Which card is best - Saphire 9800 Pro 256 DDR2 - Saphire 9800 pro 128

[LaughingJon]

If money were no object which one would you get and why?

Sapphire Radeon 9800 Atlantis PRO 128MB

or

Sapphire Radeon 9800 Atlantis PRO 256MB

I am kinda stuck

Cheers
Jon

[speedstream5621]

If money is no object, then why wouldn't you get the 9800 Pro 256MB?

That card should last a very time.

[ranger2992]

Between those two cards i also would say the 256MB. The extra memory can't hurt anything. Also if money was no object I might concider the 9800XT 256. It hits about the same top numbers as the 9800 pro on the core, but the memory clocks a little higher.

[LaughingJon]

hey there thanks for the reply.

the main reason for asking is because the 256meg is DDR2 and the 128meg is DDR1 so i have been told that the DDR2 runs very hot compared to the DDR1 and that it will not overclock as far, thus will perform worse if you overclocked them, but i am still torn as to which one to choose because 256meg "should" be useful?

Cheers
Jon

*edit ranger2992 the reason why money is no object is because i have an offer on each card which brings it to a nice price for me i would indeed like an XT but that i cant afford

[ranger2992]

Go with the 256 9800 pro then....You will get a little more of a lifetime out of it. You are right that the standard 9800 pro 256 doesn't clock as high a a 9800 pro 128. That was ATI's first attempt at using DDR2. They have done a much better job with the DDR2 on the XT.

[LaughingJon]

That just confused me ranger2992 LOL..

So they buggered up the DDR2 on the card i am looking to get, but you still think i should go for the 256meg one anyway?

*edit.. your help is very much appreciated, i am just trying to get my head around it

[ranger2992]

The ram on the 256 card will not OC as high as the ram on the 128 card typically. It's a trade off IMO, the 256 likely will come in handy as games get more intensive, but the 128 is a better OC'ing card. If you look at all the top dogs they use the 128 card for this reason. The thing is if you're not looking to have the top score on the orb then the 256 is a good card. Your eye is not going to see a 10 FPS difference in games. Furthermore if you look at both cards at stock setting the 256 does slightly better than the 128. To me if you go for a moderate OC on a 256 card you will have a very strong performing VC. This card will really start to shine as you get into bigger games. I hope this doesn't confuse you anymore. You just have to decide what you want out of this card. Top 3dmarks, or a card that is a little more futureproof.

[LaughingJon]

Thanks ranger2992 you have put it into perspective for me there matey. I have been known to get a little competitive over things like scores etc, but i gotta look beyond that dont i really

Combine this card with my
P4 3.0c (which does ~ 3.5)
IC7-G
1gig Corsair 3500 @ 2337
2 x WD SE 80gig in RAID0

I should get some decent frame rates compared to my TI4400 anyways

256meg card it is..

Thanks again
Jon