noobish question: ATI vs Sapphire?

[wandl]

Is there a big difference if I'm buying a video card that is ATI (or ATI OEM) vs a Sapphire?

Very noobish question :D

same price for both..didn't know what the difference was..sub contractor?

[Evnas]

if they are both the same price, just got with the Built By ATi card. They are virtually the same card physically, so either one is a great choice

[cozmo_d]

Personaly from what ive seen the Sapphires Oc higher too

[AllenSmoker]

Usually the only real difference is in the memory chips used.
Most 3rd parties use the same core chipset and refrence board.

So if you can get a 3rd party card that has better memory on it, then go for it if you plan on clocking it higher.

[Captain Hilts]

Yep, try to check the memory if you can. For the newer cards (9500 and up) I don't think there'd usually be much of a difference, but for older cards the Sapphire version may have cheaper memory.

[funnyperson1]

Sappphire has been Ati's manufacturing partner for years, either way there shouldnt be that big of a difference between the two, I would get the cheaper one.

[augustwest]

arent many of the bbati cards bbsapphire anyway? i know this is the case with the oem cards but what about the others?

[Captain Hilts]

Yes, they are, even the retail versions. My retail BBA 9500 Pro is built in China, so it is almost definately one that was outsourced to Sapphire.