Retail 9800 Pro $299 @ BB

[Cnemie]

Is there a sure fire way to determine whether or not the board is a true ATI Radeon 9800 Pro in the store? Some of the posted information listed in this thread is contradictory and I for one am a bit confused......

 

[Bad Dude]

Originally posted by: Cnemie
Is there a sure fire way to determine whether or not the board is a true ATI Radeon 9800 Pro in the store? Some of the posted information listed in this thread is contradictory and I for one am a bit confused......

Why don't you give us some info on what you are confused about and some quotes to go with them? I should be able to answer your question as I have done great research on the card looks since I got ripped at Circuit City last week.

 

[NYHoustonman]

Just get that image of a 9800 Pro in your head before you go, and check the label as well. Chances are if it looks and reads the same it is the same. Just my .02.

 

[Cnemie]

Originally posted by: Bad_Dude

Why don't you give us some info on what you are confused about and some quotes to go with them? I should be able to answer your question as I have done great research on the card looks since I got ripped at Circuit City last week.

My major concern is telling the difference between the ATI Built Radeon 9800 and the 9800 Pro. These two cards are the most similar. I have seen or read about versions of each card with all of the characteristics described in the posts above. Most notably: aluminum heat sink, gold pins, and even Samsung memory. So how do I best judge which card I have in my hand when I open the package at the store?

I understand the likelihood of getting the wrong card with all of the aforementioned features is statistically (almost) impossible, but I just want to be as prepared as possible.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Bad Dude]

Originally posted by: Cnemie

Originally posted by: Bad_Dude

Why don't you give us some info on what you are confused about and some quotes to go with them? I should be able to answer your question as I have done great research on the card looks since I got ripped at Circuit City last week.

My major concern is telling the difference between the ATI Built Radeon 9800 and the 9800 Pro. These two cards are the most similar. I have seen or read about versions of each card with all of the characteristics described in the posts above. Most notably: aluminum heat sink, gold pins, and even Samsung memory. So how do I best judge which card I have in my hand when I open the package at the store?

I understand the likelihood of getting the wrong card with all of the aforementioned features is statistically (almost) impossible, but I just want to be as prepared as possible.

Thanks for the help.

1) when you open the box, the card is in the antistatic silver bag with a big yellow sticker to seal it with a warning. This sticker was not on the CC one I got.
2) The card should be red, the heatsink should be silver with gold 2 pins to hold the hs in place.
3) There should be no dust on the card.
4) The sticker for the serial# should stick snuggly on the back of the card. And it should say 9800PRO on it as well. There's a square ATI red sticker on it.
5) Most importantly the memory chips should read with GC2A by Samsung. They may have changed the memory brand but ATI uses Samsung mostly.
6) when you get home, after the installation, it should say Radeon 9800PRO of course, and the clock should be 380/340, give and take a few Mhz.
I hope that helps.
Another important thing is that when you open the box, the card should be sealed on the right side of the box, and the red manual should be on the left of the box. All of the accessories should be below the card board.
Wish you luck.

 

[zodder]

I know a lot of people are freaking out thinking they won't get the right card, but honestly, the chances are so slim I don't know why people are hesitating.

 

[QuicknDirty]

A quick question for the people successful in picking these up at Circuit City and PMing BB's AR price-

If the box at CC doesn't have the half-life 2 sticker on it, how are you planning on getting HL2? Just curious as I almost did picked one up at CC yesterday, but not sure if it would come with HL2 or not, since it's not on the box. The flip side of course is that this is an ATI promotion, so technically it should be across the board...

QnD

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: QuicknDirty
A quick question for the people successful in picking these up at Circuit City and PMing BB's AR price-

If the box at CC doesn't have the half-life 2 sticker on it, how are you planning on getting HL2? Just curious as I almost did picked one up at CC yesterday, but not sure if it would come with HL2 or not, since it's not on the box. The flip side of course is that this is an ATI promotion, so technically it should be across the board...

QnD

I have the same question.

 

[wetcat007]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
HL2 is delayed til next year, think april, b/c some hackers got their source codes

That's a bullsh!t excuse if you ask me lol.

 

[wetcat007]

Wow i sure hope the black friday ads get up on here rather early again.

 

[TheFirm]

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: QuicknDirty
A quick question for the people successful in picking these up at Circuit City and PMing BB's AR price-

If the box at CC doesn't have the half-life 2 sticker on it, how are you planning on getting HL2? Just curious as I almost did picked one up at CC yesterday, but not sure if it would come with HL2 or not, since it's not on the box. The flip side of course is that this is an ATI promotion, so technically it should be across the board...

QnD

I have the same question.

 

[OddTSi]

Just picked up the last one on the shelf at the San Diego (Mission Valley) store. Opened it when I got home and boy does it look pretty. Now I just need to get my RAM and my new system will be getting put together.

BTW, thanks for the heads up on this deal.

 

[TheFirm]

i also picked one up .. they printed out the rebates and half life 2 rebates for me thanks

 

[Cnemie]

I picked one up last night and everything looks good except the gold pins holding the heat sink in place. Did anyone else get a card with the black pins? The memory checks out, the heat sink checks out, and the card has definitely never been out of its static bag.

 

[Unforgiven]

sorry i just threw my card in, checked the memory and am just loving the hell outta this deal. i really didnt notice the pins in great detail.

 

[cookj]

Originally posted by: Cnemie
I picked one up last night and everything looks good except the gold pins holding the heat sink in place. Did anyone else get a card with the black pins? The memory checks out, the heat sink checks out, and the card has definitely never been out of its static bag.

Mine has black pins,but everything else checks out.I ordered it online.

 

[zodder]

Originally posted by: plankton
sorry i just threw my card in, checked the memory and am just loving the hell outta this deal. i really didnt notice the pins in great detail.

That makes 2 of us

 

[Sircoop]

OK I installed the Raedon 9800 128MB PRO Card to my PC (the one I bought from BB)

2000 AMD XP CPU
512MB Ram Kingston PC2700 DDR
Soyo Dragon Plus Motherboard.
(2) 120GB WD 8MB Cace IDE Drive
SB Audology Gamer Sound Card
Altec Lansig ACS56 Speakers
Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 900u Monitor

My card Stats say the following..Can anyone else confirm these numbers to match the PRO card? Also What do you think of my 3Dmark03 Number, I ran tests at 1024x768 and used the balanced setting for both Open GL and Direct 3d, Anti-Aliasing NONE, Texture Filtering Optimal, Max Anisotropy =4

GPU Clock 378MHZ
Ramdac 400MHZ
Pxel pipline 8
Transistors 117 Million
Memory - Real Clock 338
VGA Memory Clock 337.5Mhz
VGA Core Clock 378.0 MHZ


3Dmark03 Number below

5281

I am using the new Catalyst 3.9 Drivers for the card

Any Input would be great!

Sircoop

 

[Bad Dude]

Originally posted by: Sircoop
OK I installed the Raedon 9800 128MB PRO Card to my PC (the one I bought from BB)

2000 AMD XP CPU
512MB Ram Kingston PC2700 DDR
Soyo Dragon Plus Motherboard.
(2) 120GB WD 8MB Cace IDE Drive
SB Audology Gamer Sound Card
Altec Lansig ACS56 Speakers
Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 900u Monitor

My card Stats say the following..Can anyone else confirm these numbers to match the PRO card? Also What do you think of my 3Dmark03 Number, I ran tests at 1024x768 and used the balanced setting for both Open GL and Direct 3d, Anti-Aliasing NONE, Texture Filtering Optimal, Max Anisotropy =4

GPU Clock 378MHZ
Ramdac 400MHZ
Pxel pipline 8
Transistors 117 Million
Memory - Real Clock 338
VGA Memory Clock 337.5Mhz
VGA Core Clock 378.0 MHZ


3Dmark03 Number below

5281

I am using the new Catalyst 3.9 Drivers for the card

Any Input would be great!

Sircoop

Yes. That's the pro specs.

 

[Sircoop]

Does Best Buy have a rebate tracking site?

Sircoop

 

[Trikat]

I need a new CPU, memory, and mobo. :/
It wouldn't be efficient to stick it in my XP1800, 1gig pc2700, MSI KT133 Ultra computer.

 

[QuicknDirty]

How can you be running a gig of 2700 ddr in a kt133 board? Those will only handle pc133 sdram?

I'm very disappointed in the fact that there have been NO hot vid card deals so far for BF . I'm hoping that Frys will pull something (although I loathe going to that store on BF... ugh.

 

[RaymondY]

Just left the local Best Buy with my new BB Ati Radeon 9800 Pro (128mb) for $399-$100 (instant rebate) = $299.00 plus tax

I just downloaded the rebate form and everything looks great. Will be sending it in for another $50.00 off. Total purchase will be $249.99 plus tax.

Examined the packaging and everything looks factory.

HOT DEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[QuicknDirty]

Originally posted by: RaymondY
Just left the local Best Buy with my new BB Ati Radeon 9800 Pro (128mb) for $399-$100 (instant rebate) = $299.00 plus tax

I just downloaded the rebate form and everything looks great. Will be sending it in for another $50.00 off. Total purchase will be $249.99 plus tax.

Examined the packaging and everything looks factory.

HOT DEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ummm, that $50 MIR expired on 11/01/03....

 

[RaymondY]

You are correct. OOPS!! Forgot to look at the terms of the rebate.

Thanks