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Ok then graphics guys heres my n00b question :)
Which of these cards is better- they are the same price with a few quid so which should i buy in terms of performance?
Sapphire radeon 9600xt
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=55188
or
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=51440
both about £120inc
Just wanted to check in before blowing my wad :cool:
cheers
Ste
;) Rem blowing your wad can make you go blind.
:D Right it seems the Sapphire 9600XT is the better card. It should be faster at stock, o/c a little higher, run quieter with an intelligent fan. Sapphire are also reknowned as the best manu of ATI hw, another bonus!
The XT runs faster, and my Sapphire Radeon 9000 has never caused me problems.
Thanks for the replys guys- appreciated :)
While i was there i picked up a 201 coolermaster black widow :D for £90inc with my new graphics card.
Now i just need to pick up some drive bezels, a new hsf and a psu and that will be my rig FINALLY finished :) and the christmas shopping out the way... apart from other peeps pressies... inc my moms cliff richard album
One more question ;) do i get a copy of hl2 with my card as a fair few reviews have mentioned it?
ROFLLOL :DQuote:
Originally posted by Austin
;) Rem blowing your wad can make you go blind.
/that true then? :o
You'll get a coupon or something so you can get Half-Life 2 when it's released, from what i've heard you'll have to download it though. You should get Half-Life & mods free, and a subscription to STEAM when/if it becomes a subscription service. This is just what i've heard though, not bought a 9600/9800XT to find out :p.Quote:
Originally posted by steve threlfall
One more question ;) do i get a copy of hl2 with my card as a fair few reviews have mentioned it?
This benchtest rules for gfx cards in this price range.
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/sho...01#post1593801
9600Pro, XT, or 9800 SE?
Will post some ridiculous savings I just made at a sale, in a little while. No sainvgs on the gfx cards though. So now I'm left with a little extra, but not too much. So, 9600Pro, XT, or 9800SE. I'd heard the SE line weren't that great.
9800SE's are about the same speed as a 9600XT even after both have been overclocked. If the SE makes the mod then its alot faster. If you deffinately dont want the Tivo features of the SE then the XT is a little cheaper and will likely come with a 2nd monitor output instead.
I wouldnt buy a 9600Pro. They are cheaper still, but as all 3 of these cards are going to get pushed next year by Doom3, HL2, Deusx2 etc I'ed want the extra speed.
My choice was 9800SE. It failed the mod. I'll see how it copes with the tough games next year.
You can spend extra on the Herc 9800SE which seems on other forums to have had a slighlty higher mod rate chance... but you are getting into Nvidia 5900lx teratory price range there and imho thats possibly the better buy.
;) Actually there are two types of Rad9800SE, one with 128bitDDR and pretty slow clocks which is slower than the Rad9600PRO and another which has high clocks (380/340 like 9800PRO) and 256bitDDR which gives 9600XT perf. The 9800SE (256bitDDR high clocked version) stands a small chance of modding into a full 9800PRO but due to its 0.15mu archy you won't o/c much at all. The 9600XT is little more than a 9600PRO with higher default clocks, both o/c VERY well indeed thanks to 0.13mu (PRO 400/300->540/350 & XT 500/300->580/350). So basically if you want to gamble the 9800SE is the way to go, if you are happy to never achieve 9800PRO perf but do want to get much closer by o/c'ing then 9600PRO/XT is the way to go. Of course getting hold of a 9500PRO or any 9700 is really the best way to go but they're hard to find (maybe check the For Sale/Trade section?).
i have the 128 version, it runs at 9800pro speeds with all 8 pipes..Quote:
Originally posted by Austin
;) Actually there are two types of Rad9800SE, one with 128bitDDR and pretty slow clocks which is slower than the Rad9600PRO and another which has high clocks (380/340 like 9800PRO) and 256bitDDR which gives 9600XT perf. The 9800SE (256bitDDR high clocked version) stands a small chance of modding into a full 9800PRO but due to its 0.15mu archy you won't o/c much at all. The 9600XT is little more than a 9600PRO with higher default clocks, both o/c VERY well indeed thanks to 0.13mu (PRO 400/300->540/350 & XT 500/300->580/350). So basically if you want to gamble the 9800SE is the way to go, if you are happy to never achieve 9800PRO perf but do want to get much closer by o/c'ing then 9600PRO/XT is the way to go. Of course getting hold of a 9500PRO or any 9700 is really the best way to go but they're hard to find (maybe check the For Sale/Trade section?).
;) If you have a 128bitDDR 9800SE which has been successfully modded to use all 8 pipes you may get 9800PRO clocks but unfort won't get 9800PRO perf ... but you will get the perf of a 9500PRO which isn't far off the 9800 when clocked well.
And if I don't want to O/C?
:) If you don't want to o/c then the 9600XT and faster version of the 9800PRO represent a nice step up from the 9600PRO but then you may find the 9600PRO (which is still very capable) saves you a little cash over the other two. If you buy 9600PRO or XT you shouldn't have to worry about what's under the hood (so to speak), they're pretty std across the board, unlike the 9800SE which may use slower clocks or even 128bitDDR making them slower than the 9600XT if not the 9600PRO too.
;) It does make sense to o/c, so long as you take precautions and avoid leaving things too near the limits the risks are virtually nill (as close as you get in the real world). The 9600PRO in particular is MUCH more capable than it is set to at stock, still if you want the easy life or a solid warranty then stock perf of all these cards will stand you in good stead for some time to come.
How come no-one is going for the 9800se nowadays then?
Its a better card at stock than a 9600xt, has AIW which keeps the cards value, a remote that lets you browse the web etc (£30 in it own right!) & 'might' mod to another price bracket.
Sounds good to me and it not that much more expensive......
:confused: But it is a gamble, the 9600XT is just as fast and unlike the 9800SE is virtually guaranteed to o/c incredibly well ... the 9600PRO though slower can also o/c to easily exceed 9800SE perf. Another complication is that 9800SE come in a variety of flavours so you really need to ensure you get 256bitDDR and fast clocks (380/340). However as you say the 9800SE (256bitDDR fast clocked) stands some chance of modding to a 9800PRO and the AIW version isn't too pricey at all, great IF you need/want that functionality. Stock perf of that 9800SE is good too ... but you may find 9700PRO for around that price and their perf is hugely faster than the 9800SE, when o/c'ed 9700PRO's very close to where a successfully modded 9800SE will get too.