decided to pick up a 9550, need input on what brand :)

[warlock110]

Prices are incuded tax and shipping, and plz keep in mind i wanna OC too

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ATI9550-DVI-128MTV-N&cat=VCD
ATI brand 70 bucks

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-121-511&depa=0
ASUS 80 dollars

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-378&depa=0
Shaphire for 90

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-127-154&depa=0
MSI for 70

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-127-153&depa=0
MSI for 90 (different one) refurbish for 80

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-240-031&depa=0
Gecube for 90 (256MB)

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-131-243&depa=0
Power Color 90 bucks (256MB) refurbish is 80

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-153-008R&depa=0
Jetway refurbish 80 (256MB)


Waiting for the following to come back in stock, and here's the contender

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-123-149&depa=0
Abit
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-240-021&depa=0
Info Tek

How hard is it to change the heatsink and adding fans to these things? i can done modification, i've done alot of mod, just not videocards , so if it's not too difficult, i'll manage.

 

[Moto7451]

My vote for the as-cheap-as-possible unit. (128MB MSI)

My vote for the don't care to pay-too-much-but-want-256MB-of-memory unit. (256MB Jetway) My 9550 is a jetway & it is a good overclocker. I'm not sure what the 256MB of memory will do to the overclockability of the card. hopefully nothing.


The Abit & the Info Tek (Gecube) cards are both great overclockers. They have BGA memory & the Gecube has one of those great X800 inspired heatsinks I'm always looking for for my card lol.

 

[warlock110]

check out the very 1st on, the ATI that one is pretty cheap and it has a fan, the cheap MSI doesn't

 

[Moto7451]

64bit memory from the looks of it on the first one. That'll make the card plow in any game. I only see two chips on the front of the card. You should get a new cooler anyway (with the exception of the higher end MSI & the GeCube) as the stock ones aren't very good on the above cards for the most part.

 

[warlock110]

dam newegg, lol i'm trying to see the freaking name on the ram of the card, cann't make out the name, they need to take closer and higher resolution picture i'm still thinking about this , thanks for the help, i'm still looking around because 100 bucks is hard to drop on a piece of plastic

 

[Overclocker550]

I have not seen many get those 9550s everyone says they suck. can you get a 9500 instead? If you get one with L shape ram, it might even softmod like mine did, if it doesnt, just overclock it and itll easily match a 9600xt anyway. If the 9500 has I shape ram, it could potentionally mod to pro but if not its only got 128 bit ram so itll be somewhat sluggish. Can you spare a bit more for a real 9700pro? ti4200 is fine if you dont mind giving up dx9, those are like $50-60 on ebay

 

[stratcatprowlin]

I don't like the choice for the 9550 either.
A 9600pro would be a much better choice and maybe only a few dollars more.

 

[warlock110]

I have not seen many get those 9550s everyone says they suck. can you get a 9500 instead? If you get one with L shape ram, it might even softmod like mine did, if it doesnt, just overclock it and itll easily match a 9600xt anyway. If the 9500 has I shape ram, it could potentionally mod to pro but if not its only got 128 bit ram so itll be somewhat sluggish. Can you spare a bit more for a real 9700pro? ti4200 is fine if you dont mind giving up dx9, those are like $50-60 on ebay

i just checked ebay, and it seems that TI4200 are used for a little higher than 60 bucks, factor in the shipping and it's about 70. The idea of the 9550 is that it OC like mad, and potentially getting the core speed of a 9600 for about 20 dollar less , i'm just thinking about it, not really decided yet, i was looking at some 9600 pro, but some of them are 325/200 instead of the "normal" 400/300. so i'm still skeptical about them (i emailed newegg about some of their card not listed the speed, and see how they respond).
I'm worry about the DX8 as many of the newer games support DX 9, and when those feature are turned on the 9600 performs much better than the 4200

TI 4200 are the same technology line as the 9600, both are 4 pipe line
TI 4200: 250/250
Radeon 9600: 325/200
9600 pro 400/300

 

[Overclocker550]

If you worry so much about dx9 then youll probably want a full 9700pro, those are about $130 on ebay. a ti4200 will beat out a 9600np in dx8 too. Its a tought call dependant on your budget. Maybe you can check classifieds here for a cheap 9600pro, most people will let em go for below 99 bucks. edit: checked classifieds, some dude has a 9500np that he doesnt know how to softmod but hes letting it go for $175 and its got 256 bit L shape ram. If it cant softmod, just overclock it then. I get almost 18k marks with mine before softmod in 2001, this is higher than what most get with their 9600xt. a much better deal than a 9600pro