9600 pro or 9800SE

[jamil5454]

ok im lookin at two cards from newegg, sapphire 9600 pro ($150) and sapphire 9800se($166). i know they both have the 4 pipelines, but the 9800se really has 8 with 4 disabled (9500 all over again!).
would the 9800se stock beat a 9600 pro stock?
it would be nice if i could mod the 9800se to a 9800 pro!







SYSTEM (everything stock) -
AthlonXP1800+ (palomino core)
ECS K7VMM+ (VIA KM266 & VT8235)
BFGtech MX440-SE
hercules fortissimo 7.1(great card)
2 x 256 PC2400 CL2.5
3dmark01 - 5000 :(
sigh...

[Magua]

I think the performance is pretty close between both of those, the 9800SE is probably a little better. I don't think there is a chance of taking a 9800SE to a 9800pro, there was another thread about this recently...quickly followed with another thread about how to fix his 9800SE.

[jamil5454]

http://www.ocfaq.com/softmod/faq.php


it says here you can mod a 9800se to 9800 pro, just not sure how many come out successful. should i get a 9500 nonpro (I-shaped memory) instead? that will have a good chance to mod to a 9500 pro.

[jamil5454]

there is also a poll on that same webpage that says 55% of users successfully modded their 9800se to 9800. and even if it doesnt mod, how much of a performance gain over the 9600 pro am i lookin at?

[bob05]

Originally posted by jamil5454
there is also a poll on that same webpage that says 55% of users successfully modded their 9800se to 9800. and even if it doesnt mod, how much of a performance gain over the 9600 pro am i lookin at?

The 9800 SE beats the 9600 Pro by a good margin without modding. Here is a benchmark: http://www.sysopt.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=990902

[Someone Stupid]

The SE I think was modded... look at the 8P behind it - 8 pipelines? Thus it is running with a different bios unless that is some tag name gagabyte tossed behind it.

[bob05]

Originally posted by Someone Stupid
The SE I think was modded... look at the 8P behind it - 8 pipelines? Thus it is running with a different bios unless that is some tag name gagabyte tossed behind it.

I see, didn't catch that. :t

[jamil5454]

if you go to www.overclockers.co.nz they have a 9800se review. at stock it beats the 9600 pro in all tests. i think im gonna go with that. plus, if you mod it successfully, it performs like a 9800/pro!
awesome.

[Benssax]

The Powercolor 9800se is built on the exact same board as the 9700pro card. Remember the 9800se card you are lookin at will not perform like the Powercolor 9800se card :t

[Benssax]

This is the good 9800se card http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=14-131-224&refer=pr1c3watch

[Someone Stupid]

It's only about 10 bucks cheaper than a Saphire 9800 which will 100% go pro - and if you don't mod you get to keep the warranty and have a good performance gain over the 9800 SE. I'd just pay the extra few bucks for the Saphire (well I did actually and mine turned into a Pro with no problems).