2900 pro 512mb,256 bit (new egg 149$ and 15$ rebate)

[Zap]

Originally posted by: ghost recon88
better than a HD3850? Yes hands down better!

Okay, for $141 shipped after rebate, I might be in...

 

[ForeStorm]

And I might be right there with you... How overclockable is the 256-bit? Still up to XT speeds?

 

[tbogstad]

is this at stock twice as fast as a x1950pro 256mb???

 

[Budarow]

Just a word of warning...I bought a X850XT PE card ~18 months ago which also had a $15 MIR. I had to fight like heck with "Sapphire" to get a lousy $15 back from MyRebates411. And Newegg simply said they had no connection with Sapphire rebates so they couldn't/wouldn't do anything to assist.

 

[Zap]

I was a bit concerned about the rebate as well, with all the extra and non-standard stuff in the fine print like having to pre-register and not allowing resubmittals.

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer

Originally posted by: KingThot

Originally posted by: JoeyM
Newegg has this for $140 AR ($15)

That's a 256-bit, about 5% slower and not flashable to XT.

Good luck to all who ordered through eWiz. My order was canceled last night.

Mine too... 🙁 They said eWiz listed the cards 512 bit version by mistake but in actuality they were 256's. But hey, at least they were up front about their mistake and did the right thing... I'd have been pissed if they had shipped and I'd actually gotten a 256 bit card after paying for the 512 and then having to go though the hassle of an RMA and re-shipping, waiting for my refund, etc. etc...

Well, mine shipped and is supposed to get here on Thursday. If it's 256-bit and not 512-bit, then it's going back to ewiz :-( I'll update you guys when I get it.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer

Originally posted by: KingThot

Originally posted by: JoeyM
Newegg has this for $140 AR ($15)

That's a 256-bit, about 5% slower and not flashable to XT.

Good luck to all who ordered through eWiz. My order was canceled last night.

Mine too... 🙁 They said eWiz listed the cards 512 bit version by mistake but in actuality they were 256's. But hey, at least they were up front about their mistake and did the right thing... I'd have been pissed if they had shipped and I'd actually gotten a 256 bit card after paying for the 512 and then having to go though the hassle of an RMA and re-shipping, waiting for my refund, etc. etc...

Well, mine shipped and is supposed to get here on Thursday. If it's 256-bit and not 512-bit, then it's going back to ewiz :-( I'll update you guys when I get it.

I think you may be OK! Here's why:

If you followed my posts in the thread, you'd see where I ordered one earlier in the day for 174.00 then canceled after the price went back down to 169.00 and re-ordered at the lower price. I too got the call saying my order was canceled because it was the wrong card, but then I just got this reply in my junk e-mail (thank God I decided to check it!)...

From: xxxx.xxxx@ewiz.com
To: xxxxxxxx@hotmail.com
Subject: eWiz order: E297XXX
Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:18:51 -0800


Dear JR,

I just got an update from our warehouse. Apparently we got 1 last piece of the card you wanted, AT-29PRO51 in stock. This is the 512 memory interface one that was originally ordered.

Please let me know if you would still like this order. We can honor the lower pricing ($169.49) on it.

Xxxx Xxxx
eWiz.com
408-934-2500

Nice.. 😎

Edit: And... a little off topic here - I just got my tracking # for the $119.00 Retail Box Vista HP that I picked up on a pricing error! Man I feel like I've been KILLIN it on Hot Deals lately!!

ATHD ROCKS!! :thumbsup:

 

[apoppin]

Price is at $159 ... for a total of $177 shipped [minus a possible] $15 MIR .. there is *nothing* i can get for that price for my rig that will give me a significant performance increase ... i doubt i can get $200 for my 2900xt and it is over $450 for a 3870x2 ...
--i am thinking mine will be a "poor mans" 3870x2 😛

i guess i can only pair my 2900xt with a 2900p or another XT according to the charts:

http://ati.amd.com/technology/crossfire/charts.html

So ... i have a MB with a 16x and a 4x PCIe slot ... the 4X slot definitely 'holds back' a 2900xt but shouldn't with the 10% slower 2900pro. Also, if i keep it stock, my 850w OCZ should be plenty for a X-fire setup

so i ordered it ... i expect to have it Thursday

here's what really made my decision as i think Sapphire sucks Crossfire dongles:

Return Policies

This item is covered by Newegg.com's Standard Return Policy.

* Return for refund within: 30 days
* Return for replacement within: 1 year

if somehow i am dissatisfied or my PS is insufficient, i will be glad to pay $30 restocking fee for the *experience* with CrossFire
-i am dying to try it out
---and if i keep it, i won't ever have to screw with a Sapphire RMA and their rip-off $15 "processing fee"

 

[Zap]

I ended up passing on this because of the rebate plus higher power usage. I ordered two 3870 cards from Micro Center (see other deal) for just under $400 shipped.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Zap
I ended up passing on this because of the rebate plus higher power usage. I ordered two 3870 cards from Micro Center (see other deal) for just under $400 shipped.

if i could crossfire with 3800 series - as i once thought - i would have preferred 3870 ... as it is, i will be running my 2900xt at the slower [oc'd] 2900pro speeds in Crossfire ... i really don't know if it going to be worth it or not performancewise ... that's why i am taking a chance for $30 - it's an 'education' in multi-GPU for me. As my PS is sufficient and i already have a 2900xt, it's a good chance for me to try Xfire for cheap.

Look for an 'open box' 2900p in a month 😛

 

[apoppin]

it arrived today ... and it looks like a toy compared to my VisionTek 2900XT ... kind of like my x1950p/512MB Sapphire looked "cheap" next to the more solid looking VT x1950p/256. But it will probably do the job as it is a lot less power hungry than my XT.

at least i hope it will do the job .. there is only one external 8-plug power connector; it is lacking the extra 6-pin plug of my 2900xt ... i only expect to keep it a year, so i can always RMA it thru NewEgg instead of paying Sapphire's ripoff $15 "processing fee"
i do not plan to install it until the weekend as i am benchmarking Vista 32-bit vs. Vista 64-bit in this thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2144497&enterthread=y

when i am done with the "first round" i will install X-fire and let everyone know how it affects RAM usage in the respective OSes ... i will be running it - hopefully OC'd - with my2900xt and will report on the card in that thread this weekend
[if you are interested]

btw, it's still available ... and now shipping is free
[i think i paid $6 for next-day service 😛
-UPS Ground]

 

[kalrith]

I received the car from ewiz today. I can't find anything except the packing list that states it's 512-bit. It looks exactly like the 256-bit card on Newegg except that it has an 8-pin and a 6-pin power connector. Can someone help me verify this before I install it?

Thanks!

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: kalrith
I received the car from ewiz today. I can't find anything except the packing list that states it's 512-bit. It looks exactly like the 256-bit card on Newegg except that it has an 8-pin and a 6-pin power connector. Can someone help me verify this before I install it?

Thanks!

Yours is Sapphire?

on the Green label with the P/N and SKU is written HD2900PRO 512M 256-BIT
also on the Card itself, on the bottom - also a green label - say "256-bit"
--and on the front of the box it has "256-bit edition" pretty plainly written
---on TOP of that, mine has only *one* 8 pin pciE power connector [my XT has 1-8 and 1-6 pin] :Q
---there is no question, *mine* is 256-bit 😛

 

[kmmatney]

I bought one yesterday. I almost bought a HD3870, but then decided that this was a better deal at $134 AR. I heard the 256 vs. 512 bit shouldn't make much difference - at least I hope it wont. I plan on overclocking it some to get performance greater than at least HD3850 levels. I really wanted to stay around the $150 mark, and this looks like the best bang-for-buck at that price price,.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: kmmatney
I bought one yesterday. I almost bought a HD3870, but then decided that this was a better deal at $134 AR. I heard the 256 vs. 512 bit shouldn't make much difference - at least I hope it wont. I plan on overclocking it some to get performance greater than at least HD3850 levels. I really wanted to stay around the $150 mark, and this looks like the best bang-for-buck at that price price,.

what resolution do you run at?

starting at but especially over 16x10, you would appreciate 512-bit over 256 - especially IF you try to add AA.
--below 16x10, it is a fairly small performance hit ... a couple of percentage points, afaik. IF you can OC it to XT speeds you will have a pretty fast card ... closer to 3870 speeds than 3850.

This is my "2nd" card ... for CrossFire. My MB has 1-pciE X16 for my 2900xt and a pciE X4 slot for my new Pro. The bandwidth is limited by the 4x express lane ~10 to 25% so the Pro shouldn't be too much slower than another XT
- that is, IF i can get the clockspeed to match my XT. If so, there will be no penalty.
[doubtful - *Both* GPUs in X-fire must run at the slower of the two speeds if there is a mismatch ... so i want to get the Pro as hi as she will go]

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: kalrith
I received the car from ewiz today. I can't find anything except the packing list that states it's 512-bit. It looks exactly like the 256-bit card on Newegg except that it has an 8-pin and a 6-pin power connector. Can someone help me verify this before I install it?

Thanks!

Yours is Sapphire?

on the Green label with the P/N and SKU is written HD2900PRO 512M 256-BIT
also on the Card itself, on the bottom - also a green label - say "256-bit"
--and on the front of the box it has "256-bit edition" pretty plainly written
---on TOP of that, mine has only *one* 8 pin pciE power connector [my XT has 1-8 and 1-6 pin] :Q
---there is no question, *mine* is 256-bit 😛

Mine is Sapphire. On that same spot is written "HD2900 PRO 512M GDDR3 PCI-E DUAL DVI-I/VIVO". Hopefully the lack of "256-bit" means that it's 512-bit. I'll be out of town this weekend, so I won't get to my build until at least next Monday night.

Edit: On another green sticker on the card, it says, "ATI RADEON HD2900PRO 512MB".

 

[kmmatney]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: kmmatney
I bought one yesterday. I almost bought a HD3870, but then decided that this was a better deal at $134 AR. I heard the 256 vs. 512 bit shouldn't make much difference - at least I hope it wont. I plan on overclocking it some to get performance greater than at least HD3850 levels. I really wanted to stay around the $150 mark, and this looks like the best bang-for-buck at that price price,.

what resolution do you run at?

starting at but especially over 16x10, you would appreciate 512-bit over 256 - especially IF you try to add AA.
--below 16x10, it is a fairly small performance hit ... a couple of percentage points, afaik. IF you can OC it to XT speeds you will have a pretty fast card ... closer to 3870 speeds than 3850.

This is my "2nd" card ... for CrossFire. My MB has 1-pciE X16 for my 2900xt and a pciE X4 slot for my new Pro. The bandwidth is limited by the 4x express lane ~10 to 25% so the Pro shouldn't be too much slower than another XT
- that is, IF i can get the clockspeed to match my XT. If so, there will be no penalty.
[doubtful - *Both* GPUs in X-fire must run at the slower of the two speeds if there is a mismatch ... so i want to get the Pro as hi as she will go]

I game anywhere from 1280x800 to 1920x1200 with my current card. I play a lot of older games, which can run at 1920 x 1200, even with my X850XT. I never use AA, either (don't like blurry text). I know I won't be able to play the latest games with the 2900Pro, but the next game I'm playing is the Witcher, which I hope will run at 1920 x 1200 with no AA.

 

[apoppin]

nope ... sorry ... The Witcher will run OK at 16x10 on a 2900xt, however ... everything maxed 0AA/16xAF
-you won't get it with 19x12 without some compromise 🙁

[i am playing it now ... 😛]

---


i think you're safe, kalrith. Mine has all the disclaimers.

 

[apoppin]

Did any of you get a CrossFire Bridge interconnect?

G*-D* Sapphire is evidently too f'in cheap to include one :|
:thumbsdown:

- i got one with my VT 2900xt 😛
-i need another one 🙁

and what a Mess in my case ... i thought i'd just toss in that 2nd card

why can't everything be easy? ... where is that damn Staples button?
😕


i have to move a LOT of crap - HDs, cables, everything - to SQUEEZE that card into the 2nd PCIe slot
--'cooling' looks like *fun* ... i am beginning to be glad it is NOT a 2nd 2900xt

EDIT: --or am i living in the past?

or am i wrong?
😕

http://www.sapphiretech.com/us..._overview.php?gpid=200

Dual channel interconnect is not required for ATI CrossFire, and may not be included in all product configurations

 

[kalrith]

I'm not sure what the answer is to your last question, but I did receive the crossfire bridge interconnect with mine.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: kalrith
I'm not sure what the answer is to your last question, but I did receive the crossfire bridge interconnect with mine.

you got the "full version"

:roll:

mine is 256-bit ... looks cheap ... like two-bits 😛



😀

 

[apoppin]

OK ... anyone getting the 256-bit version and wants Crossfire has to spend another $15 for a Bridge interconnect cable since Sapphire is too damn cheap to include it. [actually you need 2; 1 came with my VT 2900xt] ... i ordered from NewEgg ... nothing special on the price

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814999002

so it will be Tuesday when i set up Xfire 😛
- i waited since May ... a few more days shouldn't hurt that bad
🙁

 

[CrazyHorse]

People who are bashing the 256bit versions simply don't know what they are talking about. My overclocked 256bit outperformed my overclocked HD 3870 with the lag of DX 10.1 and DDR4. Yes the 256bit does consum more power then the HD 3xxx Series but nicely not as much as the 512bit Version.

6pin adapter will be more then enough for overclocking (no overdrive though).

The lag of the Crossfire Bridge is unfortunately true for this package but a for a 135 Dollar card i won't complain.

This card my standard run only 600/800 but you are welcome to look up my thread at techpowerup / videocards to see what you can do and where you can find a nice bios to mod your card.

Highest i did so far was 840/1150 and there is still head room specially after i put the waterblock on it.

I m also sure the 256bit version does not produce as much heat as the 512bit version. Yeah 512bit would be kick ass at that price but holy cow the 256bit can kick some ass too if you use it the right way.

First Card 160 - 15 = 145
Second Card 150 - 15 = 135

Crossfire Setup HD 2900 Pro 256bit $280

Got a crossfire bridge from my motherboard, should i need a second one oh well $15 more. Still can't beat that performance with a single 8800 Ultra / GTX / GTS NV92

I run it all the time on 750/1000 which gives me about the same results as a HD 3870 stock. Second card is on the way.

 

[apoppin]

i was up all night finishing my Vista 32 vs. 64-bit Part 1 showdown
[32-bit is just as "high end" for gaming; and there are no longer issues with Vista 64]

so i decided to install Xfire ... you *can* do it with one interconnect bridge [but CCC is giving me a message that my CrossFire is not "optimal"] .... if i had room in my case it would be *easy* - as it is, i had to move everything and 4 SATA ports are covered by the Pro [i can 'workaround']

Without oc'ing my pro - and with my CPU downclocked to 3.0Ghz for the benchmarking - 3DMark06 went from 10092 to 12251
-if i get ~13000 - it *must* OC for me to keep it - it will eat a GTX ultra for breakfast and i will finally get to use some "AA" at maxed out 16x10 DX9c setting ... DX10 even becomes playable at lower resolutions

so good deal!

 

[kmmatney]

I tried overclocking my 2900Pro with ATI Tray Tools (my favorites overclocking program in the past) but it doesn't seem to support the 2900Pro. What other good programs for overclocking are there? CCC will allow me to overclock, but I'd like something better, if possible.