Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 vs GeForce 9800 GTX
Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2
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GeForce 9800 GTX
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Performance Spectrum - GPU
About G3D Mark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 is positioned at rank 689 and the GeForce 9800 GTX is on rank 610, so the GeForce 9800 GTX offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2
Performance Per Dollar GeForce 9800 GTX
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce 9800 GTX is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 60.9% higher G3D Mark score and 24900% more VRAM (512 MB vs 2 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2.
| Insight | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 | GeForce 9800 GTX |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-60.9%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+60.9%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / TeraScale (2005−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / G9x (2007−2010)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+24900%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | Standard Size (267mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce 9800 GTX offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce 9800 GTX holds the technical lead. Priced at $30 (vs $50), it costs 40% less, resulting in a 168.1% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 | GeForce 9800 GTX |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+168.1%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($50) | ✅More affordable ($30) |
Performance Check
Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.
Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 and GeForce 9800 GTX
Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2
The Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in September 1 2008. It features the TeraScale architecture. The core clock speed is 660 MHz. It has 320 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 110W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 478 points.
GeForce 9800 GTX
The GeForce 9800 GTX 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: 769 points.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 scores 478 versus the GeForce 9800 GTX's 769 — the GeForce 9800 GTX leads by 60.9%. The Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 is built on TeraScale while the GeForce 9800 GTX uses G9x, both on 55 nm vs 65 nm. Shader units: 320 (Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2) vs 224 (GeForce 9800 GTX).
| Feature | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 | GeForce 9800 GTX |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 478 | 769+61% |
| Architecture | TeraScale | G9x |
| Process Node | 55 nm | 65 nm |
| Shading Units | 320 ×2+43% | 224 |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 | GeForce 9800 GTX |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | FSR 3 (Compatible) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 comes with 2 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce 9800 GTX has 512 MB. The GeForce 9800 GTX offers 24900% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 64-bit.
| Feature | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 | GeForce 9800 GTX |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.002 GB | 0.5 GB+24900% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 64-bit |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 10.1 (Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2) vs 10.0 (GeForce 9800 GTX). Maximum simultaneous displays: 0 vs 2.
| Feature | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 | GeForce 9800 GTX |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 10.1 | 10.0 |
| Max Displays | 0 | 2 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: UVD (Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2) vs No (GeForce 9800 GTX). Decoder: UVD vs PureVideo HD VP2.
| Feature | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 | GeForce 9800 GTX |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | UVD | No |
| Decoder | UVD | PureVideo HD VP2 |
| Codecs | — | MPEG-2,H.264 |
Power & Dimensions
The Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 draws 110W versus the GeForce 9800 GTX's 150W — a 30.8% difference. The Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2) vs 350W (GeForce 9800 GTX). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 1mm vs 267mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots.
| Feature | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 | GeForce 9800 GTX |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 110W-27% | 150W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 1mm | 267mm |
| Height | — | 111mm |
| Slots | 0-100% | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 100°C |
| Perf/Watt | 4.3 | 5.1+19% |
Value Analysis
The Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 launched at $449 MSRP and currently averages $50, while the GeForce 9800 GTX launched at $299 and now averages $30. The GeForce 9800 GTX costs 40% less ($20 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 9.6 (Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2) vs 25.6 (GeForce 9800 GTX) — the GeForce 9800 GTX offers 166.7% better value.
| Feature | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 | GeForce 9800 GTX |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $449 | $299-33% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | $30-40% |
| Performance per Dollar | 9.6 | 25.6+167% |
| Codename | M88 | NB9E-GTX |
| Release | September 1 2008 | July 15 2008 |
| Ranking | #919 | #825 |
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