Radeon 9800SE Chipset - Any Good?

[bob4432]

out of the video card loop, are the 9800se chipsets any good? i have seen cards (128MB) with them at newegg and they are really reasonable in price. would they be better than my current 64MB/ti4200?

 

[Thegonagle]

I think the 9600 Pro and XT are going to be better overall. The 9600Pro in particular is around the same price as a 9800SE, and the 9600XT is going to be about $15 more. The entire SE line is quite crippled with an extremely slow memory bus. See Anand's (and other's) video card reviews, and check out the video forum here.

 

[First]

Radeon 9800SE Chipset - Any Good?

Bite your tongue.

Hehe, but seriously, don't buy a 9800SE, it's a complete waste of money. If you're searching for a card between $100-$150, pick up a 9600 Pro for $130 or so.

 

[Budman]

SE = Slow Edition.

 

[Schadenfroh]

stay with your 4200 untill you can afford a 9800 pro or a 5900 with the good ram to o/c to 5950

 

[Cerb]

IF you can succeed in a soft-mod, the 128 and 256-bit versions are excellent.
If you fail, you should have gotten a 9600 XT to begin with. There seems to be about a 40% or so success rate with most cards, better with Powercolor and Hercules.
If you want a safe buy, a 9600 Pro or XT would be much better.
9600: 4x1 pipelines, 400MHz (Pro) or 500MHz (XT); 128-bit, 600MHz memory (some up to 700MHz).
9800: 8x1 pielines, 380MHz (Pro), don't know about np or XT; 256-bit 680MHz memory.
9800SE L-shaped RAM: 256-bit, 8x1 pipelines, but only using 4. Can be modded to 9800 (enable four pipelines). But if the pipelines are bad...you're screwed.
9800SE I-shaped RAM: 128-bit, 8x1 pipelines, using 4. Same as above, but not quite as good. Still well above a 9600 card, but it's a gamble, and if you fail, you're stuck with an overpriced card about even with a 9600 Pro.

I have a 9600 XT, and it is not worth it, by any means, over my Ti 4200.

ited: dislexia got the better of me (transposed letters abound)

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
stay with your 4200 untill you can afford a 9800 pro or a 5900 with the good ram to o/c to 5950

seriously. my 4200 can play ANY game out there, most at high res

 

[bluemax]

The only way I'd ever get a 9800SE is if it was given to me for the price of dirt. Cheap dirt.
It's only the slightest bit better than your current TI4200, but leagues better than my MX-440SE.

"SE" editions are hacked and sliced and generally not worth bothering with. Don't mess with soft-mods either, the success rate isn't that good.

 

[MichaelZ]

I would stick to the 4200 a while longer. 9800SE is just crap and definatly NOT worth your bucks.

 

[bob4432]

thanks for the info will stay with the 4200 until i can get a good version of the 9800

 

[SecretAgentMan]

If you can, I'd wait for the next generation Radeons.

Even if you can't afford the shiny new stuff, the old cards are sure to take a dive in price.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: SecretAgentMan
If you can, I'd wait for the next generation Radeons.

Even if you can't afford the shiny new stuff, the old cards are sure to take a dive in price.

 

[Erasmus-X]

I recently had to show a friend of mine the light when he came home with a Radeon 9600SE. He didn't notice a significant difference between that card and his old GF4MX. I had him take that card back and get the XT model. He was amazed at what $50 worth of extra investment did for his gaming. Go me.

But seriously, all the current Radeon boards with the "SE" designation cut a huge corner by crippling the memory bus (64-bit in the case of the 9600s, and 128-bit in the case of MOST 9800s). This is HUGE thing in graphics processing. The manufacturer tries to alude the budget-minded consumer by still slapping a large amount VRAM on the card. That consumer thinks he got cutting-edge technology at a bargain, but later finds out that maybe he should had spent the extra $50-100.

 

[dnuggett]

I'm not sure why we are recommending a 9600 Pro to this guy, cause the 9800SE is right w/ it, if not better. If you would buy a 9600 Pro, get a 9800SE (given the same or better price point).

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: dnuggett
I'm not sure why we are recommending a 9600 Pro to this guy, cause the 9800SE is right w/ it, if not better. If you would buy a 9600 Pro, get a 9800SE (given the same or better price point).

9600 Pro: 400MHz/600MHz. All numbers made in comparison (400MHz here is 400x4).
9600 XT: 500/600.
9800 Pro: 760/1360 (380x8/680).
9800SE 1: 325/500.
9800SE 2: 380/600. Still less than the 9600 Pro.
9800SE 3: 325/1200. 256-bit memory. Near the cost of the 9800 Pro.
9800SE 3 modded: 650/1200 (325/600).
9800SE 4: 380/1200. 256-bit memory. Near the cost of the 9800 pro.
9800SE 4 modded: 760/1200. Basically 9800 pro.

So if you succeed, you have a nice card...otherwise, for the price, you have something that is a bit BEHIND the 9600 Pro. A 9600 Pro or XT are much surer buys. And if Mwave still has them, the 9700 Pro.

 

[Ionizer86]

The 9800se is kinda similar to the 9600P at stock speed. If you succeed in unlocking the other pipes (they say there's a 50/50 chance with the Powercolor model), then you have a 9800P for cheap.

 

[dnuggett]

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: dnuggett
I'm not sure why we are recommending a 9600 Pro to this guy, cause the 9800SE is right w/ it, if not better. If you would buy a 9600 Pro, get a 9800SE (given the same or better price point).

9600 Pro: 400MHz/600MHz. All numbers made in comparison (400MHz here is 400x4).
9600 XT: 500/600.
9800 Pro: 760/1360 (380x8/680).
9800SE 1: 325/500.
9800SE 2: 380/600. Still less than the 9600 Pro.
9800SE 3: 325/1200. 256-bit memory. Near the cost of the 9800 Pro.
9800SE 3 modded: 650/1200 (325/600).
9800SE 4: 380/1200. 256-bit memory. Near the cost of the 9800 pro.
9800SE 4 modded: 760/1200. Basically 9800 pro.

So if you succeed, you have a nice card...otherwise, for the price, you have something that is a bit BEHIND the 9600 Pro. A 9600 Pro or XT are much surer buys. And if Mwave still has them, the 9700 Pro.

The 9800SE is just as sure of a buy as a 9600 pro. There is little to no difference in actual gameplay.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: dnuggett

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: dnuggett
I'm not sure why we are recommending a 9600 Pro to this guy, cause the 9800SE is right w/ it, if not better. If you would buy a 9600 Pro, get a 9800SE (given the same or better price point).

9600 Pro: 400MHz/600MHz. All numbers made in comparison (400MHz here is 400x4).
9600 XT: 500/600.
9800 Pro: 760/1360 (380x8/680).
9800SE 1: 325/500.
9800SE 2: 380/600. Still less than the 9600 Pro.
9800SE 3: 325/1200. 256-bit memory. Near the cost of the 9800 Pro.
9800SE 3 modded: 650/1200 (325/600).
9800SE 4: 380/1200. 256-bit memory. Near the cost of the 9800 pro.
9800SE 4 modded: 760/1200. Basically 9800 pro.

So if you succeed, you have a nice card...otherwise, for the price, you have something that is a bit BEHIND the 9600 Pro. A 9600 Pro or XT are much surer buys. And if Mwave still has them, the 9700 Pro.

The 9800SE is just as sure of a buy as a 9600 pro. There is little to no difference in actual gameplay.

9600 Pro: $132
9600 Pro: $158 or $174 (the other versions are much lesser than the 9600 Pro, closer to the 9600)
So...no.

 

[dnuggett]

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: dnuggett

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: dnuggett
I'm not sure why we are recommending a 9600 Pro to this guy, cause the 9800SE is right w/ it, if not better. If you would buy a 9600 Pro, get a 9800SE (given the same or better price point).

9600 Pro: 400MHz/600MHz. All numbers made in comparison (400MHz here is 400x4).
9600 XT: 500/600.
9800 Pro: 760/1360 (380x8/680).
9800SE 1: 325/500.
9800SE 2: 380/600. Still less than the 9600 Pro.
9800SE 3: 325/1200. 256-bit memory. Near the cost of the 9800 Pro.
9800SE 3 modded: 650/1200 (325/600).
9800SE 4: 380/1200. 256-bit memory. Near the cost of the 9800 pro.
9800SE 4 modded: 760/1200. Basically 9800 pro.

So if you succeed, you have a nice card...otherwise, for the price, you have something that is a bit BEHIND the 9600 Pro. A 9600 Pro or XT are much surer buys. And if Mwave still has them, the 9700 Pro.

The 9800SE is just as sure of a buy as a 9600 pro. There is little to no difference in actual gameplay.

9600 Pro: $132
9600 Pro: $158 or $174 (the other versions are much lesser than the 9600 Pro, closer to the 9600)
So...no.

9800SE $103.50 @ newegg 9600 Pro $107.... @ Newgg

So...ya. It all depends on where and what you buy.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: dnuggett

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: dnuggett

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: dnuggett
I'm not sure why we are recommending a 9600 Pro to this guy, cause the 9800SE is right w/ it, if not better. If you would buy a 9600 Pro, get a 9800SE (given the same or better price point).

9600 Pro: 400MHz/600MHz. All numbers made in comparison (400MHz here is 400x4).
9600 XT: 500/600.
9800 Pro: 760/1360 (380x8/680).
9800SE 1: 325/500.
9800SE 2: 380/600. Still less than the 9600 Pro.
9800SE 3: 325/1200. 256-bit memory. Near the cost of the 9800 Pro.
9800SE 3 modded: 650/1200 (325/600).
9800SE 4: 380/1200. 256-bit memory. Near the cost of the 9800 pro.
9800SE 4 modded: 760/1200. Basically 9800 pro.

So if you succeed, you have a nice card...otherwise, for the price, you have something that is a bit BEHIND the 9600 Pro. A 9600 Pro or XT are much surer buys. And if Mwave still has them, the 9700 Pro.

The 9800SE is just as sure of a buy as a 9600 pro. There is little to no difference in actual gameplay.

9600 Pro: $132
9600 Pro: $158 or $174 (the other versions are much lesser than the 9600 Pro, closer to the 9600)
So...no.

9800SE $103.50 @ newegg 9600 Pro $107.... @ Newgg

So...ya. It all depends on where and what you buy.

...love to know what those numbers are. Mine are Newegg, new in stock. if they are refurbs, then so be it, you're already chancing it for minimal gains.

 

[dnuggett]

Both models I am pricing are refurbs. It is a small YMMV, but the risk is only limited to a delay. NewEgg guarantees a repair or replacement within 90 days, and a total return within 30 days minus 15% stocking fee. I bought a 9800SE for a second box for $108.75 a month ago and it needed to go back for repair. Just now getting to sending it off....

 

[Cerb]

I'd consider it worth $25 to not have the hassle.

 

[Rafael]

I think this 9800SE would worth $170.
But I don't know if it's still available and if it's out of Asia.

Raf

P.s.: Russian site translated.

 

[mslezak]

I had the ti4200 and bought a 9800se powercolor 256bit r98se-c3 from newegg for $154 new in retail box.

Get the 256 bit version. Make sure the clock speeds are the same as the 9800pro version. Trust me, even without the softmod, this card it WAY faster than the ti4200.

I don't know about the 128bit or 9800 speed version of the 9800se, but this one is definetely the best bang for your buck. With the softmod, it is ridiculously fast. On my Opteron 144 OC'd to 2ghz and the card OC'd as much as possible, we are just a hint under 20,000 3dmarks2001se. Without the softmod, around 16,000. The softmod adds some artifacts, but most can be removed using 4xAA. And with that, you are running about the same speed as the non-modded 9800se, but everything looks nicer. You may get lucky. If you are smart, I would buy locally and keep returning until you find one that softmods without artifacts. Just my 2 cents -Matt

 

[Rafael]

HHHmmmm nice!!!
Do you get artifacts in urs?

Do you know if it can be flashed to a 9800Pro?

Raf