Gainward Bliss 9800GT 1024MB Golden Sample and Bliss 9800GT 512MB Graphic Card Review

Today, we have with us 2 units of 9800GT from Gainward. First is the pre-overclocked 1024MB RAM Golden Sample version while the other is the plain 9800GT 512MB running at reference speed.

The Appearance

The Gainward Bliss 9800GT 1024MB Golden Sample looks exactly like the 9600GSO 768MB that I reviewed a few months ago. The usual Gainward custom look and feel.

The Gainward Bliss 9800GT 512MB on the other hand is built based on green PCB and a more simple and effective fan. While the fan heatsink on the 9800GT standard version worked well, it I didn’t like that it wasn’t covered, all the sharp edges around made it uncomfortable to handle.

The memory modules are covered by a plate to aid in heat dissipation.

Both cards come with the standard dual-DVI and 1x S-video output configuration.

Card Details & Bundle

Here’s a summarized detail of the card.

Gainward Bliss 9800GT 1024MB Golden Sample

Gainward Bliss 9800GT 512MB

More details of the card and it’s bundle can be found in the official product page for Bliss 9800GT 1024MB Golden Sample and Bliss 9800GT 512MB

As you can see, the Gainward Bliss 9800GT 1024MB Golden Sample is pre-overclocked, running 50Mhz faster than the 9800GT 512MB on core and memory clock, and of course faster shader clock.

Test Setup

The computer setup used for this review.

The Performance

Please take note that the MAXIMUM setting used in this review is unlike the MAXIMUM setting used in the earlier reviews of other cards, simply because the MAXIMUM details allowed in Windows Vista with DirectX 10 support, is higher than what is available on Windows XP. This applies to all the games used in the review, except for F.E.A.R.

F.E.A.R.

Graphic Detail : Maximum at 1680×1050, 4xAA

World In Conflict

Graphic Detail : Maximum @ 1680×1050, 4xAA

Company Of Heroes : Opposing Fronts

Graphic Detail : Maximum @ 1680×1050, 4xAA

Lost Planet : Extreme Condition

Graphic Detail : Maximum at 1680 x 946, 4xAA.

Crysis

Graphic Detail : Maximum (Very High) @ 1680×1050, 4xAA

From what I gathered, for Crysis to be playable at 1680×1050, change your settings to HIGH and disable Anti-Aliasing. 🙂

Operating Temperature

The GS card operates at around 43°C on idle and around 56°C on load while the non-GS version held it well at 45°C on idle and around 58°C on load. Readings were taken when ambient temperature was around 25°C.

Despite the overclocked nature of the GS version, seems like the temperature is much lower, much thanks to Gainward’s custom heatsink design.

Conclusion

From my inspection, Bliss 9800GT 1024MB Golden Sample uses Samsung K4J52324QE-BJ1A while the Bliss 9800GT 512MB uses QImonda HYB18H512321BF-10 – both memory chips are rated 1.0ns, meaning they can perform at 1Ghz even by default.

The Bliss 9800GT 512MB retails at around RM499 while Bliss 9800GT 1024MB Golden Sample RM660.

What’s the advantage of the Golden Sample version over the standard version? It’s pre-overclocked, it has a better custom heatsink should you wish to overclock it further AND the additional RAM for some increase in performance.

I did a quick overclocking on the Bliss 9800GT 1024MB Golden Sample with their bundled ExperTool software and it did a 700Mhz Core and 1000Mhz Memory with 1750Mhz Shader easily without crashing the system. 🙂

Both are great cards for your consideration, but if you’re already having an 8800GT – forget about this card.

Additional Thoughts

I would like to take this opportunity to express my disappointment over nVidia’s ridiculous naming convention. The 9800GT is basically a die-shrunked version of 8800GT, from 65nm to 55nm. And it comes with new features such as Hybrid Power.

But to call this version a 9800GT and yet run it at the same speed as 8800GT is damn ridiculous. Just because it’s on a shrunken die that doesn’t merit a GENERATION boost IMO. Even the 9800GTX was a joke, being a generation and a step higher compared to 8800GTS G92 but to only perform similarly. It should’ve been named 8800GT+, or even 8800GT2 but does not merit the 9800GT name.

Take a look 7600GT vs 8600GT – you see the 8600GT has performance boost.
And 8600GT vs 9600GT – performance boost too!

Here’s what other sites thought of the stupid nVidia naming convention.

Tweaktown : NVIDIA has just launched the new 9800 GT which is basically the old 8800 GT. So, they haven’t really launched a new product, rather, a new name. The renaming of cards is becoming a bit of a pain in the ass, but really there isn’t a whole lot we can do about it. The best thing we can do is help keep people educated so they don’t upgrade from an 8800 GT to a 9800 GT or an 8800 GS to a 9600 GSO.

techpowerup : NVIDIA’s new GeForce 9800 GT Series is not really new. The performance, specification and GPU are identical to that of the GeForce 8800 GT. Only a few minor features like Purevideo HD and Hybrid Power are present.