SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9800SE !!!!! Is this good?

[Tat]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-348R&type=Refurbish
Is this thing any good and wothy for that price?
Can I softmod or do something to make it to PRO or higher?
Have anyone used this card b4?
Thank you.

[HousERaT]

It's on a 128bit pcb so you probably won't be able to flash it to pro. You'd probably be better off getting a 9600pro if you could find one for that price. If you can find one that is on a 256bit board then you have a chance to flash it to a pro or xt.:(

[stan03]

yup HousERaT is right, thats the 128 bit version, and its horrible, don't get it ;)

[Hookem]

I agree the "SE" cards are not great performers.

[PottaCoola]

SE cars are good if you can flash them to pro and they perform as good as the 9600 cards

[stan03]

but 128s cannot be flashed ;) which make it horrible

[Tat]

OK. I got it.
So 9500 or 9700 would be wise choise?
Thank guys.

[stan03]

what about a 9800Pro... you can get those for pretty cheap now...

[Kaswyn]

If you get the "Bulk" version, it is most likely a 128bit version.

If you get the "OEM" version, there's a good chance it'll be a 256bit version. My original "OEM" version came as a 128bit, and it came underclocked too, but newegg RMAed it & I got the 256bit version back, which overclocks insanely high. But then again, could just be good luck.

If you want to ensure 256bit 9800SE, go for the Powercolor one that's $144. That one's a guaranteed 256bit version + it comes with higher core/memory speeds.

But for about $50 bucks more, you can get yourself a 9800Pro.

[lilxvietxboi]

concur.. se cards suck... get 9600xt/pro or save up for 9800 pro.. they rock

[stan03]

If you get the "Bulk" version, it is most likely a 128bit version.

If you get the "OEM" version, there's a good chance it'll be a 256bit version. My original "OEM" version came as a 128bit, and it came underclocked too, but newegg RMAed it & I got the 256bit version back, which overclocks insanely high. But then again, could just be good luck.

If you want to ensure 256bit 9800SE, go for the Powercolor one that's $144. That one's a guaranteed 256bit version + it comes with higher core/memory speeds.

But for about $50 bucks more, you can get yourself a 9800Pro.
the only 128 bit 9800 is the sapphire "Atlantis"...

[Tat]

Hey,, I know this is ATI section but can I compare 9800pro with 5900XT :D .
Because I heard people say 5900XT can flash into 5950 easily :).
Man all of the card above are out of my buget. :(
Anyone wanna help this brother out? :)

[The Coolest]

I think the powercolor 9800SEs are usually 256bit. Look at the arrengment of the memory, if its like I (on the top of the card, in one line) then its 128bit.
If its L shaped (like two chips on the top and two on the side of the card) then its 256bit.

9500NP is cheap and again if you find L shaped PCB then it is most likely moddable.

[Avg]

I saw a 9500pro at newegg for $83 and the only problem is that it is a 64mb card but it is a 256bit one.

edit:It's a refurb

[alien dork]

i got myself a powercolor 256bit, it should arrive sometime today. but the thing is i ordered the case with it, but the case was sent from California which means to reach east coast it should take a day or two extra. WHYYYYY????? they should have shipped everything at the same time from the same place. once i get it i'll try to mod to pro and post back. the review on the newegg site said that there's probably a 66% of modding it to a pro. hope this helps.

[The Coolest]

the 64Mb cards are definatly 128bit
please link us.

[Avg]

That's what I thought too but if you look on the picture you can see that if the card was to have more memory it would have an L shaped memory.

here is the link:http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-253R&type=Refurbish
They have another 9500pro but it is a 128bit one.

[Avg]

http://images10.newegg.com/productimage/14-102-253-05.JPG
this is the 64mb one
http://images10.newegg.com/productimage/14-102-256-03.JPG
and this is the 128mb with the 128bit memory

[The Coolest]

yea thing is IF it had more RAM it'd be 256bit, but the thing is that it doesn't. it still leaves you only half of the potential 128MB of RAM meaning half of the potential memory bandwith

[Avg]

Good to know, I didn't know that ,thanks.

[Avg]

I have a question, why don't they make cards where you can add more ram to it like the old ones?

[The Coolest]

that's an interesting question, but with the amount of cards and RAM sizes around right now there's no need for it