Radeon 9800 XT Review

meh. It makes me slightly annoyed that ATI couldn't do any real core tweaks to this card like they did with the 9800, but since hellbinder is going around telling everybody theres a feature on this card that will make people want to upgrade, i think ill reserve my judgement until the cat 3.8's

 

Nice review and details. I'm especially happy because I've been waiting for just this card. I like the continued caution with AGP slot compatibility, and the highly visible and accurate info and precautions relating to AF.

Note: I believe there is a way to expose the overclocking features already...is the card still around for some informal results if someone tries to go look it up...?

...

I am, however, puzzled about the "beards" mentioned in the review...did someone steal Kristof's and benchmark it? Is this the long awaited product from "those guys, remember them"?

Misc typos I recall:
Tom/Tomb
boars/boards

 

Nice review...but I guess we gotta wait for the new drivers to find out what it can really do.

(Man, that just sounds sooo like an nVidiot statement... )

 

nice review

unfortunatly the one really interesting feature that may make this card worth the upgrade couldn't be tested :?

 

Heh, funny thing...

You almost came across as critical of ATi for not letting you have the un-certified 3.8 drivers with all the kewl new features, yet aren't you an advocate of not using beta drivers in reviews?

Sorry, sorry. I know, and I wanted to see you using the 3.8 set to see how the Overdrive works. I just also got a chuckle thinking of that aspect of it.

 

Not overly impressed with the card as it really does not offer anything over a standard 9800pro(although video in is a big plus). I had to read your review from start to finish though as it was so perfectly done.

 

Excellent review as usual, folks.

Regarding the card, depending on the pricing, availability and supposed availability of the R420 sometimes early next year, I may or may not upgrade to it. I'm especially waiting for some user-reported overclocking potential (since I never, ever trust a golden samples given to reviewers by hardware manufacturers regarding o/c).

 

I think you mean West Coast Dave, unless someone has moved California overnight.

Genghis.

 

Hmh, Cats are released every 6 weeks or so, so Cat 3.8 should be released somewhere around second week of October, not November? This is second review with that Novermber-info but I still think that it's wrong.

edit: btw. Nice review

 

I've been wondering about this as well. All of the review sites are citing "November" for the "Catalyst Overdrive" drivers. Yet, ATI has themselves (in a recent public chat) indicated an October 8th release date for the Cat 3.8s.

The only way for this not to be a conflict, is for Overdrive to not appear until Cat 3.9s....

 

I have emailed Dave with the clarification. It may be my fault that November was communicated but we certainly are on track for October 8th and Cat 3.8 to deliver overdrive for the 9800XT (The 9600XT will be enabled with Cat 3.9)

 

And this was posted by Catalyst Maker, who didn't remember to log in

 

Cat 3.8 might coincide nicely with the nv38 release

Great review - thanks!

 

D'oh
ok I logged in now so to make sure the earlier post by the dumb "guest" is viewed as legit.

Once again
I have emailed Dave with the clarification. It may be my fault that November was communicated but we certainly are on track for October 8th and Cat 3.8 to deliver overdrive for the 9800XT (The 9600XT will be enabled with Cat 3.9)

 

best review so far

(will probably stay that way too )

anyway thanks for including Wolf ET in the review. That was great

 

Im wondering why shadermark2 wasn't used? (Im not sure how much new information this would give though... just wondering)

I liked that recap of the ATI history in the beginning of the preview.

 

Anyone want to tell me what is wrong there?

 

I dont see anything wrong.......

 

I wasn't aware of an radeon 256. A radeon 64 yes