(ATI CARD) what is my best buy on this list?

[jeebus]

Hi new to the forums here, I am wanting to upgrade my video card from a Geforce 2 MX and i have settled on the ATI cards

these are teh ones that are in my price range but I dont know what the difference is between these... (rookie)

any help with what is going to be the best card for the price... I am located in Vancover, BC so if there is someone who knows where i can get a better deal or anything that info is also greatly appreciated

taken from atic.com
Built by ATI:
Radeon 9600 256M DDR, VGA, DVI, TV-O, AGP8x ( oem) $210
Radeon 9600 Pro 128M DDR, VGA, DVI, TV-O, AGP8x ( retail) $238
Power Color:
Radeon 9600Pro 256M DDR, VGA, DVI, TV-O, AGP8x ( retail ) $245
Sapphire:
Radeon 9600 256M DDR, VGA, DVI, TV-O, AGP8x ( OEM ) $205
Radeon 9600Pro 128M DDR, VGA, DVI, TV-O, AGP8x ( retail ) $235

all those prices are CDN $


thanks

jeebus

 

[modedepe]

Built by ATI:
Radeon 9600 256M DDR, VGA, DVI, TV-O, AGP8x ( oem) $210
Radeon 9600 Pro 128M DDR, VGA, DVI, TV-O, AGP8x ( retail) $238
Power Color:
Radeon 9600Pro 256M DDR, VGA, DVI, TV-O, AGP8x ( retail ) $245
Sapphire:
Radeon 9600 256M DDR, VGA, DVI, TV-O, AGP8x ( OEM ) $205
Radeon 9600Pro 128M DDR, VGA, DVI, TV-O, AGP8x ( retail ) $235 <<<<< this should be the best for the price. Just make sure it's clocked at 400/600.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Radeon 9600Pro 128M DDR, VGA, DVI, TV-O, AGP8x ( retail ) $235

 

[jeebus]

how can i make sure it is clocked at that speed???

 

[Corporate Thug]

it should tell u in the description

 

[jeebus]

SAPPHIRE RADEON 9500 128MB AGP DVI W/ TV OUT OEM

one of my friends is telling me this is better and its only 199 ?? is he right?

 

[modedepe]

The 9500 would be better if it was a pro. But if it's not, get the 9600 pro.

 

[jeebus]

okay thank you both for your input I will be getting the Sapphire Radeon 9600 Pro 128 for $235.

I will be back on Tuesday with my thoughts on the card and a big smile courtesy of a GF2MX being taken out of my box finally... hahah

 

[Sunny129]

i think your friend is saying that the 9500 is better b/c you can soft-mod it to a 9700np? is that correct guys?...something like that. and the 9700np is significantly faster than a 9600pro. anyways if you dont want to hassle with the somewhat risky soft-mod, then the sapphire 9600pro is the best card you listed IMO. also, the 9600np's just aren't worth it.

 

[Mem]

jeebus,if you`re not going to reformat and do a clean install of OS,I would recommend you run
Driver Cleaner 2 to remove all traces of the old Nvidia drivers before install of your new ATi card.

Btw welcome to the AT forums.

 

[Tab]

9600 Pro, I dont think they sell any of the soft modabble 9500Pros anymore. Not to mention the 9600 Pro overclocks like a beast.

 

[jeebus]

Originally posted by: Mem
jeebus,if you`re not going to reformat and do a clean install of OS,I would recommend you run
Driver Cleaner 2 to remove all traces of the old Nvidia drivers before install of your new ATi card.

Btw welcome to the AT forums.

Thanks for the welcome and the link that will come in very handy as i would rather not format due to having lots of files that would require backups and limited means to do the backup must.... get..... dvd...... burner..... haha


but thanks im sure that will come in very handy on tuesday .... I can't wait..

 

[Blastman]

Do not get the Sapphire 9600pro ?$235. Some of the memory timings on the Sapphire cards may be slow.

If the retail ATI 9600pro 128MB (original built by ATI) is $238 ? ? definitely get that.

3 year warranty and a place you can send your card if something goes wrong.

 

[jeebus]

okay ... now im confused i definately dont have a problem spending the extra 3 dollars, expecially if it is going to mean im getting the better card... is there a reason that the others have mentioned to get the Sapphire over the ATI version of the card???

what are the major differences here?

thanks

jeebus

 

[NateSLC]

Since Sapphire makes the ATI cards (at least last time I heard) they should be the same, but I agree with Blastman. I would spend the extra $3 to get one that ATI put their name on.

 

[Sunny129]

Originally posted by: Blastman
Do not get the Sapphire 9600pro ?$235. Some of the memory timings on the Sapphire cards may be slow.

If the retail ATI 9600pro 128MB (original built by ATI) is $238 ? ? definitely get that.

3 year warranty and a place you can send your card if something goes wrong.

yeah i can see where you are coming from. i got a sapphire 9600pro, and i don't know the memory speed, but the chips are labeled "etrontech" or something. who the hell are they? i've never heard of them before, but i bet their memory isn't anything special. i haven't had a chance to OC it yet...

anyways, what's w/ the $235 price tag on the sapphire? i got mine for $154 shipped.

 

[Blastman]

Originally posted by: jeebus
okay ... now im confused i definately dont have a problem spending the extra 3 dollars, expecially if it is going to mean im getting the better card... is there a reason that the others have mentioned to get the Sapphire over the ATI version of the card???

what are the major differences here?

thanks

jeebus

Some of the original Sapphire 9600pro?s (with 2.8 EronTech, 3.3 Samsungs), were benching a little slower than the other 9600pro?s. I surmise this ? ?may? ? have been because Sapphire reduced the memory timings in the BIOS. I emailed SapphireTech about this as did other people. The newer cards may be better ? but maybe not. I?m in the market for a 9600pro myself and the only cards off my list are those 2 Sapphires. Sapphire also makes a 9600pro ?Fireblade? with 2.8ns Samsungs that didn?t have this problem but it is a little more expensive.

 

[Nuggs]

I have a sapphire 9600 pro with samsung memory, you can search the chip number on samsungs web site and it will tell you the maximum frequency the chip should be able to handle. mine were rated at 350mhz and they are running fine at 351mhz, Gpu running at 506mhz

 

[tenoc]

anyways, what's w/ the $235 price tag on the sapphire? i got mine for $154 shipped.

$154 CDN?

all those prices are CDN $

 

[Sunny129]

Originally posted by: tenoc

anyways, what's w/ the $235 price tag on the sapphire? i got mine for $154 shipped.

$154 CDN?

all those prices are CDN $

Doh!...

about the eronTech RAM...was it all 2.8ns, or did they make slower RAM too? b/c that's what i have on my 9600pro. i'm gonna try looking up the part number online to see what it is. so this 2.8ns RAM not great b/c it has to run loose timings @ 350mhz?

UPDATE: i just took a look at the RAM on my 9600pro...its the etrontech 2.8 stuff...

 

[Johnbear007]

Radeon 9600Pro 128M DDR, VGA, DVI, TV-O, AGP8x ( retail ) $235

 

[jeebus]

okay so I have been looking into this further and still have not been able to find a card to card comparison of the Saphire 9600 pro and the ATI 9600 Pro, But from what i gather most people are still saying to go with The Saphire over the ATI... is there a reasoning behind this??

Sorry to drag this thread on but tommorow is the big day and i want to make sure i get the best possible product for my money

EDIT: The other question is the Powercolor Radeon 9600 Pro with 256mb DDR?? is that a bad card??? cause isnt the extra 128 worth the extra money? or am i missing something here?

thanks guys

 

[MDE]

Follow the arrow...\/ and the 256MB version has slower RAM too.

 

[Rogodin2]

I like sapphire but you can't go wrong for a built by ati 9600PRO for $3 more.

rogo

 

[Rogodin2]

Sapphire is great but with the minimal difference in price go for the built by ati.

I buy sapphire because I get their non pro versions and flash the bios to pro-then oc.

rogo