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Radeon 9800 128 or 256 bit?

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  • Graphics Cards
  • Radeon
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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January 3, 2005 2:57:35 PM

How can I tell whether the new PC I'm about to buy has a 128bit or 256 bit Radeon 9800 Pro card? Yes, I'm going to ask the intergrator but also want to be able to check when I receive the PC. Don't want to get stung by getting the inferior 128 bit version.

More about : radeon 9800 128 256 bit

January 3, 2005 4:22:20 PM

128-bit cards have the RAM chips in a straight line.

256-bit cards have the RAM chips in an "L" shape

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<b>Radeon <font color=red>9700 PRO</b></font color=red> <i>(o/c 332/345)</i>
<b>AthlonXP <font color=red>3200+</b></font color=red> <i>(Barton 2500+ o/c 400 FSB)</i>
<b>3dMark03: <font color=red>5,354</b>
January 3, 2005 5:00:23 PM

ALL Radeon 9800 pros, with exception to Saphire, are 256bit memory. If its in L-shape then its 256bit memory so if the bios locks half that you could always locate a bios verion that will give you 256bit access

<i><font color=red>Only an overclocker can make a computer into a convectional oven.</i></font color=red>
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January 3, 2005 6:24:25 PM

Slight correction, Addiarmadar:

the BIOS has nothing to do with the memory interface... if it's in an "L" shape, it's using a 256-bit wide memory interface.

Even the old Radeon 9500's with L-shaped memory were using 256-bit memory access because that's the way it's wired, regardless of the BIOS...

Both Sapphire and Powercolor have made 9800-PROs with a 128-bit interface. Sapphire soon caved in to outcry and called them "9800 PRO 128-bit editions", I think Powercolor now calls them that, too. Something to watch for in older stock tho.

________________
<b>Radeon <font color=red>9700 PRO</b></font color=red> <i>(o/c 332/345)</i>
<b>AthlonXP <font color=red>3200+</b></font color=red> <i>(Barton 2500+ o/c 400 FSB)</i>
<b>3dMark03: <font color=red>5,354</b>
January 3, 2005 6:50:10 PM

Thatll work too.

<i><font color=red>Only an overclocker can make a computer into a convectional oven.</i></font color=red>
a b U Graphics card
January 4, 2005 12:50:21 AM

Not just Saphire, but Powercolor and AT LEAST half a dozen other brands produced by Saphire or Powercolor.

<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>
January 5, 2005 2:30:29 AM

Shhhhhhhhhhhh! Dont give out thier sceam to everyone ;-)!

<i><font color=red>Only an overclocker can make a computer into a convectional oven.</i></font color=red>
a b U Graphics card
January 5, 2005 3:52:43 AM

I haven't done a spell check, but I think it's "scheme".

<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>
January 5, 2005 10:50:17 AM

Many thanks to you all for advice.

Great link wusy, thank you - will be able to check my current humble graphics card at home now - didn't even know what the memory modules looked like before, let alone what configuration meant what. ;) 
January 5, 2005 12:57:18 PM

Yeah but didnt feel like typing out the "h" last night.

<i><font color=red>Only an overclocker can make a computer into a convectional oven.</i></font color=red>
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