Poll: How did your 9500 mod turn out?

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: blcjr
I got mine from mwave.com. It is part no. A19810 here. With Soft9700 my 3dMark2001 score increased from 8900 to 11600. So I'd count that as a successful mod! -Baz

Was yours on a red or black PCB? Because I ordered from Mwave and got one on a black PCB. This worries me since I don't remember anyone saying that the black PCB ones worked.

 

[hollowman]

Originally posted by: sxr7171

Originally posted by: blcjr
I got mine from mwave.com. It is part no. A19810 here. With Soft9700 my 3dMark2001 score increased from 8900 to 11600. So I'd count that as a successful mod! -Baz

Was yours on a red or black PCB? Because I ordered from Mwave and got one on a black PCB. This worries me since I don't remember anyone saying that the black PCB ones worked.

Black ones work too as long as it has same layout as 9700 pcb.

 

[Killrose]

Black PCB works as long as the mem is in an "L" pattern and not an inline one.

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: Killrose
Black PCB works as long as the mem is in an "L" pattern and not an inline one.

Uh oh..... I have no "L" pattern. I have the new inline pattern. I wonder if I should even try or just go ahead and put it on Ebay as a regular OEM 9500.

If it helps anyone, my guess is that after the restock at Mwave (or maybe even Newegg) they are just getting the new inline ones. Please post if anybody has gotten an "L" pattern board after Feb 3.

Picture of "L" shaped board: http://www.sapphiretech.com/media/9500/9500boardshot.jpg

Comparison of both boards (scroll down a little): http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?s=a158e8acd136ba01f04fdda6214ee426&threadid=33657738&perpage=20&pagenumber=5

 

[sxr7171]

I guess the silence means I have to do what I have to do - either RMA it or sell it on Ebay as a perfectly good OEM 9500.

 

[Athlex]

I could be mistaken, but I was under the impression that all OEM 9500s (ATI doesn't sell them) have the 9700 board layout (256-bit memory bus) and that the 9500 Pro boards have the inline layout (128 bit memory bus). Might want to double check whether you have a 9500 or a 9500 pro...

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: Athlex
I could be mistaken, but I was under the impression that all OEM 9500s (ATI doesn't sell them) have the 9700 board layout (256-bit memory bus) and that the 9500 Pro boards have the inline layout (128 bit memory bus). Might want to double check whether you have a 9500 or a 9500 pro...

Not true, I ordered a regular 9500 and I got the inline memory chip board. Either I just had some bad luck or these manufacturers have shifted to making 9500s on the new 9500 board - I don't know.

 

[Tikerz]

Seems like that's what happened. Even Newegg doesn't even have the one anymore. They advertise it as "New black PCB version" and the picture shows the inline memory chips. I'm glad I got mine when I did.

 

[Athlex]

Same here, guess it was just a matter of time. It did seem weird that 9500s were being advertised as having a 128 bit bus when the board was 256 bit. At least "regular" 9500s can be turned into 9500 Pro boards with the softmod.

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: Athlex
Same here, guess it was just a matter of time. It did seem weird that 9500s were being advertised as having a 128 bit bus when the board was 256 bit. At least "regular" 9500s can be turned into 9500 Pro boards with the softmod.

Looking at the Anandtech review of the 9500 I don't know if I'll be better off with a 9500pro over the Ti4200 I already have. My 4200 overclocks pretty well and offers 4400-like performance, which is what the 9500pro was roughly performing like.

 

[Athlex]

It's a tough call, although a lot of the reviews I've seen show that the 9500Pro and the Ti4600 at stock speeds perform about as well as each other. Anand's review is a bit out of date since ATI's drivers have improved quite a bit since his article was written.

Might want to try setting up the 9500 as a 9500pro and overclock it some with RivaTuner (doesn't require new firmeware) and then overclock your 4200 to 44-4600 speeds and throw Unreal2 or UT2K3 at it to see which card plays better.

 

[Rectalfier]

Woohooo!

I just got my Sapphire 9500np 128 yestarday, and I have already soft modded it to a 9700. No artifacts yet!

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: Rectalfier
Woohooo! I just got my Sapphire 9500np 128 yestarday, and I have already soft modded it to a 9700. No artifacts yet!

You're very lucky! Would you mind telling us where you ordered from? Also, I guess this proves that the "L-shaped" boards are still around.



Athlex,

Thanks for the info, I think I should just give it a try and see how it does on my favorite games. I think you're right about O/C on these newer ATI cards, they are supposed to be very good overclockers. One thing I noticed was that the lowest prices on the Ti4200 are around $130 now with 128MB, so I will be getting less back if I sell it, but I am scared that I might get even less from selling the 9500 on Ebay. I noticed really poor volume for the regular 9500 - but I guess that's what reserve is for.

 

[Rectalfier]

I got my Sapphire Atlantis from Memory Express in Calgary Alberta. When I called for it, they said they had a lot in stock. Indeed it is an L shaped card. I have been now to overclock it to 342/296 Mhz. I get 4825 in 3dmark 2003 and 14800 in 3dmark 2001SE. Wooohooo!

Without the 9700 mod but with overclocking I get 3600 in 3dmark 2003. It's still a decent card even without the 9700 mod.