XFX GeForce 9800 GTX Black Edition review

Posted by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 06/22/2008 01:00 PM [ 0 comment(s) ]

3 - XFX GeForce 9800 GTX Black edition

XFX GeForce 9800 GTX Black edition

The XFX GeForce 9800 GTX BE (black edition) card is as stated a pre-overclocked version of the reference model as discussed in the previous chapter. So where the reference models have a core, shader processor and memory frequency of 675, 1675 and 2200 MHz respectively the Black Edition runs a vast amount faster. Let's compare:

GeForce 9800 GTX reference clocks

Core 675 MHz
Shader processors 1675 MHz
Memory 2200 MHz effective

GeForce 9800 GTX+ reference clocks

Core 738 MHz
Shader processors 1836 MHz
Memory 2200 MHz effective

GeForce 9800 GTX XFX Black Edition

Core 756 MHz
Shader processors 1890 MHz
Memory 2288 MHz effective

Fact is that given the right circumstances (resolution, image quality, overall PC performance) this GTX BE will beat one 4850 or GTX+ by a small margin. And that makes things really interesting as for the BE edition the price drop will count as well. Likely 249 USD though.

What's also interesting is that the 9800 GTX is 3-way SLI compatible. That's right, it is possible to combine three together and set them up in SLI. That way you will have three GPUs rendering your games.

XFX GeForce 9800 GTX Black edition

Included in the box you'll find:

GeForce 9800 GTX 512MB BE model
Driver CD
Assasins Creed (Full game)
SVideo cable
6-pin to Molex power cable
manual / quick install guide
VGA->DVI dongle (two).
HDMI adapter
SPIDIF cable (to output digital sound to HDMI).

	GeForce 9800 GTX	GeForce 9800 GTX+	XFX 9800 GTX Black edition	GeForce 9800 GX2	XFX 9800 GX2 Black edition
Stream (Shader) Processors	128	128	128	128x2	128x2
Core Clock (MHz)	675	738	756	600	700
Shader Clock (MHz)	1675	1836	1890	1512	1674
Memory Clock (MHz) x2	1100	1100	1144	1000	1053
Memory amount	512 MB	512 MB	512 MB	512 MBx2	512 MBx2
Memory Interface	256-bit	256-bit	256-bit	256-bit	256-bit
HDCP	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Two Dual link DVI	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

We'll slowly start up the actual test. First we'll look at power consumption, heat levels and noise. Then we'll show you a thing or two in our photo-shoot after which we'll obviously fire off the hottest games of 2008 at the card to see if it can deliver what it's supposed to. Next page please.

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