MSI N9800GT GeForce 9800 GT 512MB Video Card Review

The MSI GeForce 9800 GT Graphics Card

Today, we have a chance to take a close look at the 9800GT from Micro-Star International (MSI). This graphics processing unit is the N9800GT T2D512 (version 146) from MSIs Gaming Series, which comes in a bit under $150. The 9800GT is, as you can probably guess, the successor to the 8800GT release a little over a year ago. This offering from MSI is a factory overclocked card with better specs than the 8 series card had to offer.

MSI brings this 9800GT in at 660Mhz Core, 950MHz Memory, and 1625MHz Shader Clock, versus the original 8800GT (Preview & Review) with 600MHz Core, 900Mhz Memory, and 1500MHz Shader Clock. Both the 8800GT and the 9800GT have 112 Stream Processor and a 256bit Memory Interface, but the 9800GT increases the Memory Bandwidth from 57.6 to 60.8GBps and the Texture Fill Rate from 33.6 to 42.2GTps.

The front of the MSI 9800 GT has an attractive fan shroud with the MSI and Gaming Series logos, the model number, as well as a peek at the red PCB. Up top, you see the connector for the SLI Bridge. Over on the right side, you see the single 6-pin PCI-Express power connection.

From this vantage point, we get an idea of the height of the cooler and a nice look at the copper heat pipes that move the hot air off the processor and away to be discharged through the dual slot bracket.

Here, MSI is just showing off a little, leaving no question as to who made the card living inside the system. Its a nice touch, in my opinion.