Which 9800Pro?

[blackphoenix77]

Is there that big of a difference in quality between ATI and Sapphire? Are there different drivers? There is a $30 difference between the cards, and thats a pretty big difference for me. I've taken a look at the 2 card and they look exactly the same. Will the BBA version come with R360 core or is it just a matter of getting lucky with online buying?

<b><font color=blue>AthlonXP-M 2500+<font color=blue><b>
<b><font color=green>Abit NF7-S<font color=green><b>
<b><font color=red>Kingston DDR400 2x256Mb<font color=red><b>

 

[xeenrecoil]

Heya blackphoenix;

I think it is only fair to warn you that recently there was a scandle involving Saphire and some of their R9800 Pro models, some of the retailers were selling their 128-bit memory versions as 256-bit memory versions and people were getting ripped off, saphire has personally taken responsibility for this and corrected the situation by offering an exchange if you accidently bought the 128-bit version thinking it was the 256-bit version. however some of the retailers are still selling the 128-bit version as the 256-bit version so you need to be carefull you are actually getting what you pay for, in short i would buy the Genuine ATI version of the card and avoid it intirely.

 

[blackphoenix77]

Yeah, I read about that. But wasn't that the 9800SE? I will probably just get BBA anyway. Thanks

<font color=blue>AthlonXP-M 2500+</font color=blue>
<font color=green>Abit NF7-S</font color=green>
<font color=red>Kingston DDR400 2x256Mb</font color=red>

 

[Crashman]

No, it was the Saphire 9800 Pro.

I think Saphire also makes ATI's "BBA" cards for them. But without the 128-bit versions going to them.

<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>

 

[DonnieDarko]

I'm pretty tried of people bringing this up everytime. Seriously it's labelled different now!!!!! and it says that it's 128bit right on the f*cking box!!!!!
I know it was stupid on sapphires part. But you people bring it up as thought all sapphire 9800pro's are 128bit. It you read the label then you wiln't have a problem.

AMD64 2800+
MSI Neo-Fis2r
512mb Kingmax ddr400
Sapphire 9800pro 128mb
10K WD Raptor

 

[dhlucke]

I think the vendors should take some of the responsability as well.

I have a friend who bought a "9800Pro", and the page had all the stats listed including 256bit as if it was cut and pasted from ATI's site. Then further down it said 128bit.

Most people don't understand the difference between 128MB of memory and 128bit bandwidth so I though that was pretty crappy.

<i><font color=blue>Edited by Scamtron on 10/11/01 09:58 PM

 

[randy66]

also warranty coverage
BBA = 3yr
saphire = 2yr
if this is any consideration
BBA easier RMA process in case something goes wrong
p.s. BBA 9800p came w/r360-2.8 hynix
from Newegg last week

 

[pauldh]

The 128-bit versions were originally listed as Pro's, now they are just 9800's. But they are still not as fast as a real 9800. Most repuatable sites listed the card as 128-bit, but some did not. They also looked different as i think all the 128-bit ones were based on R9700 pro PCB. Priced the same, BBA all the way. But $30 is a big difference. I am happy with my Saphire 9800 Pro although it's no overclocking champion.

Good card: Saphire Radeon 9800 Pro 256-bit:
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=14-102-268&DEPA=1" target="_new">http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=14-102-268&DEPA=1</A>

Crippled Card: Saphire Radeon 9800 128-bit:
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?DEPA=0&description=14-102-369&CMP=OTC-pr1c3watch&ATT=Video+Cards" target="_new">http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?DEPA=0&description=14-102-369&CMP=OTC-pr1c3watch&ATT=Video+Cards</A>

Note, there is often very little description info about the 128-bit versions. But Newegg does clearly state it is 128-bit. Still, poor saps who buy these thinking they were getting real 9800's/pros. They definately should have had LE tacked onto the end and it's pretty lame they wanted the "deceptive bucks" instead.


ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 1GB Corsair XMS 4000 Pro Series, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[sweatlaserxp]

How much lower is the performance on the 128-bit version? I haven't seen a demo to demonstrate this. The Atlantis version looks more like a 9700P than a 9800...

 

[HardWareBoss]

Go to New Egg an buy HIS 9800Pro ICEQ $240. It's a lot better than the two you have listed.

 

[Crashman]

Not all of them were retail boxed. Newegg was selling 128-bit OEM 9800 Pro's as 256-bit for a while before someone complained.

<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>

 

[ChipDeath]

I would be interested to see that also.

Exactly how much difference does it make?

---
Epox 8RDA+ V1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
XP1700+ @200x10 (~2Ghz), 1.4 Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL 2-2-2-4
Sapphire 9800Pro @412/740

 

[blackphoenix77]

...about this much --> |----| <--. What are the odds of me getting R360 and Hynix 2.8 if I go with BBA?

<font color=blue>AthlonXP-M 2500+</font color=blue>
<font color=green>Abit NF7-S</font color=green>
<font color=red>Kingston DDR400 2x256Mb</font color=red>

 

[PukePile]

I would say very good thats what i got and i bought a bba

40k in aquamark 3
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P4b2.4@2.8||1024mb DDR@392mhz||9800pro@420/740||Viewsonic UltraBrite 19"||Panisonic DVD-RW

 

[PukePile]

I would say very good thats what i got and i bought a bba

40k in aquamark 3
<A HREF="http://arc.aquamark3.com/arc/arc_view.php?run=682299587
" target="_new">http://arc.aquamark3.com/arc/arc_view.php?run=682299587
</A>
P4b2.4@2.8||1024mb DDR@392mhz||9800pro@420/740||Viewsonic UltraBrite 19"||Panisonic DVD-RW