9800 GX2 Performance Preview and HDTV Gaming

[Lupine]

Rage3D guest reviewer ChrisRay keeps his electric meter busy testing Nvidia's new 9800 GX2.

Check out 9800 GX2 Performance Preview and HDTV Gaming.

[12Bass]

What? New content?

Gah! My eyes!

[Pirate Neilsouth]

Originally Posted by 12Bass

What? New content?

Gah! My eyes!

Im blind!

Sweeet

[bigtabs]

It's a good review and looks fair. ChrisRay is a great addition to our forum.

Just seems a bit weird having an nVidia focus group member writing graphics hardware reviews for the site? I'm not suggesting there has been any bias shown, but it feels a little odd.

[Kombatant]

Originally Posted by bigtabs

It's a good review and looks fair. ChrisRay is a great addition to our forum.

Just seems a bit weird having an nVidia focus group member writing graphics hardware reviews for the site? I'm not suggesting there has been any bias shown, but it feels a little odd.

So you would be more comfortable if I reviewed the nvidia card? Or an ati fanboy, for instance?

[bigtabs]

I fail to see what point you are trying to make. None of the above. Surely it is better for someone neutral to be providing reviews?

Should Tim Sweeney be reviewing the latest Unreal Tournament game?

[Gandalfthewhite]

Thing is Chris has always been one of the most netrual minded ppl I know when it comes to discussing the technology. Just because he tests hardware and software for a company doesn't mean that he is in their pocket and it really gets tiresome seeing ppl accuse him of being so outright or backhandedly. Its the same crap ppl have thrown at Kombi and Vengenace before.

now if you want to discuss the preview thats fine if you want to discuss the writer do it somewhere else.

[acroig]

Originally Posted by bigtabs

It's a good review and looks fair. ChrisRay is a great addition to our forum.

Just seems a bit weird having an nVidia focus group member writing graphics hardware reviews for the site? I'm not suggesting there has been any bias shown, but it feels a little odd.

Let me put it this way. This is an SLI Zone / Rage3D exclusive from someone that has access to the card and has proven to be a fair reviewer in the past (look at his previous work stickied in Gen Graphics).

I can see how it could make some people suspicious since he's an nV Focus Group member, but it's not his membership in that group that should matter but rather his character and his long time support of Rage 3D.

My .02.

[Gandalfthewhite]

Originally Posted by acroig

Let me put it this way. This is an SLI Zone / Rage3D exclusive from someone that has access to the card and has proven to be a fair reviewer in the past (look at his previous work stickied in Gen Graphics).

I can see how it could make some people suspicious since he's an nV Focus Group member, but it's not his membership in that group that should matter but rather his character and his long time support of Rage 3D.

My .02.

what he said

[ChrisRay]

Since it's been brought up I'll go ahead and do my best to answer that criticism. Yes I'm an Nvidia Focus Group member. And this has been a reason I was dubious about doing reviews in the past for rage3d. I dont want to get too deep into rage3d politics. But I'll explain my position on this issue.

1) I asked not be a direct part of the staff. And not a moderator. This is obviously because my affiliation. I really like rage3d. But I wanted to avoid as much political problems as is. And I'm quite happy just being a member of rage3d.

2) My hardware is my own. I just use what I have. Since I have a steady supply of modern hardware. I can provide some unique insight to Nvidia products.

3) No Cross vendor comparisons. I dont like doing them on my own. And I certainly don't wish to put rage3d into any kind of political mess due to me reviewing an AMD card. I'm just not going to do that. I like how I do my reviews.

4) They give me freedom to provide articles as I can do them. And with the above conditions. This is a test run done by both of us to see how things go. There's no hard feelings if things do not work out.


Believe me when I say I understand and appreciate the negative association my affiliation can bring. But I also care about what happens to rage3d as a whole. I can offer them some content in this case as well as a steady supply of my own hardware. If it does not work out. It doesn't work out. I hope that people here will at least give it a chance.

Chris

[acroig]

See guys? A chance to have direct contact with the reviewer (like we used to have).

Now, before anyone says it, yes there will be ATI content coming, just be patient, OK?

[Kombatant]

Originally Posted by bigtabs

I fail to see what point you are trying to make. None of the above. Surely it is better for someone neutral to be providing reviews?

Should Tim Sweeney be reviewing the latest Unreal Tournament game?

Surely it'd be better to actually criticize him with some hard facts instead of criticizing him simply because of his affiliation? That's my point. If you have them, please, bring them on.

[acroig]

Originally Posted by Kombatant

Surely it'd be better to actually criticize him with some hard facts instead of criticizing him simply because of his affiliation? That's my point. If you have them, please, bring them on.

Right. We all have to get away from this "oh, you're from ATI/nV so you're just here to post PR or do damage control" mentality. Rage should welcome and value industry insiders for all the great stuff they can provide the community with. We must also remember that all these insiders are under NDA and are not dumb enough to say something that could/will get them fired from their jobs. The key here is R E S P E C T (sing it with me) so these people feel comfortable in our community and want to stay and participate.

[bigtabs]

Why are you all thinking that I'm criticizing ChrisRay?

I have loads of respect for the guy. Did I not make my actual point perfectly clear in my first post? Apparently not.

I am not discussing the person. I have no qualms with him whatsoever. I simply think it's an odd state of affairs. That is all.

[acroig]

My comments were not specific to yours, just a general commentary.

Again, it may be odd but let's look beyond his affiliations.

[AlexV]

Originally Posted by acroig

Right. We all have to get away from this "oh, you're from ATI/nV so you're just here to post PR or do damage control" mentality. Rage should welcome and value industry insiders for all the great stuff they can provide the community with. We must also remember that all these insiders are under NDA and are not dumb enough to say something that could/will get them fired from their jobs. The key here is R E S P C T (sing it with me) so these people feel comfortable in our community and want to stay and participate.

Respect...priceless. For everything else there is Tweaktown(that's how that Mastercard commercial goes, no?)

[acroig]

Originally Posted by Morgoth Bauglir

Respect...priceless. For everything else there is Tweaktown(that's how that Mastercard commercial goes, no?)

Typing skills with that MC would help (I just noticed I misspelled respect). Thanks!

And I don't discuss TT because mostly negative thoughts come to mind.

[AlexV]

Originally Posted by ChrisRay

Since it's been brought up I'll go ahead and do my best to answer that criticism. Yes I'm an Nvidia Focus Group member. And this has been a reason I was dubious about doing reviews in the past for rage3d. I dont want to get too deep into rage3d politics. But I'll explain my position on this issue.

1) I asked not be a direct part of the staff. And not a moderator. This is obviously because my affiliation. I really like rage3d. But I wanted to avoid as much political problems as is. And I'm quite happy just being a member of rage3d.

2) My hardware is my own. I just use what I have. Since I have a steady supply of modern hardware. I can provide some unique insight to Nvidia products.

3) No Cross vendor comparisons. I dont like doing them on my own. And I certainly don't wish to put rage3d into any kind of political mess due to me reviewing an AMD card. I'm just not going to do that. I like how I do my reviews.

4) They give me freedom to provide articles as I can do them. And with the above conditions. This is a test run done by both of us to see how things go. There's no hard feelings if things do not work out.


Believe me when I say I understand and appreciate the negative association my affiliation can bring. But I also care about what happens to rage3d as a whole. I can offer them some content in this case as well as a steady supply of my own hardware. If it does not work out. It doesn't work out. I hope that people here will at least give it a chance.

Chris

Chris, first of all, congratulations(again). Very good job!

As a very minor quip, I assume that the pictures of the card and whatnot come from nV's launch PDF...perhaps in future endeavors you'll consider using a higher quality conversion to jpg, as they came out a tad choppy looking.

[ChrisRay]

Originally Posted by Morgoth Bauglir

Chris, first of all, congratulations(again). Very good job!

As a very minor quip, I assume that the pictures of the card and whatnot come from nV's launch PDF...perhaps in future endeavors you'll consider using a higher quality conversion to jpg, as they came out a tad choppy looking.

I understand. Part of the problem was that this was originally converted and meant to be used as a forum post. Which I had to make other exceptions for. ((picture size/ect)) future ones will be done with pngs.

Chris

[razor1]

Chris isn't an employee?

[ChrisRay]

Originally Posted by razor1

Chris isn't an employee?

I have explained this many times Some people just dont entirely get it.

[Lupine]

Those of you wishing to discuss the review itself are encouraged to do so. If, however, your goal is to merely troll or flame than I suggest you take a deep breath and get over it.

While Rage3D continues to be an ATi centric website, we're also graphics enthusiasts and will continue to review and discuss important events within the industry. I want to personally thank ChrisRay for giving Rage3D a first-hand look at the 9800 GX2.

[acroig]

Originally Posted by Lupine

I want to personally thank ChrisRay for giving Rage3D a first-hand look at the 9800 GX2.

That goes from me as well.

[Kombatant]

I would like to thank ChrisRay for secretly agreeing to share all the monies he gets from nVIDIA with me

[Lupine]

I added a PureVideo image to the first page of the review. Direct link to image:

http://www.rage3d.com/image.php?pic=...ment=PureVideo

[traitoR]

Originally Posted by Lupine

I want to personally thank ChrisRay for giving Rage3D a first-hand look at the 9800 GX2.

I`d also like to thank those who contributed as well. Nice to see some new content.

[Qb2k5]

Originally Posted by ChrisRay

I have explained this many times Some people just dont entirely get it.

Hey man forget what others are saying about all the negative crap they bring up. When nothing is going on they complain and when something is going well they complain. We (or I) appreciate you here. Since Rach left with his excellent reviews and contribution here, it left a huge void especially with review content. By having you here to fill that void it brings more life back to R3D that has been missed since Rach left.

You do excellent reviews and I hope you continue to bring as much material as possible. Hoping you bring the April Fools day release of the 9800GTX.

But your one lucky SOB to be able to get free hardware from NVIDIA. Id love to have your job.

[kaarel]

E6300 is the oldest core tech CPU for desktops with only 2x1MB cache.You have some serious Nvidia hardware and almost 2 year old CPU. So don't complain when game is CPU limited.
People are going to pair GX2 level cards with at least E8x00 that goes easyly over 4GHz with air and has 3 times more cache.
Oblivion is a wonderful game especially with mods. And it destroys my GPU when I max everything with texturepacks and LOD mods. Believe me, it is going to destroy even GX2 @2560x1600 with max AA/AF settings.
And that is because 512MB of vRAM is just too small for so powerful GPU. I am not going to buy a new vcard especially expensive one, if there is less than 1GB of vram per GPU. It is the worst thing that might happen with te amount of FPS when vcard runs out of vmem.

[AlexV]

Originally Posted by kaarel

E6300 is the oldest core tech CPU for desktops with only 2x1MB cache.You have some serious Nvidia hardware and almost 2 year old CPU. So don't complain when game is CPU limited.
People are going to pair GX2 level cards with at least E8x00 that goes easyly over 4GHz with air and has 3 times more cache.
Oblivion is a wonderful game especially with mods. And it destroys my GPU when I max everything with texturepacks and LOD mods. Believe me, it is going to destroy even GX2 @2560x1600 with max AA/AF settings.
And that is because 512MB of vRAM is just too small for so powerful GPU. I am not going to buy a new vcard especially expensive one, if there is less than 1GB of vram per GPU. It is the worst thing that might happen with te amount of FPS when vcard runs out of vmem.

Which is quite wonderful for you, but not necessarily the best way to write a review. Once you start futzing with Mods, Texture packs, ini hacks, this thing here that thing there you muddy the waters beyond usability. IMHO a review should show the out-of-the-box experience as much as possible both WRT the GPU and the games used. One can write separate investigative pieces of what Qarl's texture pack does, for example, if it's actually worth it.

All of you folks pissed because your day-to-day gaming settings aren't tested should understand the difference between mass-aimed and individual-aimed. IMHO, of course.

[TheNGTV]

Hey Morgoth, that makes [T]artOCP moot too!

Chris has done a great job on the review itself and a great help to starting to move R3D homepage content. Why can't we look at that instead?