9800SE or 9800Pro

[Haps]

Ok I am basically faced with a decision to purchase either of these cards. Both will be 128MB 256-bit. My understanding is that the only difference between thse two cards is that the SE has 4 pipelines and the Pro has 8.

So the question is. Do I save the $40 and get the SE hoping it will mod to open up the 4 disabled pipelines. The downside is that it could be one of the chips that is not capable of running 8 pipelines. I have no way of knowing this until I try to mod it. So the upside would be I would save $40 and get a 9800Pro. The downside would be that it won't mod and I am stuck using 4 pipelines.

 

[imported_JeReMY]

Get the 9800 pro if you can afford it.

 

[TheAudit]

Originally posted by: JeReMY
Get the 9800 pro if you can afford it.

 

[Haps]

I guess there is a chance that with the Pro I could also get a 360core one and could flash it to an XT(although it would only be 128mb)

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: Haps
I guess there is a chance that with the Pro I could also get a 360core one and could flash it to an XT(although it would only be 128mb)

If you're wanting to do that, then I highly recommend the MSI 9800P cards. I think those have been verified to have the R360 core (same as XT) and should flash to XT speeds with no problem.

 

[Bateluer]

The 9800SEs have performance comparable to the 9600 Pros, last I heard.

 

[Dolly]

I would sugest that you get the 9800Pro, and if you can gtet an MSI one.

The reason being ( I got 1 and a mate got 1 and verified what im about to write ) that the MSI has both the R360 core ( from the XT ) and Hynix memory, that is ultra o/clocable!

I am running mine back home at XT speeds easily and can climb much higher with out any artifacts, the o/cing bit is plain easy with ati tools and you can save the configuraiton so as to o/c before you play and not have the card on load all the time, or if you prefer just flash the bios and have it as an XT 24/7.

I say get the Pro its a great card.

Note-- Other cards have R360 cores, or Hynix memory ( i know Sapphire as one ) but I only found BOTH R360 and Hynix in the MSI card

hope it helps

 

[ZobarStyl]

Kamrandizar is going to show up in about 5 minutes and preach to you the glories of the 9800SE to Pro mod...but don't buy into his antics. Get the 9800Pro, the price difference is relatively neglible, and if your Pro to XT mod (which is comparable to just overclocking the Pro anyway) doesn't work, you are still left with a good card, whereas if your SE to Pro has artifacts or simply doesn't mod, you are stuck with an SE that may or may not have a damaged core. Go with the Pro; 40 dollars to get better performance that you KNOW will work is more than a bargain to me.

 

[IceMole]

6600GT AGP

Edit: With the AGP version of the 6600 there is no reason to buy a 9800 anymore unless you just like ATI.

 

[StrangerGuy]

Originally posted by: IceMole
6600GT AGP

Edit: With the AGP version of the 6600 there is no reason to buy a 9800 anymore unless you just like ATI.

I went to search for a AGP 6600GT at newegg and there is a XFX card for $239.

 

[Haps]

Please correct me if I am wrong but aren't all 6600GT card only 128-bit. If so it wouldn't exactly be comparable to the 9800Pro.

 

[jcwagers]

I agree. Go with the 9800 Pro. Microcenter has the 256mb Radeon 9800 Pro for $229 right now. That's as cheap if not cheaper than you'll find the 128mb version. Seems like everybody is sold out or asking $230 or more for them.

jc

 

[StrangerGuy]

Originally posted by: Haps
Please correct me if I am wrong but aren't all 6600GT card only 128-bit. If so it wouldn't exactly be comparable to the 9800Pro.

Memory bus width isn't everything. The 6600GT compensates that by having a much higher core/memory clock than the 9800 Pro, You can see the how well the 6600GT fares against a 9800XT here. http://www.anandtech.com/video...oc.aspx?i=2196&p=6

 

[Trey22]

Originally posted by: IceMole
6600GT AGP

Edit: With the AGP version of the 6600 there is no reason to buy a 9800 anymore unless you just like ATI.

 

[ZobarStyl]

Read the article on the front page about the 6600GT...Anand says in no uncertain terms that the 6600GT is the midrange king. If you can afford that, that would be a rather nice alternative, with 9.0c etc coming with the nV offering.

 

[Haps]

Originally posted by: ZobarStyl
Read the article on the front page about the 6600GT...Anand says in no uncertain terms that the 6600GT is the midrange king. If you can afford that, that would be a rather nice alternative, with 9.0c etc coming with the nV offering.

It is a price jump as well though. $230ish compared to $190ish.

I had decided to get the 9800 Pro and had ordered one. I just cancelled that order. Will wait a few weeks and see about the 6600GT.