NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GS vs NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GT
NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GS
► remove from comparisonThe Nvidia GeForce 9800M GS is a graphics adapter for laptops and based on the G94 core with 64 shader processors. The chip is produced in 55nm (as the 1024 MB versions of the 9800M GTS and the GTS 160M). Because of the max. 512 MB GDDR3 the TDP is lower (60 Watt) than the 9800M GTS (512 and 1024 MB version: 75W).
Because of the additional shaders but lower clock speed than the GTS, the 9800M GS is between the 9700M GTS and 9800M GTS. Therefore, DirectX 10 games of 2008 should all be playable in medium to high details.
As all cards with DirectX 10 capabilities, the GeForce 9800M GS renders the 3D images using "Unified Shaders". There don't exist any more dedicated pixel- and vertex shaders but 64 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.
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 GS 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 GS.
Compared to desktop graphics cards, the 9800M GS should be a bit slower than the GeForce 9600M GT.
NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GT
► remove from comparison
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 GS | NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GeForce 9800M Series |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Codename | NB9E-GS1 | NB9E-GT2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Architecture | G9x | G9x | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pipelines | 64 - unified | 96 - unified | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Core Speed | 530 MHz | 500 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shader Speed | 1325 MHz | 1250 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory Speed | 800 MHz | 800 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory Bus Width | 256 Bit | 256 Bit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory Type | GDDR3 | GDDR3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Max. Amount of Memory | 1024 MB | 512 MB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shared Memory | no | no | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
API | DirectX 10, Shader 4.0 | DirectX 10, Shader 4.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Power Consumption | 60 Watt | 65 Watt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transistors | 504 Million | 754 Million | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
technology | 55 nm | 65 nm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notebook Size | large | large | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of Announcement | 01.11.2008 | 15.07.2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Information | MXM 3 | MXM 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Features | PureVideo HD, CUDA, PhysX-ready, Hybrid-SLI (HybridPower) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Link to Manufacturer Page | www.nvidia.com |
Benchmarks
3DM Vant. Perf. total + NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GS
Average Benchmarks NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GS → 100% n=7
Average Benchmarks NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GT → 118% n=7

* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation
Game Benchmarks
The following benchmarks stem from our benchmarks of review laptops. The performance depends on the used graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems. So the results don't have to be representative for all laptops with this GPU. For detailed information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.
Average Gaming NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GS → 100%
Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 100%
Average Gaming NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GT → 169%
Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 115%
NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GS | low | med. | high | ultra | QHD | 4K |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GTA IV - Grand Theft Auto | 46 | |||||
Far Cry 2 | 49 | |||||
Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare | 201 | 84 | 47 | |||
Supreme Commander - FA Bench | 36.06 | |||||
Crysis - GPU Benchmark | 80 | 45 | 28 | |||
Crysis - CPU Benchmark | 87 | 44 | 26 | |||
World in Conflict - Benchmark | 60 | 34 | ||||
The Elder Scrolls IV - Oblivion | 60 | |||||
F.E.A.R. | 102 | 55 | 48 | |||
Doom 3 | 129 | 129 | 128 | 126 | ||
Quake 3 Arena - Timedemo | 1122 | |||||
< 30 fps < 60 fps < 120 fps ≥ 120 fps | 1 3 2 | 3 2 1 | 2 5 1 2 | 1 | | |
NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GT | low | med. | high | ultra | QHD | 4K |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crysis - GPU Benchmark | 83 | 53 | 34 | |||
Crysis - CPU Benchmark | 96 | 49 | 32 | |||
World in Conflict - Benchmark | 66 | 37 | ||||
F.E.A.R. | 555 | 274 | 118 | |||
Doom 3 | 150.9 | 146.2 | 144.9 | 141.1 | ||
Quake 3 Arena - Timedemo | 624 | |||||
< 30 fps < 60 fps < 120 fps ≥ 120 fps | 2 2 | 2 1 2 | 3 1 2 | 1 | | |
For more games that might be playable and a list of all games and graphics cards visit our Gaming List