Hopefully getting a 9500np: Which one?

[bosox188]

K I have an AGP mobo picked out it's good and pretty cheap so if that works I'm getting a $110 9500 non-pro. It'll be better than a 9600xt with those 8 pipes, even if it isn't 256-bit. But I have narrowed it down to 2. Which one? If anybody thinks one of them might be 256-bit (Because the second one is red) then tell me.

http://www.allstarshop.com/shop/product.asp?pid=6164&sid=J4CV0N9WS6EB8L1M2F4JJ9REUQJX7HCC

http://www.fticomputer.com/cgis/detail.cgi?product=VB-PC-ATI-R95V-C3LMB&secat=VB

I just hope my dad lets me do this. I've saved up the money but he thinks the mobo might not work with my Dell and he thinks my 5200 is a great card. :|

 

[kidrock450]

spend the extra bucks and get a 9600 pro so you can get the DX9 features. it would be worth it.

 

[Shuzer]

spend the extra bucks and get a 9600 pro so you can get the DX9 features. it would be worth it.

9500 is a DX9 card.

Regarding the topic at hand, it'd be a waste of money to buy a 9500 non-pro, as unless you CAN softmod it, it'd be pretty much worthless.

Even a 9800 SE would be better than that, and you can more easily find a 256 bit version of that card to softmod to a 9800 pro.

 

[blahblahblah]

I can't remember any recent benchmarks using DX9 games and a 9500. If you want a safe bet, go with the 9600 Pro or XT.

Anyways, if you want those 8 pipes, you will have to unlock them.

 

[kidrock450]

9500 is a DX9 card.

lol really? Damn i need some sleep


*runs out of thread*

 

[brink's]

9500 is better then a 9600/xt

 

[Shuzer]

9500 is better then a 9600/xt

Not a 9500 non-pro. The 9600XT is more comparable to a 9700, last I checked. Which is a step up from a 9500


http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-131-236&depa=0

9800 SE 256-bit card. You can softmod this to a 9800 pro with ease. It's only $40 more than what you're looking at, too.

Other than that, you can go with a 9600XT for about $130-140


I just don't think it'd be worth it to spend so much on already aged DX9 card, that's not guaranteed to be able to softmod. It's a risk you can take, but I'd suggest going with a going for a more solid investment, even if you have to spend $40 more

 

[blahblahblah]

9800 SE 256-bit card. You can softmod this to a 9800 pro with ease. It's only $45 more than what you're looking at, too.

Not all 9800 SE's can be modded to a 9800 Pro.

 

[Shuzer]

Not all 9800 SE's can be modded to a 9800 Pro.

The one I linked to, you can.

 

[brink's]

No way does the xt compare to the 9700, 9600xt is just a pro thats clocked higher so it gets 3 more fps in games. Not a big difference.

 

[bosox188]

I don't have $40 more, and I'm not going to be able to save up enough for even a 9800SE. I've actually checked some benchmarks and the 9500np actually beats the SE in some games, and the pro does in almost all. In fact, the pro is about 2 fps under the 9700np. I know I have to softmod, that's what I'm going to do. It doesn't matter if it's 256-bit or not, I can still unlock the other 4 pipes, making it a 9500 pro. Then if I can I'll OC a little and I'll have a card better than a 9600xt. If I get lucky and recieve a 256-bit version than I'll be able to softmod to a 9700. But as long as I get better or as much performance as a 9600xt I'm happy. Besides, the 9600xt is $40 more. And it's DX9 so it'll look really good, I'm happy with 1024x768 and I don't need AA and AF turned all the way up. So which one should I get?

 

[blahblahblah]

Can you provide a link to those benchmarks?

 

[Daegon]

The one I linked to, you can.

I'm sorry, i'm going to have to refute that. I've purchased (for clientele) three of those cards and attempted to softmod them. they've all failed (artifacts/checkerboards) but it seems that there's about a 50:50 chance of a successful softmod.

Personally, i'd suggest looking in the newegg refub section and picking up a refurb 9800 non pro.

 

[Daegon]

Can you provide a link to those benchmarks?

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/index.html

you'll find almost every card on the market in that wrap up.

bosox: How much are you looking at spending on your card at this point?

if it's around 150, you want to consider this Radeon 9700. Don't be afraid to buy from newegg's refub section. I have yet to recieve any bad hardware, and if it's dead when you get it, you can send it right back.

 

[bosox188]

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/index.html

you'll find almost every card on the market in that wrap up.

bosox: How much are you looking at spending on your card at this point?

The way it's looking now I MIGHT be able to get $120 but I know I will have $100 for sure. I have to get an AGP mobo also but I already factored that in. This 9500np looks like the right one to get, most people unlocked the 8 pipes which turns it into a 9500 pro. And if you look at the benchmarks (your link is the same as what I looked at) the 9500 pro is very close behind or even with the 9700np, especially in dx9 games like Halo. I was dissapointed with the image quality of my 5200 and didn't know ANYTHING about direct x and stuff when I bought it. But with the 9500 I can run Halo, Jedi Outcast/Academy, Half-Life 2, Far Cry, I've checked and it's not a bad card. I don't care about having the latest and greatest and upgrading every like 4 or 6 months. I'm only 15, I don't have the money and can't get a job till next year. K that was long but can SOMEBODY answer which one to get? The links are at the top.

 

[blahblahblah]

The thing is, soft modding and overclocking has inherent dangers to it. If you make a mistake doing either, you just lost $100 and I don't think you have the money to replace it. There are a lot of other options to consider. Personally, I don't think the 9500 route is the best for you.

Look what I found for a $115 (including shipping).

 

[bosox188]

I probably won't OC because I don't want to risk it, but softmodding you can't really make a mistake. The drivers are guaranteed not to ruin your card, you might get artifacts if it doesn't work so you just reinstall the normal drivers. I'm not getting an Nvidia, even though the 5700 is a pretty good card. Their dx9 performance is terrible, and the clock speed on that card are slow, a non-modded 9500np might beat it. If I can save up a little more I'll see if I can get a refurb 9700, I doubt it, but I think the 9500np is a better choice than a 9600 pro. They're really about the same, and if I unlock the pipes than I have a nice card. And like I said, softmodding can't ruin the card. With that said somebody please pick which one if this is what I get?

 

[Shuzer]

I'm sorry, i'm going to have to refute that. I've purchased (for clientele) three of those cards and attempted to softmod them. they've all failed (artifacts/checkerboards) but it seems that there's about a 50:50 chance of a successful softmod.

Personally, i'd suggest looking in the newegg refub section and picking up a refurb 9800 non pro.

Fair enough, but I've heard alot of positive praise for that specific card and the ability to softmod. :cheers:
It probably just depends on the system's cooling, I'd say. Could be wrong, but it's something to consider.

 

[Shuzer]

I would definitely go with the second link. Although, a little googling proved that it has 128-bit memory, it looks more like a proper 9500. Plus, it's $5 cheaper

 

[bosox188]

Yep it's cheaper but with shipping it's the same. I've heard though that Sapphires might be better if you're gonna unlock the other pipes, and the first one looks exactly like the one on Sapphire's page. I thought the second might be better, it comes with 7 games too. Let's see what other people think.

 

[Shuzer]

Yep it's cheaper but with shipping it's the same. I've heard though that Sapphires might be better if you're gonna unlock the other pipes, and the first one looks exactly like the one on Sapphire's page. I thought the second might be better, it comes with 7 games too. Let's see what other people think.

I just thought I'd let you know that "7 games bundle" is BS.
I bought a PowerColor Evil Commando 2 -- Radeon 9700. It had the same "7 games" bundle, but they're all on one CD. They're ALL demos. And crappy ones at that.

It does, however, come with one "real" game, EVO 4x4 or something along those lines. It was a pretty crap racing game, I installed it just to see how it was, uninstalled it 30 minutes later.

 

[bosox188]

Well, I don't really care about that anyway, just thought it might have had something good.

 

[bosox188]

Well I was checking google (froogle) for 9700's and seeing if I can find a cheap one and here's one for only $10 more.

http://tekgems.com/Products/et-11655-vcd-1099420030.htm

And it's a pro. Look good?

Edit: No they're out of stock... guess they won't be getting any more since they're discontinued. ;(

 

[bosox188]

Won't let me edit again so I have to (gasp!) triple post. I'm leaving for Florida tomorrow for about a week so I won't be here, anybody has anymore advice please post and I'll be back next week. Yay, Disneyworld! :bounce:

:E