YMMV - ATI Atlantis Radeon 9500 128MB Video Card w/TV-Out & DVI by SapphireTech -- 162.99 @ GoogleGear

[toade]

Originally posted by: kh3443
hackable = overclocking???

No, hackable means opening the closed extra four pipelines.

If you hack the 9500nonpro with inline memory (128 bit), you get a 9500pro. If you hack the 9500np with the "L" shaped memory, you get a 9700nonpro.

On top of that, you can O/C these cards to higher speeds, and push your scores even higher. This may or may not requre a bios flash, depending on your card, and your hack.

 

[kevman]

New egg is offering the Red PCB Sapphire card for 162 here

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=14-102-271


What's their return policy??? Are they better then googlegear or allstarshop?

 

[Creig]

Just remember people, the COLOR of the PCB is NOT the thing to be looking for. The way to distinguish the hackable boards from the non-hackable is the LAYOUT OF THE MEMORY CHIPS. If the chips are in an "L" configuration (i.e. - two chips above the GPU and two on the right hand side) then it's the hackable version. If all four chips are in a single row above the GPU then it's the non-hackable one. I've seen hackable versions of the 9500 printed on a black PCB.

 

[kevman]

Originally posted by: Creig
Just remember people, the COLOR of the PCB is NOT the thing to be looking for. The way to distinguish the hackable boards from the non-hackable is the LAYOUT OF THE MEMORY CHIPS. If the chips are in an "L" configuration (i.e. - two chips above the GPU and two on the right hand side) then it's the hackable version. If all four chips are in a single row above the GPU then it's the non-hackable one. I've seen hackable versions of the 9500 printed on a black PCB.

Newegg has three of them listed

Black PCB = non hacking
Red PCB = potential hacking depending on memory layout ( picture shows L shaped memory, although no guarentee you;ll get it)
OEM one = picture shows red PCB with non-L shaped memory configuration, description doesn't mention the PCB color as opposed to the first two.


My guess is your chances of getting the L-shaped memory one are higher if you get the Red PCB one, but again YMMV as usual.

With that said I odered the Red PCB one fron Newegg, let's see what happens.

 

[toade]

Originally posted by: Creig
Just remember people, the COLOR of the PCB is NOT the thing to be looking for. The way to distinguish the hackable boards from the non-hackable is the LAYOUT OF THE MEMORY CHIPS. If the chips are in an "L" configuration (i.e. - two chips above the GPU and two on the right hand side) then it's the hackable version. If all four chips are in a single row above the GPU then it's the non-hackable one. I've seen hackable versions of the 9500 printed on a black PCB.

Have you ever seen one in person? Or just a picture?

 

[saltedeggman]

i am RMA through google, they waived the restocking fee for me

 

[elanarchist]

Originally posted by: saltedeggman
i am RMA through google, they waived the restocking fee for me

Did they offer to replace yours with a red one?

 

[saltedeggman]

i am just going to return it....because I might end up with another black pcb since they cannot guarantee it

 

[Tipnmo101]

i recieved a black one and called google, they said they would wave the restocking fee, and if i wanted to reorder a red one i could (the web page now specifically says red version)

 

[MAG1969]

There has been talk of a black 9500np with the 'L' configuration memory. I was surfing pricewatch and found this.

Keep in mind that the website also shows a 9500pro w/ 64mb with the same picture. Also shows a 9700np woth the same picture.

So my question is, Has anyone ordered or called this place to find out exactly what he has???

I have tried all day today to find out, but the answering machine is full and email is slow.


MAG

 

[toade]

I've been following this mod for months, and have never heard of anyone getting a black "L" 9500np. I don't think it exists other than some random pictures floating around. I ordered from two different sites, both which had the black "L" pictured, and in both cases I was sent an inline black.

Son't count on getting a black "L".

 

[JohnnyTT]

How about these guys.........

OCSystem Card

That card look like the L-shape memory card. Look at the heatsink, and the capacitors.

Anybody try these?

 

[Parasitic]

Originally posted by: JohnnyTT
How about these guys.........

OCSystem Card

That card look like the L-shape memory card. Look at the heatsink, and the capacitors.

Anybody try these?

OC System has a horrible reseller rating, and you do understand that cooler has voided manufacturer warranty...

 

[toade]

Originally posted by: JohnnyTT
How about these guys.........

OCSystem Card

That card look like the L-shape memory card. Look at the heatsink, and the capacitors.

Anybody try these?

That cooler is designed for "L" shape, so it probably is, however you don't know if it will hack.

I bought that cooler, for my 9500-->9700 and ended up returning it because it was just too loud. It did help me O/c the core and extra 15Mhz though.

 

[dp004i]

Originally posted by: JohnnyTT
How about these guys.........

OCSystem Card

That card look like the L-shape memory card. Look at the heatsink, and the capacitors.

Anybody try these?

Optimized gamming performace, wonder what they mean by that. Hopefully, it has nothing to do with gamma radiation

 

[przero]

Creig - That is not correct. I got the black one. I applied the "hack" and boosted the performance 18-20% w/o O/C'ing. the chips are inline.

 

[przero]

My problem is , do I return it for a red one, that may not take any of the "hack" w/o artifacts. Plus, my board came with software and cables that the red one does not have.

 

[salsa086]

the red pcb does have the software and cables... I ordered and received the red pcb with the L-configuration memory... I'll update when I have benchmarked the card

 

[salsa086]

just an FYI...

I've configured both the red pcb with the L-memory configuration and the black pcb with inline memory.... the performance difference was negligible... oddly the black was more stable...

I used wizzard's 3.1 drivers for both... hopefully this red card will prove to be a better overclocker than my first one

 

[Tipnmo101]

yea i am debating the same thing... is it worth the effort to try and get a red one that might not even take the hack... or just keep the black one i recieved....

 

[Chu]

Originally posted by: przero
My problem is , do I return it for a red one, that may not take any of the "hack" w/o artifacts. Plus, my board came with software and cables that the red one does not have.

Isn't this the exact same sistuation you were in when you decided to make the jump in the first place?

 

[DogbertFuz]

I've been quiet for a while reading this thread, here's my story:

Ordered with first bunch of guys and specifically requested Red L-shaped Mem, etc.

Got black and ran hack anyway. Fill-rates went up ~80% but had massive artifacts.
Black PCB showed 128-bit memory interface (NOTE: NOT 256-bit)

One assumption you can make with inline black, is that it is INCAPABLE of running 256-bit memory interface whereas the RED L shaped Mem is said to be done quite easily.

Where'd the speed increase come from? Enabling the extra 4 pipelines, and thus the artifacts. Riva-tuner allows you to change the 128-256-bit memory interface on the Red PCB. (This should work 100% w/o artifacts.) Of course it will only mod ur 9500np to 9500pro. To get 9700 out of it, you'd need the 4 extra pipelines which are the risky part of this modding business.

I maxed my score out at 2.5k in 3dmark2k3 which I know is well below expected 9700 speeds and I know the pipelines are enabled because of the artifacts. I RMAed and told them the issue and they are sending me a RED PCB (L-shaped I certainly hope else it'll be RMAed all over again).

I hope this helps to clarify anyone's misgivings on what they got and what they think they have. A lot of people I've noticed on the board have the mutant 8 pipelines 128-bit memory interface as I did. Many have them without artifacts. This is neither a 9500 pro nor a 9700. Its just as I said, a mutant, but not-unlike an xman with special powers above normal 9500s.

nick

 

[elanarchist]

Originally posted by: DogbertFuz
I've been quiet for a while reading this thread, here's my story:

Ordered with first bunch of guys and specifically requested Red L-shaped Mem, etc.

Got black and ran hack anyway. Fill-rates went up ~80% but had massive artifacts.
Black PCB showed 128-bit memory interface (NOTE: NOT 256-bit)

One assumption you can make with inline black, is that it is INCAPABLE of running 256-bit memory interface whereas the RED L shaped Mem is said to be done quite easily.

Where'd the speed increase come from? Enabling the extra 4 pipelines, and thus the artifacts. Riva-tuner allows you to change the 128-256-bit memory interface on the Red PCB. (This should work 100% w/o artifacts.) Of course it will only mod ur 9500np to 9500pro. To get 9700 out of it, you'd need the 4 extra pipelines which are the risky part of this modding business.

I maxed my score out at 2.5k in 3dmark2k3 which I know is well below expected 9700 speeds and I know the pipelines are enabled because of the artifacts. I RMAed and told them the issue and they are sending me a RED PCB (L-shaped I certainly hope else it'll be RMAed all over again).

I hope this helps to clarify anyone's misgivings on what they got and what they think they have. A lot of people I've noticed on the board have the mutant 8 pipelines 128-bit memory interface as I did. Many have them without artifacts. This is neither a 9500 pro nor a 9700. Its just as I said, a mutant, but not-unlike an xman with special powers above normal 9500s.

nick

Actually, the way I understand it is that the Pro has 8 pipelines like the 9700. The only difference between the Pro and the 9700 is that the 9700 has a 256 bit memory interface. All red PCB 9500np (inline memory) can be hacked to a 256 bit memory bus, however, its not guranteed that will be able to open up the four extra rendering pipelines. Thus, it becomes some sort of mutant 9700, 256 bit memory interface but only four pipelines.

 

[DogbertFuz]

yup, you are right.

here's a link
here

For those who think the hack worked on inline Black PCBs... read the link and compare your system specs listed through Rivatuner to get the full breakdown. =)

nick

 

[Gedi]

Here's something to think about

I got the red L line memory card from googlegear. I started with the 3.1 catalyst drivers and used the hacked file from wizzard's site. I immediately noticed artifacts and texture loss and shearing, but nothing really substantial and nothing consistent.

I then went to the 3.0 hacked drivers and same problem occured, but to a lesser extent.

Finally I went to the regular non hacked 3.2 drivers from ati and the defects are actually worse.

So I appear to have better quality graphics with the hack, than without.

Time to get a 9800 and put the 9500 in the spare part bin.