Which one? 9600 Advice

[nadkoolio]

Alright, here is what I am considering for my new computer, an Athlon 64 2800+.

256MB 9600XT $160
128MB 9600XT $148
256MB 9600Pro $136.5
128MB 9600Pro $126

Whatever I get, I'm going to try and overclock it and will keep for atleast 2 years. I know the Pro is exceptional at overclocking, but does it also apply to the XT? What'll give me the best bang for the buck? And would getting the extra 128MB of ram make a difference?

Thanks

 

[coolsquirtle]

128MB 9600XT

make sure its a good brand

RIP Block Heater....HELLO P4~~~~~
120% nVidia Fanboy+119% Money Fanboy
GeForce 6800 Ultra--> The Way we thought FX 5800Ultra is meant to be played
THGC's resident Asian and nVboy

 

[nadkoolio]

All of these cards were from Sapphire, but now I found a 9600 Pro from ATI for $110 that's hard to ignore.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

The only thing to look at is the memory.

If the R9600XT memory is good (like 2.86ns Smsung [which is better than the 2.8ns Hynix]) then it will be a far better card.

The core on the R9600XT will almost always have about a 50mhz overclockability boost above the pro due to the benificial prperties of the LOW-K/D insulation in the mfr process.

However sometimes the R9600XTs are saddled with crap memory (especially from people like Sapphire), and then the OC benifit of the core is negated by the terrible OC'ing memory.

My R9600Pro will run 535/365 all day/night. Most R9600XTs should be able to reach 550-575 on the core without tourble. However if they are saddled with the 3.3ns crap memory then they likely won't go mcuh higher than 315mhz. And since the R9600 series is so highly memory constrained you really want to make sure you know what you are getting if you are overclocking. If you weren't overclocking then the R9600XT would be the obvios choice.

Now the price of a BBA R9600Pro makes it an attractive option. In my experience the Built By Ati R9600Pros overclock among the very best. As I said my R9600Pro does 535/365 no problem, and will do brief (like 1hr) runs at 540/370.

Check the R9600XT and if it has the better memory, I'd definitely go with that. Especially with some of the added features some of them have. I'm not sure if the Sapphires are the ones with or without thermal sensors, which would be handy for overclocking.

With your system I'd try and get the very most out of it I could so the R9600XT would be nice. Of course if you can save a little money and put it towards a new card later, and get like and X800SE or GF6800XT/SE (depending on what tyhey look like) at an earlier replacement date, then that too might be a good idea.

As always, that's just my two frames worth.


- 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

 

[coolsquirtle]

i say that's only worth 1.75 frames

RIP Block Heater....HELLO P4~~~~~
120% nVidia Fanboy+119% Money Fanboy
GeForce 6800 Ultra--> The Way we thought FX 5800Ultra is meant to be played
THGC's resident Asian and nVboy

 

[nadkoolio]

Thanks for your advice TheGreatGrapeApe, after reading your post I did some research and found that Sapphire's 9600XT uses the Samsung 2.86ns, even though their R9600XT Ultimate uses the Hynix 2.8ns. Both are faster than ATI's R9600XT specifications, and in all comparisons I have seen, the Sapphire R9600XT beats the ATI R9600XT.

The Sapphire can overclock to about 570/almost 350 before artifacts starts to show, so the memory isn't great for overclocking. I think the Sapphire does have the thermal sensors (is that Overdrive?)

All that aside, anyone know of a difference between the 128MB and 256MB versions?

 

[Crashman]

The 128MB 9600XT. But wait! Compgeeks was selling the 9700 Pro 128MB for $130, it's a much more powerfull card!

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[marneus]

If I didnt already have one I would buy it... it is better than any R9500/R9550/R9600 cores...

Trust me I know what I'm doing... ooops, grab the cat...

 

[addiarmadar]

128MB 9600XT $148. The 256mb version is a waster for the card really never uses the other 128 well and there is no difference in performance

Mobile Barton 2500+ @ 2420mhz 11x220 1.7v
Asus A7N8X Dlx 440 FSB
1gb Geil GD pc3500 Dual Channel (2-3-3-6)
Segata 80gb SATA 8.5ms seek
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro to XT(420/730)

 

[sparky853]

Spend the extra and go with a 9800Pro. They aren't much more than the 9600XT, since you already have a good system, why not spend the extra on a better card???

Spec:
Intel P4 2.4B
MSI 645E Max-U Mobo
1GB DDR333
R9600XT 128MB
SB Live 5.1
WD 60GB
Maxtor 120GB
LG DVD+-R/RW
WIN2K PRO SP4

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Nah, go with Crash's suggestion. The R9700pro for $130 is alot cheaper than an R9800/pro, and yet far better than the R9600s.

An R9700Pro will do just about everything that an R9800 would do and if he can save 50-70dollars. That's some good coin towards the next upgrade or a game to enjoy on the new rig.


- 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

 

[pauldh]

Yeah, but the 9700 pro for $130 was a refurb and sold out same day. You have to move quick on geek specials, well the good ones at least.



ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 512MB Corsair TwinX PC3200LL, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

True, geeks love specials.

Didn't know it was gone.

So in that case the XGI Volari DUO would be best right? They gotta be selling for cheap, and oh the potential once they fix those things.


- 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

 

[pauldh]

Right on, Volari all the way. :lol:


Newegg has a refurb 9600 Pro for $94, refurb Saphire 9800 pro ultimate for $185. 5900XT refurb for $149, refurb Ti4200 for $53



ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 512MB Corsair TwinX PC3200LL, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by pauldh on 06/24/04 01:08 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[HardWareBoss]

Don't tell everyone about the XGI Volari deals!!!