were using. If you've found a better review that has both of these cards benchmarked in TF2, by all means... post it.)

Want to know the difference? In this case, a big fucking fat zero. Way to go, NVIDIA!You've saved me $530+, kthx. Send your marketing department my regards. (...on a 8000 series core rebranded a 9000 series... Anybody remember the old GeForce 4 MX stinkhole? ...Where it was less advanced than a GeForce 3 because it was based on the GeForce 2 architecture? Go marketing! "Novices of Dell's site will CERTAINLY pick a GeForce 4 MX over an "older" GeForce 3 because we ALL know 4 > 3.&quot />

What to take away from this? If any of you are considering upgrading your video card only for TF2, do your research first and make sure you aren't screwing yourself.

ehm you know that review is a 9800 GTX not a 9800 GX2 allso 9800 GX2 is 2 video card in one and i think it got atlest 1GB DDR3 RAM and 9800 GTX is based of a 8800 GT architecture allso 8800 GT and GTX is not the same and the review is a 9800 GTX vs 8800 GT

Originally Posted by Whisper

I wouldn't reccomend anything Nvidia. I just got my computer working again after windows updated my display driver. Now I can't use any nvidia drivers and apparently it's a "known issue" without any resolution yet. Bad Nvidia, bad!

never use windows driver to a video card allso it sound like you don't know how to install a video card and i can't find any guide that would work only a Manual Installation one Windows XP Forceware Display Driver Manual Installation

[Whisper]

Thanks for the help, but I had the windows update on automatic. The issue I'm having is well documented and there is NO soltion for it. Basically it's like combining potassium and water. I have to repartition my HD, boot to that sector, reformat the vista sector and either a) reinstall vista or b) install XP. Then I have to install the drivers for my card again. It's aggrivating to say the least.

[Avalanche`]

Originally Posted by Enddk

ehm you know that review is a 9800 GTX not a 9800 GX2 allso 9800 GX2 is 2 video card in one and i think it got atlest 1GB DDR3 RAM and 9800 GTX is based of a 8800 GT architecture allso 8800 GT and GTX is not the same and the review is a 9800 GTX vs 8800 GT

I'm aware of all this. To reiterate, I was only looking at the Team Fortress 2 benchmark chart, as it's the only comparison I could find between a 8800 GTX and a 9800 GX2 in TF2. It's a pretty shitty comparison but it's all I could find. If you can find something better, please post it. You are correct; I should have been more clear on that point. (But, just for laughs: Hence why I said the difference is a big fucking fat zero, rather than negative (were I comparing the 8800 GTX to a 9800 GTX instead of a 9800 GX2). haha ) Furthermore, to be clear, my entire rant is based solely on TF2 performance. I'm not concerned with other benchmarks.

I'm glad you mentioned the memory issue. In many games, the biggest flaw in this card is the fact that it only has 512 MB of RAM per GPU:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-9800-gx2-review,1792-7.html:
The lead drops to 16% in 1920x1200 + antialiasing before the 9800 GX2 literally falls flat at 2560x1600 + filters, because of too little memory (512 MB only).

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...w,1792-11.html:
The performance is not earth shattering at 2560x1600, though, as the 9800 GX2's 512 MB of memory hurts its perfomance even more than the 3870 X2's limited memory does. This is a recurring problem with the GeForce line and NVIDIA needs to work on it.

Conclusion:
"The problem, as is the case with the 3870 X2, is the relatively meager 512 MB of memory, which is incompatible with very high resolutions and when antialiasing is activated."

The critical thing to understand here is that it's limited to 512 MB per core (x2), whereas my current card has 768 MB per core (x1). Fortunately this doesn't matter much in my case since I play at 1920x1200 4xAA 8xAF, not 2560x1600 4xAA 8xAF. For those lucky few with 30" 2560x1600 LCDs... sucks for you if you bought this card. Enjoy playing at a lower resolution.

Cheers.

[Enddk]

ugh Vista that say alot you have SP1? i found this on a News site

While many Windows Vista owners have successfully installed the operating system's first service pack, some reported malfunctions ranging from sound and DVD player shutdowns to full-on blue screens of death. Others have reported driver issues outside of the ones Microsoft warned about prior to the roll-out. Next month, SP1 will be pushed to Vista users who have not decided to actively download it.

as i don't have vista then i can't help you
i found a Vista Manual Installation guide dunno if it can help you

Vista Forceware Display Driver Manual Installation

allso i found this March 2007 Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update

Avalanche

im going to wait about to 2010-2012 before i buy a new computer as i did not know alot about computer when i get this one it is over 2 year's old now
but when i look around then i know i waste my money on buying this one the most s**ting part of this computer is the motherboard
allso i play @ Max 1280x1024 as i like that resolution

Spec

mob Asrock 775 Dual-VSTA
Harddisk 250GB Maxtor 7200rpm 16MB SATA2
48x16x Samsung DVD
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE 7.1
2GB DDR2 Ram PC4200
Intel Pentium Dual Core 3.4GHz <-- Think it is E2000
512MB Cube3D GeForce 7900 GTX DDR3 PCI-E
Windows XP

how ever it can run Crysis @ 1280x1024 with all the settings to low just fine about +30 fps all the time allso you can edit some files in crysis that do you can play with maximum settings but the fps fly's about from 1 to 40 fps

if you only use your comp to gaming then i think you guy's should try out Omegadrivers

[JimDigity]

I have an ATI 3870 and a Q6600 o.c. to 3.0ghz and I never drop below 60 fps(well I mean I do sometimes in the 30 man with a ton of stuff going on but it doesn't really go down below 55ish) with my settings all the way up at 1680x1050. No AA or AF though, I don't like that stuff. I'd rather have constant max fps than things to look a little smoother.

[Paaaat]

YouTube - Sapphire Radeon HD 3870 X2 Video Card

even if it compares the Radeon HD 3870, it gives some input on HL2 E2, and TF2 about 9800 GX2

[LuvlyOvipositor]

Originally Posted by Evilpeяsoи

I'm usin a Q6600 but conveiniently (lol sarcasm) the stock cooler doesnt fit right on my mobo (nForce 680i SLI LT) because of a chipset that is conveiniently (lol i'm made of sarcasm today) place right next to the CPU preventing the 2 side cooler pegs to sit right. If any of you have the same mobo and know of a cooler that fits well, works well and isnt expensive as hell please tell me. I'm having trouble replacing this shit considering i dont feel like going through a guess and check buying process. There isnt really a specification for cpu fans that refers to their height off the mobo an inch off the right side of the cpu about 45 degrees downward......

With that said, help me out so i can OC my cpu and add to the heat in my already overheating case (wtf gpu's)

note to self: need liquid cooling

I am using a EVGA nForce 680i SLI chipset as well (not LT though). I run a E2160 at 3.1GHz (from 1.8) with an Arctic Cooler 7 Freezer Pro as my cooler and it fits just fine. With stock cooler I was at 70C per core while running Prime 95, with this I am at 55C during Prime95. It was only 30ish dollars as well.

And there really is almost no difference between the 9800 chipsets and the 8800 chipsets. There is a difference between X2 and non though.

[DriZzLe]

ZOMG!!!111Zombie THREAD!!!