Entered CNET Catalog: 05/24/2003
SKU: 100-435005
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Manufacturer description
RADEON 9800 series of visual processors is the most visually advanced 3D performer on the planet, delivering an immersive, cinematic experience for the most demanding next-generation games with up to 256MB of DDR memory and a 256-bit memory interface. Merging advanced stability with revolutionary features, RADEON 9800 series is the only Visual Processing family in its 3rd generation.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 06/02/2003
Hard-core game enthusiasts will tell you that no graphics engine is too fast. Luckily for gamers, the two biggest names in GPU (graphics processing unit) production, ATI and Nvidia, are embroiled in a fast-paced game of one-upmanship to produce the speediest 3D graphics engine for gamers. ATI's most recent sortie in this high-end battle is the Radeon 9800 Pro 256MB, an update to the recently released 128MB version of the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro.
Besides having twice the memory, the 9800 Pro 256MB is notable for its use of DDR2 SDRAM--the 128MB version uses the more traditional DDR1 SDRAM. The 256MB card's memory runs at the slightly faster clip of 350MHz, which is 10MHz faster than the 128MB version. The extra memory allows the card to render larger-sized textures in the card's onboard memory at very high resolutions, such as 2,048x1,536, with antialiasing and anisotropic filtering enabled. The 9800 Pro 256MB is targeted squarely at hard-core gamers who like to push the envelope with screen resolution and advanced features.
Depending on the application, you may not necessarily see a significant performance difference between the 128MB and 256MB versions of the cards. We saw modest gains on our 3DMark03 tests, but we could chalk this up to optimizations implemented in the driver, since we tested the 128MB version two months earlier. On our Unreal Tournament 2003 tests, we saw the identical performance on both versions of the card.
The 9800 Pro 256MB's biggest competition at the moment is the Nvidia GeForce FX 5900 Ultra. We compared the 9800 256MB with a reference design of Nvidia's 5900 Ultra card (both cards were tested using beta drivers).
In our original round of testing, the 9800 Pro 256MB's performance lagged significantly behind that of the 5900 Ultra on our 3DMark03 (Build 320) tests. We discovered during testing, however, that there were issues with the display drivers that both ATI and Nvidia supplied us, which artificially inflated the 3DMark03 scores. Futuremark provided us with an updated version of 3DMark03--Build 330--that disabled these benchmark-specific optimizations. With the new version of 3DMark03, depending on the resolution and the enabled features, the 9800 Pro 256MB's 3DMark03 score dropped between 2 and 4 percent. Meanwhile, the 5900 Ultra's 3DMark03 score dipped by as much as 22 percent--the optimizations in Nvidia's drivers were obviously much more severe than ATI's.
Using the updated version of the benchmark, the 5900 Ultra was no longer the performance leader. In fact, at 1,024x768 and 1,600x1,200 with neither antialiasing (AA) nor anisotropic filtering (AF) enabled, the 9800 Pro bests the 5900 Ultra by 14 and 12 percent, respectively. With AA and AF enabled, however, the performance of both cards was nearly indistinguishable. However, we then discovered yet another 3DMark03-specific optimization in the Nvidia driver. Once we disabled the newly discovered Nvdia optimization, the 5900 Ultra's anisotropic filtering performance dropped about 8 percent below that of the 9800 Pro 256MB.
Our Unreal Tournament 2003 Botmatch-Antalus tests show both cards at roughly the same performance level, with each gaining a slight edge in performance depending on the individual test. However, the more GPU-intensive Flyby-Antalus tests have the 5900 Ultra torching the 9800 Pro 256MB by as much as 26 percent at 1,600x1,200, and by 9 percent with antialiasing and anisotropic filtering both set to 4X.
The Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell tests tell a different story. Using the medium-quality settings, the performance of both cards is essentially identical. Cranked up to the high-quality settings, however, the 9800 Pro 256MB gains an 8 percent advantage over the 5900 Ultra at both 1,024x768 and 1,600x1,200.
In this current struggle to be king of the hill, no single GPU stands dominantly on top. There's a lot of pushing and shoving between the Radeon 9800 Pro 256MB and the GeForce FX 5900 Ultra, but there's no disputing that these two cards represent the fastest 3D gaming performance available today for desktop systems.
The 9800 Pro 256MB features VGA, DVI, and S-Video connectors, and the card doesn't come with any software other than an installation guide and drivers. ATI sells the 9800 Pro 256MB for $499, with the 128MB version of the card dropping down to $399. Expect to see other vendors, such as VisionTek, also selling 256MB cards using the Radeon 9800 Pro GPU.
Futuremark's 3DMark03 (Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Unreal Tournament 2003 test: Flyby-Antalus (in fps) (Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell test (in fps) (Longer bars indicate better performance)
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User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39
User Rating: 
10/10
9800 Out Performs X1600
Pros: Works well with older computers
Cons: There is no 512 Ram memory
User Rating: 
1/10
Worst drivers ever!
Pros: Looks great, great specs
Cons: Crashes while playing 3D games
User Rating: 
8/10
Upgrade from 9700 card
Pros: Fast very overclockable, excellent game card, good graphics.
Cons: Wasn't cheap upgrade. (Was an upgrade on a Dell XPS insprion notebook.) Use ATI'S OVERCLOCK SOFTWARE. 35 percent increase in power.
User Rating: 
4/10
It's loud and for this price, I expect better.
Pros: I suppose it's nice for gamers?
Cons: It's loud and disruptive - maybe the fan device needs to be redesigned, but foir this price it's going back.
User Rating: 10/10
what a great card
Pros: a very fast card great for running games
Cons: not fast as the x800 but not as expensive. U get what you pay for
User Rating: 1/10
Sucks, constant crasing and rebooting of PC while running 3D apps.
Pros: Looks pretty, stay away from it.
Cons: If you can't run the software you want with it then it's useless.
User Rating: 
3/10
when it runs it's great
Pros: top of the line performance when it's up
Cons: VERY unstable, drivers are horrible. If you have it get the omega drivers, they afre the most stable I've found. I'm stuck with it for 2 years, hope they get better drivers by then
User Rating: 10/10
AnyOne Who Says Bought A 5900 and Never Owned the Radeon
Pros: Graphic quality is by far better on the ATI and have owned the 5900 Leadtek My vivo the AA on the NVIDIA CARD isn't close to ATI and DVD playbeck is far better on the ATI 9800pro Frame Rates also go to the ATI by a large margin of course I have the 256mb
Cons: None in comparison it's the best priced and highest quality =. Of course everyone wishes it were cheaper.
User Rating: 3/10
Fast card. Poor reliability
Pros: Very fast (when working), Good all around graphics.
Cons: Linux users SOL (as usual). Horrifying drivers (again...as usual), poor support (not only outside the U.S., but the "tech" that answers the phone knows less about computers than you do). Used to own a 9700, and it crashed more than a test dummy. Though
User Rating: 10/10
Great performance.
Pros: Much faster than the Nvidia cards. Prices have been coming down due to new 9800 XT release.
Cons:
User Rating: 3/10
No Good For Liunx or Overclocking
Pros: Solid GFX Card, Definitely toe to toe with NVIDIA
Cons: The linux drivers suck and you need a PHD to understand the installation process. I have now read three seperate articles that clearly state NVIDIA is by far the best for overclocking you PC to its maximum. (Read Maximum PC Sept Issue.)
User Rating: 
7/10
256Mb? Not worth it
Pros: I've been a loyal ATI buyer for years and years and this card is the best yet. The quality is at par or better than the latest Nvidia card. For those who want proof then visit www.tomshardware.com and look at the test results.
Cons: Not worth the extra $$$. Only at resolutions way above 1600x1200 can the extra memory do anything. The test show that unless you want pinpoint resolutions the extra memory is useless.
User Rating: 
9/10
BEST UPGRADE I EVER MADE!!!
Pros: THE POWER OF ANY NVIDIA CARD IS INSIGNIFICANT TO THE POWER OF THE ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 256.
Cons: THE PRICE OF COURSE, YOU CAN BUY ALL OF THE HOME GAME SYSTEMS FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE. JUST BEING TRUTHFULL.
User Rating: 8/10
Stop Complaining! This Card Rocks!
Pros: This card is the best on the market! The price tag comes with good reason! You people saying NVIDIA is better: check the specs! 9800 Pro Comes Out On Top! People who say it's too expensive: tough luck! It's worth it for a 256MB card! I can understand the
Cons:
User Rating: 
2/10
AWEsome
Pros: Its AWEsome. If you are considering getting a AMSTRAD dot matrix CRT controller versus the 9800 pro. Get the 9800 pro. That was my other card. It made a word of difference
Cons: No PS/1 OS support. No linux support.
User Rating: 1/10
A piece of junk for Linux users.
Pros: _ About as fast as a FX9600* (sometimes more, sometimes less) _ Quieter than a FX9600* Those two points and the usual (now dead) ATI Linux support made me choose an ATI instead of an nVidia. _ You can exange it for a noisier FX9600 working on Linux (w
Cons: _ Not working at all in Linux _ No support from ATI (when did they dropped the Linux support ???) _ VESA frame buffer trouble. (actually not working at all on a A7N8X/SuSE 8.2) ATI will not force me to go back to the MS junkware.
User Rating: 8/10
Sweet card, better than FX5900
Pros: I love this card, tested both 9800 pro 256meg adn FX 5900 256meg, and over all ATI came out on top, better scores on benchamrks, of corse that is with Overclocking the Board and CPU (NOT the VIdeo Card) without the overclocking they are pretty much equall
Cons: would like to see better overclocking (Nvidia has overclocking tool in the video conltrol panel on most i have seen ATI does not in most cases) pushing the **** speeds up it doesn't liek it all that much, got crashes after adding just small amount of extr
User Rating: 
6/10
Sucks in Linux
Pros: Blazing Fast. Best Card for speed overall in Windows.
Cons: This card has no ATI drivers for Linux. ATI and NVidia are the two main Graphic Card Companys in the world and one of them (ATI) cannot even offer drivers to one of the most used alternatives to Windows. I would buy an ATI card for my computer right now
User Rating: 8/10
Very good card for hardcore gamers
Pros: Supports alot of features very fast redering at 1025 x 768 also good at higher resolutions. Makes alot less noise than the FX5800 (The lawnmower!). Good quality card
Cons: 256MB version not alot faster than the 128MB but might find the extra memory handy for games in the future. Expensive card but so is the FX5800. Does produce quite abit of heat
User Rating: 8/10
Better then GF4 4800?
Pros: Image quality is amazing. Iam now things in game that I hadn't before....reflections
Cons:
User Rating: 9/10
Top of the line Video card!
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User Rating: 7/10
Very childish
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User Rating: 9/10
Real Graphics vs. Kids Graphics
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User Rating: 8/10
Best 3D Card Out There
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User Rating: 9/10
Amazing card
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User Rating: 10/10
ITS MUCH BETTER THAN AN INTEL 820e CHIPSET
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User Rating: 7/10
How about some Linux Support
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User Rating: 10/10
BEST CARD EVER!!!
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User Rating: 8/10
Real 4X AA
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User Rating: 10/10
Is great!
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User Rating: 6/10
9800 Best Overall Choice
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User Rating: 10/10
Awesome, just simply awesome
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User Rating: 8/10
The best out there - if you can afford it
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User Rating: 10/10
RRRRRRRADEON
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User Rating: 6/10
I admire ATI's efforts
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User Rating: 10/10
ATI RULES! NVIDIA...Well they just stink!
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User Rating: 8/10
two things you should know...
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User Rating: 8/10
AWESOME, FAST AND BEAUTIFUL GRAPHIC
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User Rating: 10/10
what kind of reviews are these?
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