Decisions!

[hogfather]

Afternoon all,

I had my heart set on a 9800 Pro. But now with holidays etc this summer mena I can't afford to spend £150 on a component. So....I found 9600 Pro's for £67 at overclockers.co.uk, or the 256mb version for £72. I also stumbled across a rather mysterious 9550 which I'd never seen before - but I assume is between a 9200 and 9600 non pro.

Basically, I'm leaning toward the 256mb version - I know ram may be slower, but with texture sizes always getting bigger etc - it may be worth it.

I currently use a MX440 which has served my brilliantly - until UT2004, where it runs fine, but I get a lot of jerkiness etc, so I considered it upgrade time.

Are there any better cards for sub £75 quid? Which 9600 pro is better considering it'll have to last 2 years?

Cheers,
Chris

XP2000, 512 ddr 2700ram, GF4 MX440, XP Pro

 

[Woodman]

<b>Basically, I'm leaning toward the 256mb version - I know ram may be slower, but with texture sizes always getting bigger etc - it may be worth it.</b>
No it won't, <i>especially</i> on a 9600-XXX. You'll be bottlenecked by that card more than you would with the amount of on-board memory. Don't chuck £5 down the gutter man.

Check prices on 9800non-Pros, or a 9700 something. Else, at *least* get a 9600XT if the price isn't that different.

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Wanted: Wet Nurse needed for 25 yr old male. Will not mind if taken advantage of.

 

[hogfather]

Problem is the price / performance of the xt is just not as good as the pro.

I can't find 9800 (non pros) for under 100, nor the 9600 xt.

Is the 256 gonna slow it down?

XP2000, 512 ddr 2700ram, GF4 MX440, XP Pro

 

[cleeve]

256 megs might actually slow it down, on cheaper cards 256megs is with cheaper, slower RAM.

If you get 128 megs, chances it'll overclock better.

256 megs does NOTHING for a card with a 128-bit memory interface. Absolutely nothing.

________________
<b>Radeon <font color=red>9700 PRO</b></font color=red> <i>(o/c 329/337)</i>
<b>AthlonXP <font color=red>~2750+</b></font color=red> <i>(2400+ @ 2208 Mhz)</i>
<b>3dMark03: <font color=red>4,876</b>

 

[ChipDeath]

Problem is the price / performance of the xt is just not as good as the pro.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the 9600XT Cards I think are nowadays on a .13u process, so overclock a $hitload better than the 9600Pro cards do, so if overclocking is part of the deal, then the XT looks more attractive.

my 9800Pro is down to £140 from komplett.co.uk now.. still outside your budget though...

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Epox 8RDA+ V1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
Summer's here! so ease off the overclock...
XP1700+ @166x12 (~2Ghz), 1.475 Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL 2-2-2-4
Sapphire 9800Pro 400/730

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

both are 0.13 micron, the XT is just low-k/d.

Both overclock like a mutha, the R9600Pro 'overclocks' more but starts at far lower a stock speed. The R9600P on Average reaches 500-550mhz without issue, and the R9600XT reaches 525-575 on average with stock cooling. One of the biggest issues is which memory is found on the R9600XT. MY R9600Pro will outperform ANY R9600XT stuck with 3.3ns memory, as their memory won't come close to appreoching my day-to-day speed of 333mhz, let alone my top clocks around 370mhz. And since the R9600 series is memory limited more than anything, having a card running at 525/350 will almost always outperform a similar card running 550/315.

Of course if you get an R9600XT with good 2.86ns Samsung memory then 550/350 is a very nice combo.

Of cours and R9800non-pro or even an R9800pro with 128bit memory will outperform both of them IMNSHO.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

 

[hogfather]

By 128bit memory you mean SE? Because I'm a bit wary of those cards to be honest! Also they weigh in at around £90, while the pro can be had for as low as £60 on ebuyer.

So do you think for a pc with an XP 2000, 512 2700 ddr, 40 gig hdd, MX440 and XP Pro, I'd see a big improvement in games, like UT2004? Or is the cpu limiting?

XP2000, 512 ddr 2700ram, GF4 MX440, XP Pro

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Like Wusy said, no not the SE.

At least not an unmoded SE.

There are some recent 'pro's out there that have the full 8 pip core, but just have crippled memory. They will perform beter than both unmoded R9800SEs, but not as good as the true R9800Pro, nor even the R9800non-pro.

I wouldn't recommend it to anyone if the others are an option for the same price, but at the right price and availability it can be an ok option, just be sure you know what you're getting yourself into.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

 

[hogfather]

Hmmm, those 9800s with 8 pipes and 128bit memory are quite hard to find, i'm still looking. Besides, it seems a bit sad to waste a nice 9800 core like that



XP2000, 512 ddr 2700ram, GF4 MX440, XP Pro

 

[hogfather]

Thanks wusy - problem is I;'m in the UK. Also, that card looks rubbish tbh - not gonna get that over a 9600 Pro, its more expensive, and about as good.

XP2000, 512 ddr 2700ram, GF4 MX440, XP Pro