ATI Which 1?

[kingabs]

which of the two cards will perform better in terms of speed and quality?

saphire 256mb 9600xt
saphire 128mb 9800se

or if i was to go for a 9800 se then which of the 9800 series is better value for money 9800se or 9800 pro for like an extra 35 squid????

[Stoo]

About the same, but that 9800se won't softmod (it's not got the 256bit interface), if you want gauranteed performance get the 9800 pro for around the £200 mark (if it's not dropped further already)

[Defiant]

Rad 9800 Pro £181 inc delivery from Komplett

[Stoo]

Damn, that just keeps dropping lol

But then it is the powercolour one...

[SilentDeath]

either get a 9800pro, or a 9800SE_AIW - the aiw versions have tv card features aswell as guarnateed 256bit mem, though theres still 50% chance of a softmod...

[funnelhead]

to be technical about the whole thing -

9800 xt, 9800 pro, 9800np, 9700 pro, 9700 np - 8 pipelines , 256-bit mem
9500 pro - 8 pipes , 128 bit mem
some 9800 se, some 9500 np, some 9800se AIW, - 4 pipes , 256 bit mem [ L - mem]
Most 9800se, 9500 np, 9800se AIW - 4 pipes, 128- bit mem
ALL 9600xt, 9600 pro, 9600 - 4 pipes, 128 bit mem
9600 se - 4 pipes 64 bit mem

if ur card has the mem in an 'L' shape then it has 256 - bit Memory - which is good
if in a straight line, then 128 - bit
ALL 9800se / SE AIW and 9500 np can have 8 pipes enabled.... though this causes visual artifacts for roughly 50% and is fairly pointless unless you have 256-bit mem

but at the end of the day you should avoid 9800se and get a 9800 pro - these are the best deal on the market at the mo' - as you can see they have 8 pipes and 256 mem guaranteed without worrying about artifacts and they are only £175 from komplett.

bit drunk but tried my best to answer, if i made some mistakes please correct me kindly

F

[funnelhead]

only the hercules aiw 9800 se's have guaranteed 256 bit mem - tje other brands are pot luck. although all can be made 8 pipe. It's just not worth it without 256-bit mem


confusing isnt it. actually - i'm not sure im rigt but i'm doing my best

F

[BUFF]

only the hercules aiw 9800 se's have guaranteed 256 bit mem - tje other brands are pot luckF

wrong, it appears that all 9800se AIW are 256 bit ( & herc don't make their own cards anyway so why should theirs be & no one else's)

[funnelhead]

Well some AIW 9800 se 's are based on 256-bit boards, some on 128-bit boards, but hercules has paid extra money to ATI, to make sure ALL of theirs are based on 256-bit boards, so as to get a reputation for overclockers. SURE some of the other brands do have 256-bit, but herc is the only brand that is guaranteed 256-bit. bear in mind that ur chances of softmodding to 8-pipes are still the same @ 50% with ANY brand. This is what I have heard so far anyway..... the whole affair is fairly complicated, but this is my under standing from examining the forums @ RAGE3D.

[BUFF]

My understanding is that some regular 9800SE boards are 256bit & some are 128 bit but that all 9800SE AIW are 256 bit. It is certainly complicated/confusing with all the variants though.

Herc wouldn't pay ATI anything extra for a 256 bit board as they don't buy their boards from ATI

[Allen]

ALL 9600xt, 9600 pro, 9600 - 4 pipes, 128 bit mem

if ur card has the mem in an 'L' shape then it has 256 - bit Memory - which is good

My Asus 9600XT has it's memory in an 'L' shape... Does that mean it definately has 256 bit memory?

[kingabs]

umm i think i might have to go for the 9800 pro as the xt is a lille bit out of my price!

[funnelhead]

mm you've got me stumped there big al....you have ruined me!

[Stoo]

That sapphire se only has 128bit mem, I mentioned it in one of the bargain hunt threads..

AIW se's have 256bit mem for the extra AIW features, herc ones have the 50% softmod chance, other AIW se's are basically pot luck.. I think..

Recap..

Can you afford £180 for the 9800 pro?
Yes = buy it
No = Either save up until you can/and/or/the prices drop again, or get the 9600xt (should have more headroom for o/c.. I think)

[kingabs]

now thy question is which 9800 pro shall thee get 128mb or 256mb

[Stoo]

128 is enough for pretty much everything, 256 might be needed in a year or so, but that's in a year or so..