Can one of you experts recommend a specific 9600 Pro?

[GagHalfrunt]

Looking for a video card in the $100 range or under and it looks like the 9600 Pro 128MB is the best bang for the buck. In shopping around it looks like every 9600 Pro on earth is different. Even on Newegg the reviews are filled with comments like "Should be 600mhz memory, but it's really 400mhz" or "the 400mhz core speed models are good, but this one is only 325mhz" etc etc etc

It seems like every 9600 Pro is a crapshoot as to which model or what vendor to order from. Can anyone offer any advice to make sure I get a decent one and not the slower model?

 

[imported_Noob]

Download ATITool and see what the default speeds are:

http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: Noob
Download ATITool and see what the default speeds are:

http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/

How exactly is that going to help without buying one first?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Looks like the 400/400 models are the ones using 256mb of slower memory vs 128 which is what you want.

This Sapphire looks fine to me.

 

[hans030390]

the 6200 is the best bang for the buck for $100. You have a good chance of unlocking 4 pipelines in it and OCing it to a 6600...now, for $100, what more could you want? a 6600 is more like a x700. x700>9600. plus there is shader model 3.0 support with the nvidia 6200.

that's your best buy for $100

 

[GagHalfrunt]

The only AGP Geforce 6200's that I could find in that price range are the 64-bit versions. Do you know of any unlockable 128-bit 6200's that are available for $100?

 

[hans030390]

I've seen on on newegg for $96 (128bit) unlocking isn't guaranteed. I would just shell out the extra $16 dollars for a 6600. it's a huge improvement.

wait...i'm wrong...i was thinking pci-e (i was searching for a friend and got prices confused.)

you COULD try a refurbished 6600 or 6200....other then that, i think $120 for the leadtek 6200 is worth it compared to a 9600...cmon, i really doubt that you cant get $20 more...

 

[SleepWalkerX]

personally i would go for the leadtek 6200. otherwise, the sapphire that was posted seems like the next best thing.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Why the 6200 over a 6600 for about the same price?

OOPS. Nevermind, just noticed that the 6600 for that price is also a 64-bit version. Damn this is annoying.

 

[Blastman]

There are a couple of 9600 128MB pro?s that are clocked 400/200DDR (Gigabyte) and 400/223DDR (Sapphire Advantage). True 9600pro 128MB is 400/300 DDR (600).

You can tell the difference by the layout of the PCB. The Slower clocked 9600pro?s have the same layout as the regular 9600?s -- they just add a fan to the heatsink of the regular 9600?s that are passively cooled.

A faster clocked true 9600pro has a lot more capacitors and stuff on the PCB -- different layout.

This is a Sapphire 9600pro ?Advantage? clocked 400/223DDR ? newegg
It has same layout as a regular 9600 but has a fan on the heatsink instead of being just passively cooled. It?s actually an ok card for only $87.

This MSI 9600pro is a true pro AFAICT ? MSI 9600pro

Compare the MSI PCB layout with the slower clocked Sapphire 9600pro

Regular 9600 9600

The MSI has the same PCB layout as this 9600XT ?
powercolor

You might spend a few extra $ and get a Sapphire 9600XT 128MB ?$118 ?
9600XT You can see the PCB layout is much more complex -- like the true 9600pro?s.

If not the MSI looks good.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Thanks Yoyo and Blastman, that was the info I was looking for.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Thanks Yoyo and Blastman, that was the info I was looking for.

:thumbsup: have fun.

 

[Triforceofcourage]

I have the gigabyte 9600 pro and it has served me well for over a year now

 

[hans030390]

...6200/6600 is far more future proof, and better in general.