FireStream 9170 vs GeForce 9800 S

G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

FireStream 9170 vs GeForce 9800 S FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

FireStream 9170 vs GeForce 9800 S: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

FireStream 9170

2010

Why buy it

✅More future proof: TeraScale 2 (2009−2015) on 40nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌2010 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌
1232.7% HIGHER MSRP
$1,999 MSRPvs$150 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0.3 vs 4.2 G3D/$ ($1,999 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
❌50% higher power demand at 225W vs 150W.

GeForce 9800 S

2008

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,849 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1210% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 4.2 vs 0.3 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅Draws 150W instead of 225W, a 75W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌2008 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

FireStream 9170 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 1.7% in PassMark G3D (647 vs 636), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

FireStream 9170 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: a 40nm process instead of 65nm and a newer 2010 generation instead of 2008. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce 9800 S makes the most sense to buy today. It is $1,849 cheaper on MSRP at $150 vs $1,999, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 1210% (4.2 vs 0.3), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, GeForce 9800 S is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, FireStream 9170 has the stronger long-term case.

FireStream 9170 vs GeForce 9800 S Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

FireStream 9170

The FireStream 9170 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 23 2010. It features the TeraScale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 825 MHz. It has 1600 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 225W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 647 points.

GeForce 9800 S

The GeForce 9800 S is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 15 2008. It features the G9x architecture. The core clock speed is 500 MHz. It has 224 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 65 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 636 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The FireStream 9170 scores 647 and the GeForce 9800 S reaches 636 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.7% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The FireStream 9170 is built on TeraScale 2 while the GeForce 9800 S uses G9x, both on 40 nm vs 65 nm. Shader units: 1,600 (FireStream 9170) vs 224 (GeForce 9800 S).

Feature	FireStream 9170	GeForce 9800 S
G3D Mark Score	647+2%	636
Architecture	TeraScale 2	G9x
Process Node	40 nm	65 nm
Shading Units	1600+614%	224

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce 9800 S gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The FireStream 9170 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	FireStream 9170	GeForce 9800 S
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	Standard	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

Both cards ship with 512 MB of GDDR5. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the FireStream 9170 and 64-bit on the GeForce 9800 S.

Feature	FireStream 9170	GeForce 9800 S
VRAM Capacity	0.5 GB	0.5 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Bus Width	64-bit	64-bit

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 10.1 (FireStream 9170) vs 11.1 (10_0) (GeForce 9800 S). OpenGL: 3.3 vs 3.3. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 2.

Feature	FireStream 9170	GeForce 9800 S
DirectX	10.1	11.1 (10_0)+10%
OpenGL	3.3	3.3
Max Displays	2	2

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: None (FireStream 9170) vs No NVENC (Tesla) (GeForce 9800 S). Decoder: UVD+ vs PureVideo HD VP2. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (FireStream 9170) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce 9800 S).

Feature	FireStream 9170	GeForce 9800 S
Encoder	None	No NVENC (Tesla)
Decoder	UVD+	PureVideo HD VP2
Codecs	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The FireStream 9170 draws 225W versus the GeForce 9800 S's 150W — a 40% difference. The GeForce 9800 S is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (FireStream 9170) vs 350W (GeForce 9800 S). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs Legacy. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 85°C.

Feature	FireStream 9170	GeForce 9800 S
TDP	225W	150W-33%
Recommended PSU	350W	350W
Power Connector	PCIe-powered	Legacy
Length	241mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	85°C	85°C
Perf/Watt	2.9	4.2+45%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the FireStream 9170 came in at $1999, while the GeForce 9800 S launched at $150. On MSRP, GeForce 9800 S was 92.5% cheaper ($1849 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 0.3 (FireStream 9170) vs 4.2 (GeForce 9800 S) — the GeForce 9800 S offers 1300% better value. The newer card here is FireStream 9170 (2010 vs 2008).

Feature	FireStream 9170	GeForce 9800 S
MSRP	$1999	$150-92%
Performance per Dollar	0.3	4.2+1300%
Codename	Cypress	NB9E-GTX
Release	June 23 2010	July 15 2008
Ranking	#631	#825

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