9500pro or 9600xt?

[sLk]

I can get either card for about the same price.
I can't decide on which one.
The 9500pro is used but comes with Arctic Cooling, has 8 pipelines and is a proven overclocker.
The 9600xt would be brand spanking new out of the box, has a higher core/memory speed but is limited to 4 pipelines.
Both are 128mb.

I have 3 questions.
First, are OEM cards any different then Retail versions?
Second, which card would you choose?
Third, what kind of overclocks can I expect with either card?

Thanks.

[Evnas]

1) OEM cards are the same as their retail partners, provided you get the same version (ie: Pro is not the same as Pro EZ (from Powercolor), etc etc)

2) I would get the 9500 Pro, but thats just me

3) Look in my sig for my 9500 Pro overclock

[Rezin777]

1. Physically OEM cards are the same.
2. 9500pro
3. Average 9500pros can do around 340/310 stock, the type of memory will determine your RAM overclock but I've seen all the types that come on 9500s do well and some not so well. The VGA Silencer let my core on my 9500pro get 28 extra MHz. Its running 378/315 (hynix RAM). I don't know how high the 9600xt O/Cs.

[Yuriman]

Both cards should be around the same speed, with the 9500 a bit faster, but I would take a new 9600xt simply because its new technology, and uses less power.

[treepop]

1) same
2)9500PRO!
3)I just found out I was running my settings to high so I will soon be chasing 17k 2001 3dmakrs with my 9500pro...on STOCK COOLING!.....:D..if 17k isnt nice on stock I don't know what is :D

[sLk]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.
Do the extra 4 pipelines make all that much of a difference?
I'm assuming the faster clock speeds of the 9600xt would make up for the difference.