Help !

I'm getting terribly pissed off at graphics card manufacturers.

Geforce 2:
You had the MX which was terrible, GTS which was average, PRO which was above average, and Ultra which was MEGA!.

That was basically it.

Now, for example, let's look at PowerColor.

PowerColor Radeon 9200 128MB DDR

PowerColor Radeon 9200 256MB DDR

PowerColor Radeon 9200SE 128MB DDR

PowerColor Radeon 9200SE 64MB DDR

PowerColor Radeon 9600 128MB DDR, 64bit

PowerColor Radeon 9600 256MB DDR, 128bit

PowerColor Radeon 9600 PRO EZ 128MB

PowerColor Radeon 9600 PRO EZ 256MB

PowerColor Radeon 9600PRO AIW 128MB DDR

PowerColor Radeon 9600XT 128MB DDR

PowerColor Radeon 9600XT Bravo 128MB

PowerColor Radeon 9600XT Bravo 256MB

PowerColor Radeon 9800 128MB DDR

PowerColor Radeon 9800 PRO 128MB DDR

PowerColor Radeon 9800 PRO 256MB DDR

PowerColor Radeon 9800PRO AIW 128MB DDR

PowerColor Radeon 9800XT 256MB DDR

And I think they also have 2 9800SE solutions as well.

That's 19 AGP graphics card, when all there should be is 3, or at most 5.

9200: 128mb

9600: 128mb

9800: 256mb

9800 AIW: 256mb.

Why have I gotten so annoyed?

I'm looking to buy a 9600 pro/xt, and instead of it being simple, I have choices.


Stock 9600pro 128mb
Stock 9600pro 256mb
9600pro EZ 128mb
9600pro EZ 256mb
9600XT 128mb
9600 XT Bravo 128mb
9600XT Bravo 256mb

For powercolor, then I have

9600pro 128mb
9600pro 128mb fireblade edition
9600pro 128mb ultimate edition
9600 XT 256mb

I know the powercolor EZ cards have low clocked memory, so avoid them, but I cant find what clock/memory frequency the xt bravo's, the pro ultimate/fireblade editions have, and not even sapphire's official page offers details.


Could someone help me please? :(

My advice is to skip the 9600 and go for a 9800se /AIW.

There packed with features and can be modded to 9800pros, or at wort, they can be overclocked to 9600XT perf.

The 9800se is cheaper than the 9600pro, and the AIW is about the same, so the AIW poses great vfm, but im not sure how well it mods. I know someone who got 5 SE (non AIW) card of which 4 modded to 9800pros!

dont other with the 9800se.

theres 2 versions, one is between 9600 and 9600pro, and the other is about the same as 9600xt

9800se's are made on 15u process, 9600s are amde on 13u process, 13u runs much colder and alows for higher clocking.
9800se's are also just basicly 9800pros, exept they have broken pipes, theres less than 10% change of modding sucsessfully with it runnig at stock speed with all 8 pipes in all games with no artifacts or checkerboard effects.

i would buy a 9700pro, look in bargain hunt forum for link, iirc its about £150. this is a LOT less risky than 9800se, u know what speed u will get. if u overclock one of these 9700pros i expect ullg et around 380/330 speeds (though the mem is capable of 350, i havent heard of any of those ones acctaully reaching that)

also, WHY do you want powercolour? they have a reputation of being the worst ati manufacturer. there cards naming scheme is evil, and some of them might be underclocked verisons, which you wouldnt want. its worht extra £20 for a decent make, like sapphire.

also, dont bother with a 256mb card, they are just marketing methods, 256mb does not help performance at al on low end cards (high end being 9800pro +, and then it doesnt make much difference)

Yeah that 9700pro is my suggestion of the month too, will beat a 9600xt and 9800se and probably about the same price.