radeon 9800 se question

[Aeon Flux]

First off I know SE stands for *sucky* edition. Please only give me objective opinions as subjective opinions are already well known.

I don't have a whole lot of money if any at all for buying a new video card eventually. I can get a 9800 se and a 9600 for about the same price. My question is with the 9800 se is there any way of opening the extra four pipelines as you can do with the 9600?

Why I ask is that both cards are comparable in clock speed. Both have the same amount, speed, and latancy of ram. Both only have four pipelines off the shelves. What I couldnt remember is that if the 9800 was completly direct x 9 compaitable and if the 9600 wasn't. Also is there a way to unlock the extra pipelines in the 9800 se. I know the 9800 se is a downclocked 9800 so it has overclocking potential.

Id like to know the pros and cons seeing how they are the same price and my biggest concern was if those pipelines could be openend.

[The Coolest]

First of all you can't unlock the extra four pipelines in the 9600 as there are none, the core only has 4.
If you get a 9800SE that has the memory L shaped there's a chance it'll be softmoddable into a real 9800. If the memory on the card is like an "I" then it will for sure be 9800se for the rest of its life

[HousERaT]

I'm guessing he was talking about the 9500 not the 9600..... and the only way the mod will work on the card is if it's the right one and all four of the non-working pipelines are functional. There is no guarantee that the four other pipelines, even if they're there will work..... :(

[Turks]

I just bought a PowerColor 9800se 128mb 256-bit card from newegg today. I've read that this card has a real good chance of soft-modding to a 9800pro. I also read that with this card people are starting to get r360 cores so you get a real good chance and also it being 256bit there seems to be more of a chance of a sucessful mod. I also bought a Vga Silence rev 3 and OCZ Aluminum Bga ramsinks. I'm waiting impatiently to get this card and hope it softmods.

Here's the card: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-131-236&depa=0

[kpiciulo]

i just ordered mine yesterday as well, very eager to do the softmod. I got the same one as Turks, 256-bit, do i have to buy those heatsinks and a cooler, will it be too hot if i don't? And, as he asked, how do i do the softmod. I'm excited can't wait for my new card. thanks guys
Kevin

[kpiciulo]

i can follow the softmod directions in the sticky right?

[Kaswyn]

I have both a Sapphire 9600Pro and a Sapphire 9800SE.

When I first got the 9800SE, it was 128bit, with it's core underclocked at a stock speed of 276.8 Core and 270 Memory. The rated speed should have been 325 Core and 290 Memory. Suffice to say Newegg was wonderful with the RMAing of the item. I quickly got a 256bit version with 324 Core and 290 Memory. And as you can see, I can overclock it insanely as noted on my sig. Problem is, it just gets hot, so I have to find a way to cool it. For now, I sometimes switch it to 380 Core and 324 Memory when it gets hot here (no A/C).

I can tell you the 9600Pro & 9800SE were similar in performance. But with the new 9800SE that's much more overclockable (by luck), it's faster. I soft modded it, but had some checkerboards. Will attempt to disable some settings like hyperZ or whatever to see if that helps.

Get the 9800SE. You get a chance at soft modding it atleast. You might also try the Powercolor version. I hear it's automatically 256bit version.

[nealric]

I bought a 9800se powercolor 256, but had major artifacts with the softmod :(
No damage of course, but you take a bit of a gamble getting a se.
Might be better off getting a 9800np refurb.