NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTS SLI vs NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GT vs NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTX

NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTS SLI

The Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS SLI consists out of two GeForce 9800M GTS in SLI mode. Each 9800M GTS is based on the G94 core with 64 shader processors. The chips are produced in 65nm (512 MB) and later in 55nm (1024 MB versions). Therefore, the boards power consumption stays the same (75 Watt) for both versions.



The SLI version of the 9800M GTS is about 0-40% faster than a single 9800M GTS (depending on the SLI support of the game and the driver version). In some games there may even be a slight decrease of performance. Furthermore, some games may suffer from micro stuttering in the range of 30 fps (because of the different frametimes). This means you may need more fps for a fluent gameplay experience. Still DirectX 10 games should run in medium to high detail settings and resolutions.



As all cards with DirectX 10 capabilities, the GeForce 9800M GTS renders the 3D images using "Unified Shaders". There don't exist any more dedicated pixel- and vertex shaders but 2x64 so called stream processors make the graphic work (which has been done by pixel and vertex shaders in former days). Furthermore, the shader units are higher clocked than the chip (1500 MHz).



An advantage of the GeForce 9000 series is the integrated PureVideo HD video processor. It is able to help with the decoding of H.264-, VC-1-, MPEG2- and WMV9 video material in HD quality and eases the CPU.



In conjunction with the Nvidia 9100M G integrated graphics, the 9800M GTS supports Hybrid-SLI (only HybridPower). HybridPower is a technique to choose between the integrated and dedicated graphics core, if performance or battery runtime is needed. This works only in Windows Vista. Up to now the user has to use a tool to switch between the GPUs. Later Nvidia wants to switch automatically in the drivers. GeForceBoost is not supported with this card, as there would be no performance gain to combine the integrated GPU with the 9800M GTS.

NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GT

The Nvidia GeForce 9800M GT is a graphics adapter for laptops and is based on the  9800M GTX (G92 core), but with only 96 shaders instead of the 112. The 9800M GT is produced in 65 nm and is therefore more similar to the 8800M GTX as both cores have similar shader counts. The chip is intended for relatively large desktop replacement laptops with more powerful cooling. 

Similar to all cards with DirectX 10 capabilities, the GeForce 9800M GT renders 3D images using "Unified Shaders". There no longer exists any dedicated pixel- and vertex shaders. Instead, 96 so-called stream processors handle most of the the graphics work previously done by vertex and pixel shaders. Furthermore, these shader units are clocked higher than the core GPU processor.

The performance of the 9800M GT is similar to the Geforce 8800M GTX (same specs). The GTS 360M with GDDR5 and the 9800M GTS both with higher clock speeds) also perform on the same level as the 9800M GT. Therefore, the performance of the 9800M GT in 2008 and 2009 was sufficient for most games in high details. A detailed performance analysis of the 9800M GT can be found in our 9800M GT review.

An advantage of the GeForce 9000 series is the integrated PureVideo HD video processor. The GPU can assist the CPU in decoding  H.264-, VC-1-, MPEG2- and WMV9 videos.

In conjunction with the Nvidia 9100M G integrated graphics, the 9800M GT supports Hybrid-SLI in the form of HybridPower. HybridPower is a Windows Vista-only technique to switch between the integrated and dedicated graphics core for power-saving purposes. Up to now, the user had to use a tool to switch between the GPUs. Eventually, graphics switching can be done automatically in drivers (now known as Nvidia Optimus). GeForceBoost is not supported with this card as there would be no performance gain from combining the integrated GPU with the 9800M GT.

Compared to desktop graphic cards, the 9800M GT is most similar to the GeForce 8800 GS. The latter, however, still features higher memory clock rates and has a slight edge over the 9800M GT.

NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTX

The Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTX is a graphics adapter for laptops based on the G92 core. In general, the GPU is similar to that of the 8800M GTX but with 112 unified shader cores instead of 96. The chip is manufactured in a 65nm process and because of the high shader count, the power consumption (75 Watt of the MXM board) can be quite high. As a result, the 9800M GTX is only found in larger laptops with relatively powerful cooling solutions.

The performance of the chip is noticeably better than both the 9800M GT and GTS because of the additional shader units (see benchmarks below). Therefore, DirectX 10 games of 2008 should all be playable in high details.

As with all cards with DirectX 10 capabilities, the GeForce 9800M GTX renders 3D images using "Unified Shaders". Dedicated pixel- and vertex shaders have been dropped in favor of stream processors, which have now taken up much of the rendering burden. Furthermore, the shader units are higher clocked than the core chip itself at 1250 MHz.

A feature found in the GeForce 9000 series is the integrated PureVideo HD video processor. The GPU is able to assist the CPU in the decoding of H.264-, VC-1-, MPEG2- and WMV9 video material.

In conjunction with the Nvidia 9100M G integrated graphics, the 9800M GTX supports Hybrid-SLI known as HybridPower. HybridPower is a technique available only in Windows Vista that allows users to choose between the integrated or dedicated graphics core for power-saving purposes. Eventually, graphics switching was seamlessly accomplished through drivers by Nvidia, a technology now known as Optimus. GeForceBoost is not supported with the 9800M GTX as there would be no performance gain when paired the integrated GPU.

Compared to desktop graphics cards, the 9800M GTX should be a bit slower than the GeForce 8800 GT, which has a higher memory clock rate.

The 9800M GTX was eventually succeeded by the GTX 260M. The latter is based off of the G92b core architecture and is produced in a 55nm fabrication process, leading to lower energy demands and heat dissipation.