Difference between 128mb/256mb ATI 9600

[ryansarni]

i am in the market for an ATI 9600 card but am not sure if i should get the 128 or 256mb version. is the ram the same on both cards? i remember that the nvidia 4200 ti had different ram speeds on the 128 and 256mb versions. does anyone know of any benchmarks comparing the two?

thanks,
Ryan

 

[GTaudiophile]

ATi does not make a 256MB version. Those are only made by OEMs. It's also possible, though I am not sure, that the 256MB cards are available in non-PRO form only. Since 256 isn't necessary at the moment, I'd get a retail ATi Radeon 9600 PRO and OC the heck out of it...maybe add some additional cooling.

 

[Tbirdkid]

256 meg is junk. just get 128

 

[modedepe]

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
256 meg is junk. just get 128

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: modedepe

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
256 meg is junk. just get 128

by the time 256 megs of ram has a point it'll be like 128 megabyte Geforce4mx420s out there

 

[Blastman]

9600 256MB cards are clocked 400/200.
9600 pro 128M are 400/300

256MB is not needed on a midrange card. It can never run fast enough at very high resolutions (1600x1200) with AA/AF cranked all the way up to use it anyway. 128MB is plenty.

You?d be much better off to go for a 128MB 9600 pro in the $150 range. It will run games significantly faster than a 9600 256MB because of the 100mhz faster memory. Make sure it is a pro clocked 400/300DDR and not one of the 9600 pro ?EZ? or ?Lite? versions also clocked 400/200.

 

[Nafets]

I also was considering either a 9600NP 128MB or 9600NP 256MB card. Before my purchase I did a little research and came upon this gem of a review. It compares the 9600NP 128MB, 9600NP 256MB, and 9600 Pro 128MB cards. After looking at the results, I eschewed the 9600NP's for a nice 9600 Pro 128MB. It was well worth the extra $30...

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: modedepe

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
256 meg is junk. just get 128

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: shady06

Originally posted by: modedepe

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
256 meg is junk. just get 128

but make it a pro

 

[Blastman]

I should make a correction.

9600 pro 256MB is clocked ?400/200
9600 ? NP ? ? 256MB is clocked ?325/200

That 256MB Sapphire 9600np comes with -5ns memory which only overclocked to 205DDR (410). Terrible.

EDIT: THat 400/200 pro is likely a "EZ" or "Lite" version. Do they make 256MB 9600pro's clocked 400/300??? ... I don't know.

 

[OverVolt]

Originally posted by: Blastman
I should make a correction.

9600 pro 256MB is clocked ?400/200
9600 ? NP ? ? 256MB is clocked ?325/200

That 256MB Sapphire 9600np comes with -5ns memory which only overclocked to 205DDR (410). Terrible.

negative 5ns.... impressive latency!

 

[Blastman]

negative 5ns.... impressive latency!

LOL