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NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£45
  • Avg. price in US: ~$30
  • VRAM: 0.5 GB
  • Memory bus width: 256 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 125 W

NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

3.4

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

3.4

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Poor
3.4

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

1.9

Performance

24.0%

3.3

Memory

12.0%

7.3

Power & Cooling

11.0%

3.9

Platform & Features

5.0%

6.0

Design

4.0%

4.3

Connectivity & Media

Poor
?

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 6.0
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.1
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.0
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.8
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.4
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • No image
No image

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Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Nvidia GeForce 9800 GT is a mid-range graphics card released in 2008, featuring 112 shading units, a 600 MHz core clock, and 512 MB or 1 GB of GDDR3 memory on a 256-bit bus. Based on the G92 architecture with 754 million transistors, it supports DirectX 10 (feature level 10_0) and offers technologies like PhysX, CUDA, and PureVideo HD for improved media acceleration. Its main strengths include a high 57.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, reliable performance for retro gaming at resolutions up to 1600x1200, and a flexible single-slot design. However, it lacks support for modern DirectX 11/12 APIs, consumes significant power with a 105W-125W TDP requiring a 6-pin connector, and is prone to thermal issues on older cooling solutions.

Technical Specifications of NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

?

Performance

24.0%

?

Memory

12.0%

?

Power & Cooling

11.0%

?

Platform & Features

5.0%

?

Design

4.0%

?

Connectivity & Media

3.4
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a technical score of 3.38 points, which is lower than that of 94.8% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
1.0
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 55.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

3.4

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

5.4
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.4 points, which is lower than 92.1% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

?
3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

N/A
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

480 points
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT scores 480 points in PassMark G3D, which is lower than 95.7% of graphics cards.
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

N/A
Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

?
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VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

0.5 GB
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has 0.5 GB of VRAM, which is less than 100% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR3
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

DDR3
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT uses DDR3 memory, which is older than on 98.3% of graphics cards and equal to 0.5% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

256 bit
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT uses a 256 bit memory bus, which is wider than that of 49.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 36.1% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

57.6 GB/s
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT reaches 57.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 98.1% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

2.0
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports PCIe 2.0, which is older than on 98.4% of graphics cards and equal to 1.3% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

?
DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

?
Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

N/A
OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

3.3
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports OpenGL 3.3, which is older than on 99.8% of graphics cards.
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Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

2
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports up to 2 displays, which is fewer than 98.1% of graphics cards and equal to 1.9% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

2560x1600
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports a maximum digital resolution of 2560x1600, which is lower than that of 59.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1.1% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

?
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

N/A
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

N/A
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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

125 W
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a TDP of 125 W, which is lower than that of 82.8% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.4% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

125 W
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT draws 125 W under peak load, which is lower than 83.6% of graphics cards and equal to 0.7% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

400 W
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT recommends a 400 W PSU, which is lower than that of 91.7% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.5% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

N/A
PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

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Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

?
Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

229 mm
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT is 229 mm long, which is shorter than 81.6% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.8% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

?
Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

?
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

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NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT vs the average graphics card

  • 38.5% lower PSU requirement
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (400 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
    What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
    When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (400 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.400 W vs 650 W
  • 41.9% lower TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (125 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
    When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (125 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.125 W vs 215 W
  • 2x larger L2 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (64 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
    What it is: Total size of the GPU’s L2 cache memory
    When it matters: When cache size can help the GPU feed data faster in demanding scenes.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (64 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.64 MB vs 32 MB
  • 56.37 mm shorter card length
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT is shorter than the average graphics card (229 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
    What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
    When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT is shorter than the average graphics card (229 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.229 mm vs 285.37 mm
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: Number of DVI display outputs available
    When it matters: When you still use an older monitor that depends on DVI.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.2 vs 0
  • 11.78x cheaper
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT is cheaper than the average graphics card (£45 vs £530).
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT is cheaper than the average graphics card (£45 vs £530).£45 vs £530
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Supports NVIDIA SLI or AMD CrossFire multi-GPU setup
    When it matters: When you still run legacy multi-GPU gaming or rendering workflows.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • Supports NVLink
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Supports NVIDIA NVLink or bridge connection for multi-GPU setups
    When it matters: When a professional or niche multi-GPU workflow needs a bridge connection.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
  • 2x larger L2 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (64 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • Supports NVLink
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 38.5% lower PSU requirement
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (400 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 41.9% lower TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (125 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 56.37 mm shorter card length
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT is shorter than the average graphics card (229 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.

Total
Overall
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 26 fewer compute units
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (14 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 68.8% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (600 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 128 fewer TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (56 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 91.1% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (33.6 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 94.2% lower pixel rate
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (9.6 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 48 fewer ROPs
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (16 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 98.5% lower FP32 performance
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (0.3 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 95.8% lower PassMark score
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower PassMark score than the average graphics card (480 points vs 11,411 points). The average graphics card has a PassMark score of 11,411 points.
  • 4,240 fewer FP32 units
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (112 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 11.5 GB less VRAM
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (0.5 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 87.1% lower memory bandwidth
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (57.6 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 90.5% slower memory speed
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (1,800 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 48.6% slower VRAM clock
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (900 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • Older GDDR version
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT uses an older GDDR version than the average graphics card (DDR3 vs GDDR6).
  • 13x larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a higher process node than the average graphics card (65 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • Older PCIe version
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (2 vs 4.0).
  • No FSR support
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT does not support FSR, the average graphics card does.
  • 15 older
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,008 vs 2,023).
  • No XeSS support
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • Worse SAM support
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT offers worse SAM support than the average graphics card (no vs yes).
  • Older OpenCL version
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (1.1 vs 3.0).
  • Older shader model
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (4 vs 6.8).
  • Older OpenGL version
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports an older OpenGL version than the average graphics card (3.3 vs 4.6).
  • 96.6% fewer transistors
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (754 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • No AV1 encoding
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 2 fewer displays supported
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports fewer displays than the average graphics card (2 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
  • No AV1 decoding
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • Older HDMI version
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (1.3 vs 2.1).
  • 2 fewer monitors per output type
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports fewer monitors per output type than the average graphics card (2 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 monitors per output type.
  • Not VR ready
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT is not VR ready, while the average graphics card is.
  • Lower display resolution
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT supports a lower maximum digital resolution than the average graphics card (2560x1600 vs 7680x4320). The average graphics card supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320.
  • 2 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
  • No fan stop
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT does not support fan stop, the average graphics card does.
  • 3.18x higher idle power draw
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a higher idle power draw than the average graphics card (35 W vs 11 W). The average graphics card has an idle power draw of 11 W.
  • 12 °C lower thermal ceiling
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (105 °C vs 93 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 93 °C.
  • 16 °C higher idle temperature
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a higher idle temperature than the average graphics card (54 °C vs 38 °C). The average graphics card has an idle temperature of 38 °C.
  • 9 dB noisier under load
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a higher load noise level than the average graphics card (44 dB vs 35 dB). The average graphics card has a load noise level of 35 dB.
  • 39 dB noisier at idle
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a higher idle noise level than the average graphics card (39 dB vs 0 dB). The average graphics card has an idle noise level of 0 dB.
  • No backplate
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT does not include a backplate, the average graphics card does.
  • 13x larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a higher process node than the average graphics card (65 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a higher process node than the average graphics card (65 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.65 nm vs 5 nm
  • 11.5 GB less VRAM
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (0.5 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
    What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
    When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (0.5 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.0.5 GB vs 12 GB
  • 2 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).1 vs 3
  • 26 fewer compute units
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (14 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
    When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (14 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.14 vs 40
  • 68.8% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (600 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
    What it is: Base operating frequency of the GPU core under standard conditions
    When it matters: When you want to understand the card's guaranteed starting frequency instead of looking only at optimistic boost figures.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (600 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.600 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 128 fewer TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (56 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
    What it is: Total count of texture mapping units on the GPU
    When it matters: When texture-heavy gaming performance matters and you want extra hardware context behind texture-rate claims.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (56 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.56 vs 184
  • 91.1% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (33.6 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
    What it is: Number of textured pixels the GPU can process per second
    When it matters: When fast texture handling matters in high-refresh gaming workloads.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (33.6 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.33.6 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s
  • 87.1% lower memory bandwidth
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (57.6 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
    What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
    When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (57.6 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.57.6 GB/s vs 448 GB/s
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Third-party reviews

What customers like about NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT?

  • Excellent value for mid-range gaming, offering strong 'bang for the buck' during its peak
  • Strong performance in DirectX 9 and 10 titles, capable of smooth frame rates in games like Call of Duty 4
  • Broad hardware features including support for NVIDIA CUDA, PhysX, and PureVideo HD for media acceleration
  • Compatible with PCI-Express 2.0 and supports SLI configurations for multi-GPU performance scaling
  • Availability of varied aftermarket models with custom cooling solutions and factory overclocks

What customers dislike about NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT?

  • Essentially a rebranded GeForce 8800 GT with minimal technical updates, leading to some 'refresh' criticism
  • Lacks support for DirectX 11, 12, or Vulkan, making it incompatible with most modern gaming titles
  • Reference single-slot cooling designs can run hot, often reaching temperatures near 80°C under heavy load
  • Older 512 MB VRAM standard is insufficient for modern high-resolution textures
  • Stock cooling solutions from certain manufacturers were reported as notably loud

Expert reviews

T
tomshardware.com
10/08/2009
Roundup: Mainstream Graphics Cards From ATI And Nvidia

The Zotac GeForce 9800 GT 512 MB graphics card is a factory-overclocked, 55 nm "G92b" budget GPU that closely matches the performance of ATI's 40 nm Radeon HD 4770, lagging just 1.1% behind it while easily outperforming the Radeon HD 4670 and HD 4830. Priced around $100, Zotac boosts the card's processing muscle by increasing the GPU clock rate to 660 MHz (up from the 600 MHz...Read more

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pcper.com
18/11/2008
ASUS EN9800GT Matrix 512MB Review

The ASUS EN9800GT Matrix 512MB is a custom-cooled, factory-overclocked graphics card based on NVIDIA’s G92 architecture. While the underlying GPU is essentially a rebranded 8800 GT, ASUS attempts to differentiate this model from reference cards by offering a premium, home-theatre-style packaging experience and an incredibly lightweight physical design. It features an aluminum fin...Read more

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techpowerup.com
30/07/2008
Zotac GeForce 9800 GT Amp! Edition Review

The TechPowerUp review of the Zotac GeForce 9800 GT AMP! Edition highlights a pre-overclocked card (700 MHz core/1000 MHz memory) based on the G92 architecture that provides excellent out-of-the-box performance and additional manual overclocking headroom. Pros include a distinct orange PCB, support for Hybrid Power, and inclusion of a full game, offering a faster alternative to the...Read more

A
aphnetworks.com
26/09/2008
Gigabyte GeForce 9800GT 512MB Review.

The APH Networks review evaluates the Gigabyte GeForce 9800GT 512MB, highlighting that the GPU is essentially a rebranded 65nm G92-based 8800GT with minor updates. Pros include its solid, consistent mid-range gaming performance across benchmarks like F.E.A.R., Prey, and Half-Life 2, landing just behind factory-overclocked 8800GT variants out of the box. The card boasts high-quality...Read more

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hothardware.com
26/09/2008
Gigabyte and Palit GeForce 9800 GT Face Off. Additional performance tests are available for the Gigabyte 512MB card

The HotHardware GeForce 9800 GT review evaluates two mid-range graphics cards—the Gigabyte GV-N98TZL-512H and the Palit GeForce 9800 GT Super+ 1GB—which are primarily rebranded 8800 GT GPUs updated with HybridPower and HDMI audio support. The pros of the Gigabyte card include its compact, shorter PCB design, excellent factory cooling provided by a custom Zalman heatsink, and highly...Read more

G
guru3d.com
08/03/2009
Galaxy GeForce 9800 GT 1024MB review | test TechPowerUp

The Galaxy GeForce 9800 GT 1024MB is a highly customized budget-to-mid-range graphics card based on an architecture heavily refreshed by NVIDIA, tracking its roots back to the successful GeForce 8800 GT and slated for a future rebrand as the GTS 240. Retailing at an aggressive street price of $129 to $135, this 1024MB variant stands out by offering double the memory capacity of the...Read more

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guru3d.com
19/09/2012
GeForce 9800 GT vs GeForce 660 GTX review

The Guru3D GeForce 9800 GT vs GeForce 660 GTX Review highlights a massive generational leap in performance and efficiency across a four-year technology gap. Based on Nvidia's user demographic data showing a massive lingering user base for the older card, Guru3D tested how the 2008 DirectX 10-based GeForce 9800 GT stacks up against the 2012 DirectX 11-ready GeForce GTX 660. In...Read more

H
hardwarezone.com.sg
14/09/2009
Power Efficient Gaming with GeForce 9800 GT Eco Cards

The HardwareZone Singapore review highlights the GeForce 9800 GT Eco graphics cards from MSI and Zotac as power-efficient variants designed to eliminate the need for a dedicated 6-pin PCIe power connector. The main advantage (Pros) of these Eco models is a massive power reduction, saving up to 10W at idle and an impressive 42W under load while pulling all required power straight...Read more

P
phoronix.com
18/11/2008
MSI GeForce 9800GT 512MB Review

The MSI GeForce 9800GT 512MB OC is a factory-overclocked, G92-based graphics card featuring a customized red PCB and a highly efficient, non-reference dual-slot cooler with four copper heatpipes. Running on Ubuntu Linux, this card delivers competitive performance and playable framerates across benchmarks like Nexuiz, OpenArena, and Quake 4 due to its elevated 660MHz core and 1900MHz...Read more

H
hardwarezone.com.sg
20/10/2008
ASUS EN9800GT Matrix - Is This 'The One'?

The ASUS EN9800GT Matrix is a Matrix-themed, all-black graphics card based on the NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT architecture. In terms of pros, the card features a unique Super Hybrid Engine chip designed to automatically reduce voltage and clock speeds during 2D tasks, giving it the lowest power consumption among its competitors. It also stands out by offering dual-SLI connectors to...Read more

H
hardwarezone.com.sg
17/09/2008
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT Roundup

The NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT is exposed as an elaborate rebranding of the older 8800 GT, sharing identical specifications including the G92 core architecture, 112 stream processors, and a 600MHz reference core clock. Consequently, testing shows no significant performance gains over its predecessor, and it consistently falls behind its main competitor, the ATI Radeon HD 4850,...Read more

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computerbase.de
04/08/2009
GeForce 9600 GT und GeForce 9800 GT sind wenig Eco

This ComputerBase review evaluates Zotac's GeForce 9600 GT Eco and GeForce 9800 GT Eco, which are hardware adaptations of Nvidia's "Green Edition" initiative designed to counter growing criticisms of high graphics card power consumption. To achieve better energy efficiency, these graphics cards feature altered custom PCBs, lowered operating voltages, and downclocked core and shader...Read more

(Translated)Show original
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pcgameshardware.de
28/04/2009
Test: Ati Radeon HD 4770 vs. HD 4850 & Geforce 9800 GT

The ATI Radeon HD 4770 review highlights its breakthrough deployment of the 40nm RV740 GPU, marking a first for desktop graphics cards as it squares off against older sub-55nm alternatives like the HD 4850 and GeForce 9800 GT. A standout pro of the HD 4770 is its incredible overclocking headroom, which allows enthusiasts to bypass the conservative Catalyst Control Center limit of...Read more

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C
computerbase.de
29/07/2026
Nvidia-Grafikkarten im Test: Eine neue GeForce 9500 GT und alte 9800 GT (Seite 29)

This 2008 review evaluates Nvidia's budget-oriented GeForce 9500 GT and the rebadged GeForce 9800 GT, assessing their value based on a price-to-performance metric derived from live market availability. The GeForce 9500 GT launched as a budget contender with a retail price of €69 (and €79 for the factory-overclocked Zotac AMP! edition), but its real-world performance proved to be its...Read more

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geeknetic.es
19/10/2009
ASUS Gaming Notebook G60J [Análisis Completo en Español]

The ASUS Gaming Notebook G60J is a budget-conscious gaming laptop that adapts to tighter economic times by utilizing a plastic chasis from the M60 model, sacrificing the premium materials—like carbon fibre and aluminium—of previous generations. In terms of performance, it excels due to its high-end hardware, featuring an Intel Core i7 Mobile processor (specifically the 820QM or...Read more

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