X1950Pro - Sapphire or Powercolor? Quick! Ordering soon!

[AMDThunder]

Instant $20 discount on Powercolor for $199.99 via newegg + $6 shipping.
$204.99 shipped for Sapphire thru zipzoomfly.

Comes out to about the same price. Any recommendations for one over the other?

 

[PizzaFTW]

I don't see the Sapphire card, but I think its clocked at 575/1380 (effective). The Powercolor is clocked at 600/1400. I honestly don't know what Sapphire's warranties are like, but I've heard that Powercolor has a "lifetime" warranty (keyword: "heard". not sure if it's true.)

Check out this card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161043

If you're willing to deal with the rebate, I think that the Ice-Q fan would be worth the extra 20 dollars.

 

[Julian33]

I'm very happy with the Sapphire x1950 Pro I've got. Mine's clocked at 580/1400 stock.

 

[PizzaFTW]

Ah, the Sapphire card is clocked at 580/1400, not 575/1380 as I said.

My mistake.

 

[AMDThunder]

Noticed zipzoom has the Asus version for $199.99 shipped. It's not the Crossfire version, but I'll only have one PCIe slot anyway, so no biggie. Think I may do that one unless someone can convince me otherwise.

And I abhor rebates! I won't be OCing the vid card, so hopefully the stock fan will suffice.

 

[bruce555]

Double post

 

[bruce555]

If you don't want to look at clock speeds or add on fans, I've always really liked sapphire.

 

[a123456]

I have no idea about the actual chip quality, but they should be the same. The "major" difference between them is the cooler. The Powercolor one is much bigger, takes up 2 slots, but is quieter and cooler. The Sapphire one is 1 slot, smaller, and not as efficient in cooling. If your case is big enough, probably the Powercolor.

 

[pauldh]

Of the two, I'd want the powercolor. I'd take the HIS Ice Q over that even. But that said, right now the Sapphire X1900GT is $169 no rebates. That would be my choice if looking for that caliber card. Stock speeds it's a bit behind, but very very close and the price is right.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102022

 

[GeneticWeapon]

But that said, right now the Sapphire X1900GT is $169 no rebates. That would be my choice if looking for that caliber card. Stock speeds it's a bit behind, but very very close and the price is right.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102022

That's the revision 1 GT with software voltage adjustments 8)

The OP wont buy it though because it's not as new as the X1950Pro :lol:

 

[AMDThunder]

The OP wont buy it though because it's not as new as the X1950Pro

Oh, come on now. Has nothing to do with it being new.

Ended up ordering the Asus one from zipzoom. Hasn't shipped though. The 1900GT lloks good for $169.

That's the revision 1 GT with software voltage adjustments

But what does that mean?

 

[pauldh]

 

[pauldh]

Basically it means it will be easier and better for overclocking as through software like Tray Tools, you can adjust(bump up) the core and memory voltage. Without giving it more juice you hit an early limit in clock speeds. Add some voltage and that card will go alot higher. If you don't plan on overclocking, then this isn't a big deal to you. If you wanted to overclock, that X1900GT would have been better.

 

[RyanMicah]

If you don't want to go SLI, or buy a 1900XTX/7950G2 or DX10 card, or if you don't mind not OCing...check out the ATI AIW X1900. You can watch tv and listen to FM radio with it, and it's still great for gaming. If you upgrade later to DX10 or build a new computer, you can use this AIW card for a great HTPC.

 

[MrMr]

I picked up the Asus X1950 yesterday and it's dead silent. Great cooling and looks sweeeet. Bought my core to 640 and mem to 1500. Not bad at all for 1.4ns ram.

And the AIW X1900 overclocks like a champ. I'ts an underclocked X1900XT. All pipes\shaders included.

 

[RyanMicah]

Like a champ? I heard a lot of people couldn't OC theirs very far. I didn't try. It does have an auto-OC of sorts in the Catalyst software. I'm using the card with Windows XP Pro X64 and the tuner part of the card doesn't work with it, however it should work with 32 bit Vista I'd think, and I know it works with XP Home.

 

[MrMr]

http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/Unable-overclock-x1900-ftopict202844.html

 

[AMDThunder]

MrMr: Glad to hear you like the card. Hope to say the same thing in a few days. Should have all my parts by the end of next week. PSU and mobo coming from mwave. Damn their slow shipping...

 

[GeneticWeapon]

Oh, come on now. Has nothing to do with it being new.

Then what does it have to do with?

Do you overclock?

 

[AMDThunder]

Has more to do with getting the best bang for the buck. I'll OC my cpu, but have never OCd a vid card. X1950Pro is $30 more for a faster AND newer card that I won't have to OC. Would have to OC the GT to get the same results.

 

[GeneticWeapon]

Would have to OC the GT to get the same results.

There is a 2-3 frames difference between the cards....you wouldnt know one from the other unless you were told which is which :lol:

 

[AMDThunder]

Can't argue with good logic.

Following the same logic, other than being able to use higher resolutions, why on earth would anyone spend $400 on a vid card? There may not be many, but some games, especially in the future, where those 3-5 fps may mean the difference between playable or not. Yeah, maybe not, but you never know.

Oh well, the money is spent, and I came in under my budget of $750. Hopefully it'll last me a good 3 years or more.

 

[RyanMicah]

http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/Unable-overclock-x1900-ftopict202844.html

That thread basically says that the AIW cards aren't capable of being overclocked. Thanks for backing me up!

 

[RyanMicah]

Would have to OC the GT to get the same results.

There is a 2-3 frames difference between the cards....you wouldnt know one from the other unless you were told which is which :lol:

Exactly, which makes the AIW card a good deal, nearly as fast as the GT, it IS a 1900, but it incorporates a lot of nice extras!