The characteristics of the video card NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX. Photos and reviews

Many potential buyers unreasonably believe that the era of video cards of the past generation (with a four-digit classification) has long ended. However, there is no need to hurry with the choice of the newest video adapter in the budget segment, as we should not forget about the policy of NVIDIA, which does not allow budget representatives to outperform the flagships of the previous generation.

Speech in this article will go on top-end device GeForce 9800 GTX. Let this video card is a representative of the past generation, but its potential is enough to compete with modern video game adapters in the budget segment and devices of the initial game class.

Specifications

The code name for the graphics core G92 determines the graphics accelerator in the top segment, and the 420 mark indicates the modification of the video card (9800 GTX). The device is created with the use of 65-nanometer technology and has 754 million transistors, as well as all graphics chips top-end video adapters. The number of stream processors from NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX is 128 pieces, they are the key to high performance of the device.

The graphics core operates at 675 MHz in nominal mode. Exchange of information with the motherboard is carried out on a 256-bit bus, created using DDR3 technology. The memory bus frequency is 1100 MHz. The weak part of the video card is a small amount of RAM - only 512 MB.

Representative of NVIDIA factory

The reference copy of the GeForce 9800 GTX manufacturer resembles the flagship of the NVIDIA GeForce Titan Z line by its size (judging by the photo). The user's surprise will not be limited if it removes the cooling system. Placement of batteries, memory modules and capacitors will be absolutely identical. The only difference is that the flagship has two graphic cores, while the representative of the last generation has only one crystal.

On the method of placing components on the printed circuit board of a video card, you can argue endlessly. The desire of NVIDIA technologists to install all the elements on the back of the video adapter is incomprehensible to many manufacturers of end devices. As practice shows, such placement leads to overheating. If a user wants to have a high-performance device, then it's worth looking at products with decent cooling.

Advantages and disadvantages of the reference device

Power consumption is the main drawback of the NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX video adapter. The characteristics of the device directly depend on the power supply, which should be applied to a graphic accelerator of 150 watts. Also, many users attribute to the shortcomings of the support of DirectX 10. Although the outdated GDDR3 memory bus works on 256 bits, this technology has limitations in data transmission, which is impossible to improve above.

But the merits, of course, include the ability to replace memory modules. If you look at the photo of the device, it will be found that the chips have a surface soldering. In fact, any manufacturer without much effort can increase the volume to 1 GB, although the bus will remain 256-bit. In general, it is unclear why in the NVIDIA laboratories, technologists initially did not install capacious memory modules.

Features of the device firmware

Another aspect that should be paid attention is the BIOS of the NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX. As many professionals note in their reviews, the video adapter's permanent memory does not have strict hardware control of the printed circuit board. If we speak in accessible language, then the BIOS of the video card can be adjusted at its discretion, the device will work with the specified parameters, albeit within its own capabilities.

In fact, this is a common defect in manufacturers, which allowed programmers to modify the video adapter. In the media, a lot of instructions for the firmware of the device. For example, if the user has one more graphics accelerator of the old class game class (GTS250, 9800GT, 8800GTX and their counterparts), then, after the BIOS changes, the GeForce 9800 GTX user without obstacles can use both devices in SLI mode.

Requirements for a personal computer

Do not forget that for each generation of video cards there are certain system requirements for a personal computer. After all, the work of the video adapter, processor and RAM must be synchronous to ensure maximum performance. As testing shows, for the operation of all the basic components of the system, it is recommended that the memory bus of all devices support a frequency of 200 MHz (this is a single thread). The GeForce 9800 GTX graphics card works by default at this speed.

A processor with two physical cores can provide a decent performance. Ideally, a 4-core Intel Core Quad Quad will make the video adapter run at its limit. Accordingly, the DDR2 memory should work at a frequency of not less than 800 MHz. Do not forget about the hard drive. Solid-state SSD hard drives have quite affordable value, they should be preferred.

The most productive device

The video card NVIDIA GeForce GTX 9800 under the BFG brand is recognized in the market as the most productive in the "price-quality" criteria. The fact is that the manufacturer, having made very minor changes in the power management system, achieved maximum efficiency by overclocking the graphics core and the memory bus. Naturally, such actions allowed the device to demonstrate excellent results in test programs.

Confuses only the cooling system, which by its appearance, judging by the photo, does not differ from the reference representative of NVIDIA, except that the BFG logo is pasted from above. But worry about the future owner is not worth it, because the change of power circuits, phase redistribution and the replacement of capacitors significantly affected the power consumption of the video adapter, and accordingly, and the dissipated power.

Rest only in our dreams

For the GeForce 9800 GTX, the performance characteristics were so critical that, due to the high heat dissipation, many game lovers decided to abandon it. None of the existing manufacturers in the world did not hurry to please their fans with a noiseless cooling system.

Many sellers will hasten to assure that the companies ECS and Zotac can please the customers with the system with water treatment, but when it comes to the complete absence of rotating components in the device, these brands should not be remembered. Yes, with water cooling, manufacturers managed to overclock the graphics core to 800 MHz, and set the parameter to 1125 MHz, but the problem with noise will not be solved for users.

Finally

About video adapters based on a GeForce 9800 GTX chip from different manufacturers, you can talk endlessly. After all, the flagship of the gaming segment is a tasty morsel for all the famous brands. Naturally, each of the manufacturers modified the PCB, replaced the batteries or increased the amount of memory. Any physical intervention would certainly increase the productivity of the product.

As the tests show, the presented video cards under different logos show almost the same performance, but in price they differ radically. The end consumer has something to think about before buying, because paying for the brand has long been not fashionable.