Best $60-$70 video card? Radeon 9550? 9500? Difference?

[Techie333]

Trying to decide which video card is best for around $60-$70 off ebay. I'm looking at Radeon 9550 as best choice right now. What do you guys think? What are major differences between 9550 and 9500 because I can probably get a 9500 for cheaper off ebay. Thanks.

 

[Wadded Beef]

9500 pro will have 8 pipes, 9500 will have 4, 9550 will be about the same as 9500 performance wise, but it's built on the cooler running .13 micron process

 

[Techie333]

Originally posted by: Wadded Beef
9500 pro will have 8 pipes, 9500 will have 4, 9550 will be about the same as 9500 performance wise, but it's built on the cooler running .13 micron process

Does that necessarily mean you will be able to OC 9550 more?

 

[imported_Kensai]

Should be able to.

 

[Wadded Beef]

Originally posted by: Kensai
Should be able to.

o/c'ing a 9550 is like putting a cold air intake on a corolla... get a used 9500 pro if you can afford it...even 9700 and 9800 pros are almost within your price range, newegg has refurbed 9800 pros for a little over $100...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102379R

 

[Munky]

If you have a choice between a 9550, a 9600pro, or a 9500pro, definitely get a 9500pro. Those things have 8 pipes, are faster than the 9600, and completely dominated the midrange market when they were released.

Even better, if you can get a 9500 non-pro with the memory arranged in a L-shape, instead of in a single row, you can mod it to a 9700, which are still good enough to play all the latest games at medium-high settings.

 

[fstime]

I always liked the 9500p better than the 9600 series.

Cant go wrong with those 8 pipes.


But as stated above, if you can find a 9500np card that will softmod to a 9700, thats better than both.