Help an Nvidiot make the leap to ATi

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10-30-2003, 09:45 PM
vairox

Help an Nvidiot make the leap to ATi

looking for the best ati card around $200... decided 512mb ram is fine for now and am gonna use the money towards a real VC.

i saw this at newegg but am not sure if it is a 9800np

Quote:

SAPPHIRE OEM ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB Non Pro DVI/TV 8X AGP BULK
Specifications:
Chipset:ATI RADEON 9800 SE
Memory:128 MB DDR RAM
Bus: AGP 8X
New SMARTSHADER™ 2.1 technology allows users to experience complex, movie-quality effects in next-generation 3D games and applications
SMOOTHVISION™ 2.1 technology enhances image quality by removing jagged edges and bringing out fine texture detail, without compromising performance
Ports:VGA + DVI + S-Video Out

it lists for $167, if it isnt then whats the one u can flash to a pro and where r they at? if they arent around $200 then whats the next best card by ati? thanks
10-30-2003, 09:54 PM
Alientank

Re: Help an Nvidiot make the leap to ATi

SE!!!! THE MARK OF THE BEAST! STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM THAT CARD!
10-30-2003, 10:01 PM
lonewolfroger

What I would do is save up a little bit more money and wait until Black Friday and get a 9800pro or a 9800np at that time or get a 9800pro when its price drops. BTW that is not a 9800np, it is a 9800SE and IMO, I would stay away from both of the 9800SE`s.
10-30-2003, 10:04 PM
Un4given

I'll back that as well. Stay away from the SE. Get the 9800np for a few bucks more, or look to the 9600 Pro or XT.
10-30-2003, 10:32 PM
|_053|2

9600xt would be nice

or save up a little extra cash and get a 9800np if you can find one

you local best buy might have it :D that's where i got mine
10-30-2003, 11:07 PM
vairox

thanks guys...i thought the se was the non pro...dumb NOOb!

i found this at circuit city, must be it?

but i heard u cant flash the made by ati ones to a pro, im supposed to be looking for a saphire red pcb only if i remember, right? anyone know anywhere that has them online? i gather all the non pro ones run around $250....i can try and wait till the day after thanksgiving but, then id be pushing a geforce2 mx 400 64meg till then....grrr..
10-30-2003, 11:12 PM
lonewolfroger

Quote:

Originally posted by vairox
thanks guys...i thought the se was the non pro...dumb NOOb!

i found this at circuit city, must be it?

but i heard u cant flash the made by ati ones to a pro, im supposed to be looking for a saphire red pcb only if i remember, right? anyone know anywhere that has them online? i gather all the non pro ones run around $250....i can try and wait till the day after thanksgiving but, then id be pushing a geforce2 mx 400 64meg till then....grrr..

I think it depends on which ram you get, I got mine at my local Best Buy and it has the red pcb and the Samsung 3.3ns memory, I have not flashed it to a pro yet, but I don`t think i will have any problems when I do.
10-30-2003, 11:22 PM
vairox

whats the core/memory speed of a np compared to a pro? i know i could try and look it via reviews etc but im kinda lazy tonite... so im really looking for 3.3ns ram or better on the memory, i heard some have 2.8...wouldnt that be better
10-30-2003, 11:26 PM
|_053|2

my made by ati 9800np that i got at best buy had 2.8ns ram so i flashed that sucker to a pro within 2 days of having it and it's run awesome!!
10-30-2003, 11:27 PM
lonewolfroger

Quote:

Originally posted by vairox
whats the core/memory speed of a np compared to a pro? i know i could try and look it via reviews etc but im kinda lazy tonite... so im really looking for 3.3ns ram or better on the memory, i heard some have 2.8...wouldnt that be better

Right now I think its all in the luck of the draw, what kind of memory you get. The stock clock speed of a 9800np is 325/290 and I have gotten, mine sofar upto 430/370 without any artifacts. I believe I can do better when I flash it to a pro.
10-31-2003, 12:44 AM
nForcer

Quote:

Help an Nvidiot make the leap to ATi

Hold the nVidia card...close your eyes...Think green...Think future games running slow...slam the card to the floor...crush it with your foot...open your eyes...breath deeply...look at the card...Does it look like crap? It is now!...Go to a store get a ATi card...Think Red...Think Hot Games...feeling better? you should cause its one Red Hot card!!!

Sorry...couldnt help my self...

BTW if nVidia makes a come back do the same above only the oposite:D
10-31-2003, 01:13 AM
vairox

lol....

lonewolffrogger - that sounds like a pretty heavy overclock!

i found out here (excellent guide, read it!) that the np is clocked at 325/290 and the pro is 380/340....they tell u on that guide which cards to get/not get, apparently the built by ati ones are good to flash....just not any of the ones with infineon ram...i dont get the "L configuration" thing, what if the memory is not in an L config u cant flash it? what diff does it make as long as it has the same amount/type memory?
10-31-2003, 01:26 AM
lonewolfroger

Quote:

Originally posted by vairox
lol....

lonewolffrogger - that sounds like a pretty heavy overclock!

i found out here (excellent guide, read it!) that the np is clocked at 325/290 and the pro is 380/340....they tell u on that guide which cards to get/not get, apparently the built by ati ones are good to flash....just not any of the ones with infineon ram...i dont get the "L configuration" thing, what if the memory is not in an L config u cant flash it? what diff does it make as long as it has the same amount/type memory?

As far as my OC I`m satified with it for now because I don`t have a PCI video card to reflash back to my other bio`s if some thing goes wrong. I don`t know about what he ment about the L memory configuration(maybe some non pro`s were made with a differant memory configuration). All and all I would say it is very informative article on how to flash a 9800np to pro. Edit to add: that is the highest OC, I have gotten with my VC sofar, for everyday use I run it at 420/365.
10-31-2003, 01:36 AM
vairox

how much does a non pro run for? circuit city has it for $249 but at pricewatch the 9800 SE starts at $279 and goes up to $300... sorta confusing cause your not sure if the site has a np or an SE, maybe selling an SE as a np or an ultra lite as a np...cant seem to find it on the best buy site. grrr...starting to wonder if the one at circuit sity is an SE, probably using infineon ram also.
10-31-2003, 01:43 AM
lonewolfroger

Quote:

Originally posted by vairox
how much does a non pro run for? circuit city has it for $249 but at pricewatch the 9800 SE starts at $279 and goes up to $300... sorta confusing cause your not sure if the site has a np or an SE, maybe selling an SE as a np or an ultra lite as a np...cant seem to find it on the best buy site. grrr...starting to wonder if the one at circuit sity is an SE, probably using infineon ram also.

IMHO, stay away from the 9800SE`s, a 9800np is better even if it is the one with the infinion memory. There is no way to tell what memory you are getting, unless they let you open them up until you find one with the memory you want, I got lucky getting the one I got. ATI, I believe brought out the ones with the infinion memory to stop people from flashing them to pro`s.
10-31-2003, 02:04 AM
vairox

thats sad.... i probably wont get one then, its gonna be a REAL crapshoot to get one with samsung memory. i might try circuit city or best buy and ask to look at the card in the box first, but they may be reluctant cause they will have to re-shrink wrap it.

ati = user unfriendly. :(
10-31-2003, 02:08 AM
lonewolfroger

Quote:

Originally posted by vairox
thats sad.... i probably wont get one then, its gonna be a REAL crapshoot to get one with samsung memory. i might try circuit city or best buy and ask to look at the card in the box first, but they may be reluctant cause they will have to re-shrink wrap it.

ati = user unfriendly. :(

Save up a little more money and get a 9800pro., they might go down in price soon.
10-31-2003, 02:24 AM
vairox

yeah ill end up doing that most likely...i think i can wait till "black friday"...im only play max payne 2 and madden 2004 now and this geforce2mx plays them fine...of course i have no AA or AF but i dont mind.
10-31-2003, 02:45 AM
Isezumi

Quote:

Originally posted by vairox
thanks guys...i thought the se was the non pro...dumb NOOb!

We wouldn't have this problem if it wasn't for your nVidia and their pathetic attempts to compensate for abject suckage.

(Refrence: GeFarce 4 Ti 4200/4800 SE )
10-31-2003, 02:48 AM
lonewolfroger

Quote:

Originally posted by Isezumi
(Refrence: GeFarce 4 Ti 4200/4800 SE )

I wonder why people keep getting that wrong, 4800se=4400 with 8x.:)
10-31-2003, 02:59 AM
Isezumi

Quote:

Originally posted by lonewolfroger
I wonder why people keep getting that wrong, 4800se=4400 with 8x.:)

umm...there was a 4200SE also. :p
10-31-2003, 03:01 AM
lonewolfroger

Quote:

Originally posted by Isezumi
umm...there was a 4200SE also. :p

Yes, but that was the card makers name for their 4200 without 8x. :D
10-31-2003, 03:10 AM
Isezumi

Either way it's still nVidias fault that we have to deal with this SE cr@p.
10-31-2003, 03:14 AM
lonewolfroger

Quote:

Originally posted by Isezumi
Either way it's still nVidias fault that we have to deal with this SE cr@p.

Ok, I agree, ATI got the idea to use SE from Nvidia.:D BTW, if I`m not mistaken, it all started with the GF4 MX 440SE.:)
10-31-2003, 04:47 AM
vairox

heh, isnt the 4800se as fast and everything as the 4400 ?

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