PNY 9800 GX2 Graphics Card Review

Last week the new dual GPU NVIDIA 9800 GX2 launched. Today we are going to take a look at another 9800 GX2 graphics card, this one from PNY. The PNY 9800 GX2 shares the same features with the other 9800 GX2 graphics cards. To see how well the PNY 9800 GX2 performs read on.

Gallery

4 images

Benchmarks

Features & Specifications
The PNY 9800 GX2 has a core clock of 600 MHz, a memory clock of 2000 MHz and a shader clock of 1500 MHz. these clock speeds are the same as the XFX 9800 GX2 I tested last week. The PNY 9800 GX2 uses 1GB of GDDR3 memory, giving each GPU 512MB of RAM. Like the XFX 9800 GX2, the PNY 9800 GX2 requires both a 6-pin and a 8-pin PCI E power adapter.

Test Machine
I upgraded my test machine recently and the new test machine specifications used in this review and other NVIDIA reviews going forward are as follows:

• OS- Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 32-bit
• PSU- Top Power 1100W
• RAM- 2GB Aeneon DDR3-16000
• CPU- Intel QX9770
• Display- 30-inch Dell

3DMark06
The first test up for the PNY 9800 GX2 was with 3DMark06, which I ran at default setting sin the 3DMark06 application and in the NVIDIA control panel. The results were as follows:

• Total 3DMarks- 16583li>SM2.0- 6338
• HDR/SM3.0- 7880
• CPU- 4809
• Return to Proxycon- 54.639
• Firefly Forest- 50.994
• Canyon Flight- 89.468
• Deep Freeze- 68.130
• CPU1- 1.558
• CPU2- 2.375

To compare the XFX 9800 GX2 I tested last week on my old test machine scored 16210 3DMarks, the PNY 9600 GT scored 11367 3DMarks, and the ASUS EAH3870 scored 11021 on my ATI test machine.

Crysis
The next test up was Crysis. I did something different for Crysis here since the PNY 9800 GX2 is such a high-end graphics card. I turned the settings for Crysis up to levels that would have been impossible to get playable frame rates on other video cards. I ran Crysis at 1920x1200, 2x AA, all settings on high but for motion blur set to medium and objects quality on very high. I used Fraps to record frame rate data from the initial beach insertion to the point that you fight the first enemies. Fraps recorded the following frame rate data:

• Min- 10 fps
• Avg- 28.32 fps
• Max- 46 fps

Bioshock
The final game test up for the PNY 9800 GX2 was with Bioshock. I ran the game at a screen resolution of 2560 x 1600 with everything on and all settings on high. I used Fraps to record frame rate data and got the following results:

• Min- 15 fps
• Avg- 53.962 fps
• Max- 62 fps

Final Thoughts
After all the testing was done, my second round with a PNY 9800 GX2 reaffirmed what I found the first time out with the XFX branded card. The 9800 GX2 is one beast of a graphics card. The PNY 9800 GX2 is able to play games at settings unobtainable with any two other video cards.

Verdict

Conclusion

Pros

• Great performance

Cons

• Expensive
• No bundle

Verdict
The PNY 9800 GX2 is a fantastic performer with performance on par with any two other video cards. The only real draw back here is the cost of the card at right under $600 and the fact that you will probably need a new PSU. The PNY 9800 GX2 is the king of performance when it comes to current video cards.

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