Explain the difference plz!

[DJBeanPole17]

I am doing some card hunting online. I need someone to explain something to me.

First, the 9700np, which I've been looking for has been impossible to find. So, I gave up (but don't worry thats fine!) So I was looking at the 9700Pro (which, ballpark was about $350 on newegg).

Could someone tell me the core/mem speeds of the 9700Pro?
Now, is the clockspeed the same as 9700Pro AllinWonder?
Wouldn't it be cheaper to get a 9700np AllinWonder (which I assume had some clock speeds as just a 9700np) and OC it to 9700Pro speeds?

I read that a 128MB Sapphire 9800np was 259 on newegg. Thats a 54 dollar increase in price from a 9500Pro I was looking at. Now, run this by me -> the 9800np has all the goodies of a Pro, except at slower speeds correct? Because if this is true I may just go ahead and buy the 9800np and overclock it to Pro speeds. But I may be wrong about all of this. Basically i'm asking for core/mem speeds on all of the cards to help me make a decision!!! Thanks!!!

Dave (sorry if it was confusing)!

[Johnmcl7]

Ok, 9700np is 275/275, and the pro version is 325/310. As far as I am aware (I haven't used one) the 9700 pro AIW is also 325/310.

The 9800np (clockspeeds are 325/290) is just a slower version of the 9800 pro(380/310 I think), at stock speeds it's around the same performance as a 9700 pro, but has a lot more overhead for overclocking, it's a very good buy at the moment.

John

[DJBeanPole17]

Anyone know about the speeds of a 9700np v. a 9700np AIW?

[Johnmcl7]

Originally posted by DJBeanPole17
Anyone know about the speeds of a 9700np v. a 9700np AIW?

Where are you seeing a 9700np AIW, all AIWs should be pros as I don't think they allow the AIB manufacturers to produces AIW cards.

John

[DJBeanPole17]

John, if you go to www.newegg.com and search for "9700" in the searchbox, and scroll down about halfway, you will see an ATI Radeon AIW np. For some reason the URL was messed up.

[Johnmcl7]

Originally posted by DJBeanPole17
John, if you go to www.newegg.com and search for "9700" in the searchbox, and scroll down about halfway, you will see an ATI Radeon AIW np. For some reason the URL was messed up.

That link isn't working for me, but I think I've found the card you're referring to, it's 299 dollars? Looking at the product pictures it's a BBA card (http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?style=album) as ATi don't actually sell normal 9700nps, only the pro versions, the non-pros are sold by other board manufacturers. I've not seen an AIW 9700 np, I'll have a look to see if I can find any info on it.

John

[Doomah]

Originally posted by Johnmcl7
Ok, 9700np is 275/275, and the pro version is 325/310. As far as I am aware (I haven't used one) the 9700 pro AIW is also 325/310.

The 9800np (clockspeeds are 325/290) is just a slower version of the 9800 pro(380/310 I think), at stock speeds it's around the same performance as a 9700 pro, but has a lot more overhead for overclocking, it's a very good buy at the moment.

John

Correct, and the 9800 pro is 380/340.

Most 9800np cores can clock really high (400+), but sometimes the memory can get barely up to pro speeds with stock cooling. Some people have gotten 330 memory, some have gotten a little higher. You could put ramsinks on there to get some more mhz out of them I'm sure.

As for a 9700 AIW ... the trend now for AIW seems to be "keep the clock speeds the same, add the TV tuner". So it's probably 275/275. Still, it's more expensive than the 9800np.

There really isn't a wrong decision you can make. Personally I'd pick up a 9800np. Maybe wait a little bit and find one for $250.

[DJBeanPole17]

I think thats what I'm headed for - a 9800np. And my rig that I plan on building won't have stock cooling for the video card !!!

Thanks guys.

[Johnmcl7]

Originally posted by Doomah


Correct, but the 9800 pro is 380/340.

Most 9800np cores can clock really high (400+), but sometimes the memory can get barely up to pro speeds with stock cooling. Some people have gotten 330 memory, some have gotten a little higher. You could put ramsinks on there to get some more mhz out of them I'm sure.

As for a 9700 AIW ... the trend now for AIW seems to be "keep the clock speeds the same, add the TV tuner". So it's probably 275/275. Still, it's more expensive than the 9800np.

There really isn't a wrong decision you can make. Personally I'd pick up a 9800np. Maybe wait a little bit and find one for $250.

Thanks for the correction, I can never seem to get the memory speed for the 9800 pro right!

John

[G_Fisher]

I paid $220 for a 9700n/p, $250 for 9800n/p is pretty darn good. Truthfully, your in the top catagory of cards where it's fairly hard to see any performance difference at stock speeds. 9800n/p is the best bang for your buck.