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Vid card under $150?

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I'd stay away from the SE. If you don't mind refurb's the 9800 Pro's are ~$150 at newegg. Either that or a 9700 Pro/ 9800 non-Pro. Those would be much better than the 9800SE; even the 9600XT would be the same or slightly better than the 9800SE.
 
I got my 9500@9700@9700pro for $130, then traded the vga silencer on it for splinter cell, not a bad $100. Much faster than a 9800se as well.
 
I'd try to save $50 and get a 6600GT. The performance will be well worth it. Next in line would be a 9700, I guess, if you absolutely can't spend more.
 
I'm still thinking the se would be good. If the pipes unlock, it will be a 9800 pro. My stepdad's we bought a while ago had the 9700 black pcb, hynix 2.8ns ram, and r360 core, but it had artifacts with 8 pipes in 3dmark 2001.

I don't want to wait any longer, plus I think a 6600gt isn't worth it. I'm still considering a 9700, but how high will it overclock is the question?
 
mine does 370/350 with stock cooling.

adding a sk6+ got me 10 more mhz, a vmod would get me above 400 i'm sure.

i've seen 9700pro's up to 450 with good cooling.
 
hUMANbEATbOX said:
mine does 370/350 with stock cooling.

adding a sk6+ got me 10 more mhz, a vmod would get me above 400 i'm sure.

i've seen 9700pro's up to 450 with good cooling.

That's what I was worried of. My dad's 9800 pro (r360) gets 435 case closed. Open it gets 440 on the stock cooling. Mem is also 365-370 depending on I don't know. Some days works some days doesn't.

Well, if I get that 9800se, it will be better than a 9600pro as it has the 256-bit memory, even if it doesn't unlock. I have a heatsink for it from my cpu, so overclock should be 450 on core. That wouldn't be bad for $144.

One last thing, when are 9800pro prices expected to fall? Aren't they just going to disappear like the 5900 series?
 
Just remenber that their is a 50% chance of succefully unlocking those pipes, I would try to find an 9700 for around $100, the 9500 is also a gamble just like the 9800se.
 
Yea, the 9800se is too risky IMHO. I couldnt handle being stuck with a 4 pipe card. I had a 9700pro and it did everything I needed. I had a 9800xt in my other rig at the time, and it was kinf of like the 6800GT is to my 6800NU now. I would advise the 9700 because if it dosent clock higher what you have is still acceptable. You'll be sad if it dosent open those pipes. A 9800se would be hard pressed to play any of the new gen games acceptably.
 
i got a sapphire 9800se for 131.99 total from newegg and softmodded to 9800, 8 pipes no problem. has the r360 core and 3.3ns samsung RAM. stock speeds of 325/290, but oc's on crappy stock cooling to 400/390, no artifacts. 5800 3dmark03 score. for me, a very good deal, but the softmod is not gauraunteed. if the softmod fails you could try sending it back for a different card.
 
bsfalcon said:
i got a sapphire 9800se for 131.99 total from newegg and softmodded to 9800, 8 pipes no problem. has the r360 core and 3.3ns samsung RAM. stock speeds of 325/290, but oc's on crappy stock cooling to 400/390, no artifacts. 5800 3dmark03 score. for me, a very good deal, but the softmod is not gauraunteed. if the softmod fails you could try sending it back for a different card.

you are on the lucky side, my brother ordered it and was not so lucky on the 1st card or the second one. I would go with the 9700.
 
Alright. I think I am willing to take my chances. With 4 9800 series card passing through our house, and only one that can be considered a good one, I think it is time for another good one to come by. 2 msi 9800pro (xt's) had bad memory(bought different times) and a 9800se which would be a beast if the pipes unlocked. One msi 9800pro (xt) was great, while we are awaiting an rma for another exact one. I could honestly say I could live with a 9800se 4-pipe card.
 
Good luck then :) I would also reccomend the 9700 since it will be a FAR better performer without the SE's requisite luck, but it may indeed happen :D

JigPu
 
Well, guess what? I saw a used 9700pro at newegg for $136 shipped, so I had to get it. It is the cool black pcb like my stepdad's 9800se. My brother got a 9800 pro sapphire for $155.80.
 
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