ATI Card Brand Recommendations/Preferences?

[n8thegr8]

I'm about to order an hd3850, just wondering if any brands have a particular edge over the others in any way. Diamond? HIS? ..Sapphire?

 

[Syntax Error]

From what I've read here, Sapphire has some crappy tech support and customer service.

 

[Sandan]

I usually get Sapphire cards...The reason is each time I researched for a new ATI card Sapphire did well in the reviews I found...Don't know about the tech support never had to use them.

 

[saiga6360]

I think they are all pretty much the same. ATI uses Diamond for their name band cards, if that means anything.

 

[bryanW1995]

Visiontek has a lifetime warranty, everyone else that I've seen has 1 year.

I got his at newegg on nov15 b/c it was the only one available, so far that card seems to work fine. I also had a 1950xt sapphire that was fine, though I only had it for 5 mos b4 upgrading.

 

[Rottie]

I pick Diamond cuz the headquarter is only 45 min drive ftom my home.

 

[mruffin75]

Originally posted by: saiga6360
I think they are all pretty much the same. ATI uses Diamond for their name band cards, if that means anything.

They do? Last time i heard Sapphire made all of ATI's brand name cards...

ATI purchased the FireGL brand from Diamond...that's about the extent of their relationship afaik..

But back on topic... I wouldn't recommend Sapphire from all the reports of bad support...
I've got all Sapphire cards, (upto 2900XT) but thankfully so far haven't had a problem..

I do have a soft spot for HIS though...where I used to work we used to sell heaps of them and never had a single problem...

 

[n8thegr8]

Sweet, thanks guys!

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: mruffin75

Originally posted by: saiga6360
I think they are all pretty much the same. ATI uses Diamond for their name band cards, if that means anything.

They do? Last time i heard Sapphire made all of ATI's brand name cards...

ATI purchased the FireGL brand from Diamond...that's about the extent of their relationship afaik..

But back on topic... I wouldn't recommend Sapphire from all the reports of bad support...
I've got all Sapphire cards, (upto 2900XT) but thankfully so far haven't had a problem..

I do have a soft spot for HIS though...where I used to work we used to sell heaps of them and never had a single problem...

that's good to know!

 

[vailr]

If you can wait a few weeks, there should also be 3800 series cards from Gigabyte and Asus, for example.
They usually offer extra features, such as silent heat pipe cooling or VIVO; but also at a premium price.

 

[VChuck]

Originally posted by: mruffin75

Originally posted by: saiga6360
I think they are all pretty much the same. ATI uses Diamond for their name band cards, if that means anything.

They do? Last time i heard Sapphire made all of ATI's brand name cards...

ATI purchased the FireGL brand from Diamond...that's about the extent of their relationship afaik..

But back on topic... I wouldn't recommend Sapphire from all the reports of bad support...
I've got all Sapphire cards, (upto 2900XT) but thankfully so far haven't had a problem..

I do have a soft spot for HIS though...where I used to work we used to sell heaps of them and never had a single problem...

100% what he said.

 

[JPB]

I used to have a HIS X1900GT all of 2006 and some of 2007 without a single problem. It idled at 36c and load was 45c. IceQ3 version.

 

[nemesismk2]

I usually go with Sapphire for ATI, none of their video cards has ever let me down. I have also owned HIS video cards and love their ICEQ cooling system which is very quiet and efficent!

 

[Martimus]

I have always read great reviews on PowerColor ATi cards, and they usually have the best included bundle with their cards.

 

[Oceandevi]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
Visiontek has a lifetime warranty, everyone else that I've seen has 1 year.

I got his at newegg on nov15 b/c it was the only one available, so far that card seems to work fine. I also had a 1950xt sapphire that was fine, though I only had it for 5 mos b4 upgrading.

Thats all I needed. THX!

 

[saiga6360]

Originally posted by: mruffin75

Originally posted by: saiga6360
I think they are all pretty much the same. ATI uses Diamond for their name band cards, if that means anything.

They do? Last time i heard Sapphire made all of ATI's brand name cards...

ATI purchased the FireGL brand from Diamond...that's about the extent of their relationship afaik..

Unless I am misreading it, http://ati.amd.com/products/ra.../partner_products.html it looks like the cards are made by Diamond and VisionTek. Must be a recent change then. *shrug*

I'm liking my Diamond card so far. No problems yet.

 

[n7]

I've heard nothing but bad things about Sapphire's warranty, where you have to pay at least $15 just to get it looked at...so i'd sugggest basically anyone but them

 

[bryanW1995]

yeah, for amd cards it's basically VT>everyone else>sapphire. Sapphire seems to be the volume leader but their cust service has a bad reputation, so...