MSI Radeon X1950 Pro, 256MB, PCI-e, for $139.66 after $15 MIR @ ClubIT

[herbiehancock]

Originally posted by: coloumb
A little bit of info on this card [I have one - ordered it from newegg a few weeks ago]:

The fan is noisy - sounds like it's running at 100% all the time.
You can't control the fan speed using the ATI Tray Tools.

You can NOT install the AcceleroX2 cooler due to components installed on this card.
You should be able to install a Zalman cooler - but that'll cost you ~$35.00.

My advice - get the Asus X1950 pro from newegg which is selling for ~$170.00 shipped [when it's back in stock]:

ASUS EAX1950PRO/HTDP/256M Radeon X1950PRO 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

Since the Zalman VF700, which is perfectly adequate to cool this card and chip, is only $20, you need to readjust your post.

But I know what you mean....but outside the Powercolor version of the card (which uses the Accelero X2cooler), the Gigabyte (which uses the Zalman VF700 cooler), and the HIS versions that use an older Arcitc Cooling cooler (and I wouldn't own an HIS card at all....too many ocmplaints of half-assed manufacturing on too many forums), all the other coolers put on the 1950 Pro, even the Asus cooler, are said to be noisy.

 

[Bu11itt]

Please provide link for the $20.00 Zalman VF700-CU.

Cheapest I could find the Zalman VF700-CU was for 26.00 + 7.61 shpping (33.61). Doesnt need to do too much readjusting.

 

[craftech]

Originally posted by: herbiehancock

Originally posted by: coloumb
A little bit of info on this card [I have one - ordered it from newegg a few weeks ago]:

The fan is noisy - sounds like it's running at 100% all the time.
You can't control the fan speed using the ATI Tray Tools.

You can NOT install the AcceleroX2 cooler due to components installed on this card.
You should be able to install a Zalman cooler - but that'll cost you ~$35.00.

My advice - get the Asus X1950 pro from newegg which is selling for ~$170.00 shipped [when it's back in stock]:

ASUS EAX1950PRO/HTDP/256M Radeon X1950PRO 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

Since the Zalman VF700, which is perfectly adequate to cool this card and chip, is only $20, you need to readjust your post.

But I know what you mean....but outside the Powercolor version of the card (which uses the Accelero X2cooler), the Gigabyte (which uses the Zalman VF700 cooler), and the HIS versions that use an older Arcitc Cooling cooler (and I wouldn't own an HIS card at all....too many ocmplaints of half-assed manufacturing on too many forums), all the other coolers put on the 1950 Pro, even the Asus cooler, are said to be noisy.

What about the size of the coolers? The Asus has a GIGANTIC cooler. Are the others huge like that one? Isn't there a card that is reliable and still has a reasonable sized cooler?

John

 

[craftech]

In addition to the giant cooler on the Asus version the MSI does NOT have any user reviews with comments like these:

"Unfortunately after just two weeks, the card failed on me. I had it running stock, out of the box on the latest ATi drivers. It had more than adequate airflow (Antec Nine-Hundred case with all fan slots occupied, running at medium speed) in a cool room. During the middle of a game, the computer suddenly locked up and at the same instant the screen was littered with artifacts. All attempts to save it were lost. The computer still works fine with an ancient video card. I never got to try to overclock it, because honestly, it was fast enough for the games I play, even with AA enabled."

"I cant get it to work, I struggled with it several hours yesterday. I put the card in and uninstall the vga, I hook up the power to it. I can get into windows fine, after I install drivers for it and it should be roaring into life, all I get is black screen. I am only guessing at this point but there may be some refresh rate incompatibility with my medium age monitor, I took it out an put it in several times, uninstalled and reinstalled drivers both from cd provided and off ATI site for the product. I used the ones specific to my 64 bit os and system still nothing but blank when it should be running. The instruction manual is about 1 page long and no mention of what this could be yet."

http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?item=N82E16814121031

John

 

[craftech]

I was wondering.

A GeForce 7900GS is around the same cost. Do you think that is a better choice or at least an equal choice?

John

 

[sirspotti]

Anyone get this card yet? The description says DVI:2 but it looks like there is one DVI connector and one VGA on the picture. Which is it?

 

[Freewolf]

How would it compare to this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102034

 

[Terabyte]

Originally posted by: sirspotti
Anyone get this card yet? The description says DVI:2 but it looks like there is one DVI connector and one VGA on the picture. Which is it?

Mine will be delivered tomorrow. I'll let you know then

Edit - The card comes with 1 DVI and 1 VGA.

 

[coloumb]

Originally posted by: sirspotti
Anyone get this card yet? The description says DVI:2 but it looks like there is one DVI connector and one VGA on the picture. Which is it?

If it's the same card - it's one DVI and one VGA.

This is a great card if you're on a budget... but for a few dollars more, you're better off getting one with a QUIETER cooling fan.

 

[whitelight]

Originally posted by: Freewolf
How would it compare to this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102034

the x1950gt is clocked a little slower than the pro

"While the Radeon X1950 Pro featured the RV570 GPU clocked at 580MHz with 1.4GHz GDDR-3 memory, the Radeon X1950 GT features the RV570 at 500MHz with 1.2GHz GDDR-3 memory."

http://www.hothardware.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=937&cid=2

 

[Showtime]

If that card didn't run so hot/loud, it would be perfect for my other rig.