Thoughts
ABIT's Radeon 9800 XT 256MB video card is a disappointment. That may be hard to fathom when looking through the previous few pages of benchmark results. It's barely displaced from top spot in any test. ABIT's problem is one of differentiation and upkeep of reputation. Just saying the name conjures up images of active MOSFET cooling and over-the-top heatsink designs for its range of NVIDIA graphics cards. ABIT's decided that entry into ATI ranks is as simple as having a sticker on a reference card.We can put technical prowess aside for a moment. All Radeon 9800 XT cards are good. What reasons, then, does the consumer have to purchase an ABIT-branded 9800 XT?. It's not price. ABIT's effort retails at up to £30 - £50 more than comparable Sapphire and PowerColor models. It's not the bundle. There's just enough to get you going and nothing like MSI's GeForce FX 5950 bundle, for example. It's not hardware extras. There's no VIVO on this model. In fact, we find it hard to think of a compelling reason that's specific to ABIT's model.
The ATI Radeon 9800 XT 256MB card is a fine proposition for the enthusiast that wants the best gaming experience right now. ABIT, however, does not do enough to justify a price premium over other reference-like cards. We're glad that ABIT has decided to shack up with ATI, but we're miffed as to why it missed an opportunity at marketing the must-have 9800 XT.
