FIC A95 (9500 non-pro); moddable?

[baldurga]

Hi to everybody.

I'm thinking of buying this card from FIC, A95. It's the non Pro Model with 128Mb, reb PCB and L layout.

Does anybody succeed softmodding to 9700? Any sites where I can check my odds? Finally, is it a good price get it for something less than $180, retail version?

Note: My budget is tight, in fact $180 is out of my scope, but I would try to get the money if it's worth. Also I'm european, and prices here are much higher than in USA :frown:

Tnanks in advance for your answers!


Still looking for a <b>good online retailer</b> in Spain :frown:

 

[AMD_me]

No, the 9500 is not moddable, by software or hardware, into a 9700. A 9500 Pro is moddable into a 9700 Pro, but it also requires hardware modding to activate the 4 pixel pipes that are not in use.

eBay, kick ass!

My 3DMark2001 Score: <A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=6288493" target="_new">http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=6288493</A>
-
I bought from Best Buy once. Once.

 

[cleeve]

Not quite, AMD_me...

The radeon 9500 has 8 pixel pipelines, but 4 are disabled
The Radeon 9500 PRO has all 8 pipelines enabled, but is limited by a 128 bit memory bus
The Radeon 9700 has all 8 pipelines enabled, with a 256 bit memory bus

You cannot change the memory bus, but you can enable the 4 disabled pipelines in 9500 non-pro cards.

A 128 MB 9500 non-pro with a 256 bit memory bus (Memory chips in an L shape - a 256 bit memory bus) can be modded to a 9700 pro by activiating it's 4 disabled pipelines

a 128 MB 9500 non-pro (with the memory chips in a straight line - a 128 bit memory bus) can be modded to a 9500 PRO by activiating it's 4 disabled pipelines


A 9500 PRO cannot be modded to anything, as it has a 128 bit memory bus and has all 8 pipelines activated from the factory.

BUT BE AWARE that the modifications FAIL IN MOST CASES and even though you can open the pipelines on a 9500 non-pro, it will very likely not work properly and show tons of checkerboard artifacts.

Your best bet to be safe is to buy a 9500 PRO, best card for the money.

If you can't afford it, get the 9500 with L-shaped memory (256 bit). These cards go for about $140 US, but be careful! Lots of them are now coming with the 128 bit memory bus.
The extra bandwidth afforded by the 256 bit memory will allow you to get 2xFSAA with pretty much no performance hit... and the 9500 non-pro is a good overclocker.

- Cleeve

 

[Willamette_sucks]

yeah AMD_me, like i said before. you are just dumb.
fargot.

BTW about modding the card, i think you have a pretty good chance of success with that card.

Long live ATI.