What's better, 9500 PRO 128MB, or 9600PRO 256?

[Stvwndr219e]

I'm on a budget, building a comp for my friend and i wanted an opinion on which of these would be better. I haven't been able to find any 256MB reviews that compared it to the 9500 PRO, so i was wondering which would be better for an Athlon 3000+ system.

I know that the 9500 PRO has more piplelines, but i was wondering if the 256MB of the 9600 PRO would make it better. Any thoughts would be great!!!!!

[Twim]

the 9500 pro is better.
since the 9600 pro comes with 256mb instead of the usual 128, they probably used cheaper, less overclocable memory. and no matter how overclockable 9600 pro cores are, they will be limited by 4 pipelines as opposed to 9500's 8.

[Z YA LTR]

Definately the 9500pro. If you can find a 9500np with the 256bit memory you might be able to softmod it so that you have 8 working pipelines. And it would essentially be a 9700np.

--Josh

[Darkstorm_13]

yea, go with the 9500 pro..

[Sentential]

The 9500PRO has 256bit RAM. Eventho its at a clock disadvantage its still faster. Especially when OCed

[Yuriman]

The 9500PRO has 256bit RAM. Eventho its at a clock disadvantage its still faster. Especially when OCed

Not true. The 9700 core variants are as follows:
9500np = 4 pipe core/128bit ram OR 4 pipe core/256bit ram. 4 pipes are disabled, but still present. You might be able to enable them.
9500pro = 8 pipe core/128bit ram. The bus width in the ram is hardware, so no changing it here.
9700's = 8pipe core/256bit ram.


I would probably take the 9500pro, but its not a garunteed thing. The 9600's use a lot less power and run cooler, so depending on the situation, they might be better for him. The speed difference isnt much anyway.

EDIT: Just noticed the 256mb part. Do not get a 256mb card, it is a waste of money. The extra ram only helps when you run out, and to run out, you would have to run games at 1600x1200 with 4x AA or 2048x1536 2xAA. A lot of monitors cannot go this high anyway, and if you CAN use those settings, it would be a slideshow regardless of whether or not you had enough ram.

[Sentential]

Not true. The 9700 core variants are as follows:
9500np = 4 pipe core/128bit ram OR 4 pipe core/256bit ram. 4 pipes are disabled, but still present. You might be able to enable them.
9500pro = 8 pipe core/128bit ram. The bus width in the ram is hardware, so no changing it here.
9700's = 8pipe core/256bit ram.


I would probably take the 9500pro, but its not a garunteed thing. The 9600's use a lot less power and run cooler, so depending on the situation, they might be better for him. The speed difference isnt much anyway.

EDIT: Just noticed the 256mb part. Do not get a 256mb card, it is a waste of money. The extra ram only helps when you run out, and to run out, you would have to run games at 1600x1200 with 4x AA or 2048x1536 2xAA. A lot of monitors cannot go this high anyway, and if you CAN use those settings, it would be a slideshow regardless of whether or not you had enough ram.


DOH!

lol..... I knew i'd get this wrong. EITHER way its still a better card

[Yuriman]

Depends on how you look at it. If you can find a 9500pro, sure, get it. It beats the 9600pro. The 9600xt is on par with it though, and at the same price I would take the xt, due to reasons I posted above. If you can find a 9500pro in good condition for at least $10 cheaper than a 9600xt, go for it.

[Stvwndr219e]

thanks for the advice guys.

http://www.gameve.com/gve/store/productdetails.aspx?sku=VC-9500PRO

does this look like a reliable store? I got it off pricewatch but i'm not sure. and what is soft-modding, is there any risk in it? Also, should i get the above card or search for a 256-bit 9500 np?

[Yuriman]

I would get the pro, the np's do not garuntee a softmod(which is perfectly safe, softmod = software, just uninstall if it doesnt work). GameVE I have heard to be ok, but check www.resellerratings.com first. Also, make sure you read the reviews(at reseller ratings) and find out what kind of problem people generaly have with them.

[Z YA LTR]

I would go for the 9500np. Thats just me. I have had 2 np's and 1 pro. Both np's cores went about 400mhz while the pro only did 365. 1 softmodded and the other didnt. But the np's were still faster. Especially the 8 pipe one. But hey thats just me and you do whatever you want.

--Josh

[Stvwndr219e]

why can some np 256-bits be modded to 9700 and others can't?

[The Coolest]

If 1 (or more) of the disabled 4 pipelines are damaged/bad, the card will either display major artifacts on the screen or would cause some other problems, probably lockups.

[Stvwndr219e]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=40158&item=5160028347&rd=1

would this be a card that could be modded?

[The Coolest]

Yes, but I wouldn't count on the card to actually have all pipes functioning. It could be someone selling the card after he failed to softmod it...
On the other hand, it could work, its always the luck of the draw

[Stvwndr219e]

Is a BIOS flash still required for overclocking these cards?

[Dukemurmur]

my freinds card can't soft mod artifacts from a bad pipe...but the 9500pro is fast then th 9600 any card like neve ever get the 256 version the only cards that or "good" with it are th 9800's and those type of high end cards...

[Stvwndr219e]

is there any other things i have to do to get the card to overclock? (i.e. bios flash, etc.)