9800 pro...is the hercules worth the extra money?

[Maskirovka]

i've seen the ati OEM version of the card for $315...but i can't find the hercules for under $360

i can find reviews saying the hercules is sweet, and i'm sure it is...but how much better is it than ati's version
i haven't found any benchmarks compaing 9800 pros with each other.

can anyone point me to one or does anyone have any info?

 

[Steven Q Urkle]

well. Its got blue PCB and a fancy fan.
thats about it.

 

[Sgt.Igneri]

The HSF may allow for better OCing, but everything else is the same. Every single thing aboutthe card is built the same, with the exception of the color and the HSF. If you want to OC it would be ok, but if not just stick with the cheapest you can find.

 

[Maskirovka]

so what about the 9800 nonpro vs pro? i know the pro just clocks higher...but $100 higher? (bah sorry i'm sure this has been discussed before)
it's just a bit confusing at first (on purpose i'm sure)
but here's what newegg has for "radeon 9800"

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=radeon,9800


they only list pro's and the SE. i know the SE is not the same as the non-pro.

anyway...i'm sure i'd have to hunt for a non-pro now...but even assuming that...is there no difference between that sapphire for $306 and the tyan for $325?
i mean...these companies have to do something to cut corners to get their price to be $20 cheaper per card, right?

EDIT:
i looked at the Tyan and the FIC cards:

http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage...03-03.JPG/14-136-103-01.JPG/14-136-103-04.JPG
http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage...10-01.JPG/14-137-010-02.JPG/14-137-010-04.JPG

and i can't tell the difference (picture wise...besides maybe capacitor manufacturer and the sticker )

but then look at the sapphire:

http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=14-102-304-02.JPG/14-102-304-03.JPG/14-102-304-01.JPG

totally different

 

[Kenny]

I have ordered an Club 3D, but i get a Hercules (because of some shipping things). I was very happy with this news. The hercules have extra memory cooling. So that is very good news, if you wan't to overclock, otherwise go for the oem.

 

[Sgt.Igneri]

Originally posted by Maskirovka
so what about the 9800 nonpro vs pro? i know the pro just clocks higher...but $100 higher? (bah sorry i'm sure this has been discussed before)
it's just a bit confusing at first (on purpose i'm sure)
but here's what newegg has for "radeon 9800"

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=radeon,9800


they only list pro's and the SE. i know the SE is not the same as the non-pro.

anyway...i'm sure i'd have to hunt for a non-pro now...but even assuming that...is there no difference between that sapphire for $306 and the tyan for $325?
i mean...these companies have to do something to cut corners to get their price to be $20 cheaper per card, right?

EDIT:
i looked at the Tyan and the FIC cards:

http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage...03-03.JPG/14-136-103-01.JPG/14-136-103-04.JPG
http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage...10-01.JPG/14-137-010-02.JPG/14-137-010-04.JPG

and i can't tell the difference (picture wise...besides maybe capacitor manufacturer and the sticker )

but then look at the sapphire:

http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=14-102-304-02.JPG/14-102-304-03.JPG/14-102-304-01.JPG

totally different

As i stated, the only differences between the cards are the COLOR and the HSF.

 

[Maskirovka]

right, but the sapphire cheap one looks completely different (configuration, capacitors, etc etc)

at least all of the other ones have the same layout...just different HSF...and the heatsinks on the hercules memory

so you're saying that one...even though it looks completely different in terms of layout is the same...

newegg lists two 9800 pros by this company:

this one for $306:
SAPPHIRE OEM RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB DVI/TV 8X AGP BULK
http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=14-102-304-02.JPG/14-102-304-03.JPG/14-102-304-01.JPG

and this one for $352:
ATI OEM SAPPHIRE RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB DVI/TV 8X AGP BULK
http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=14-102-268-03.JPG/14-102-268-04.JPG/14-102-268-02.JPG

 

[Sgt.Igneri]

There will be NO performance diference. They are the SAME thing, all except for color and HSF.

 

[Maskirovka]

ok ok i believe you, but why would the company do that?

can i ask which 9800 pro you have in your #1 machine (from your sig)?

i have basically the same system. (different case, IC7 mobo...different cpu HSF)

EDIT: i noticed the difference...the cheap one doesn't have that power plug...well it does...just the smaller one

 

[strong_sad]

I was having the same exact problem. I was on price watch and noticed that some 9800 pro's were $300 while some where as high as $400. I began to wonder if there really was a difference, but thanks for clearing it up. Hopefully next week i will be ordering my new computer with a brand spankin new ATI Radeon 9800 pro.

 

[nsxownzme]

Nah. .. I also hear they have bad customer service.