Does ATI use slower with OEM? or they just DOWN clock it?

[j@cko]

as the question asked

 

[Insane3D]

Every Radeon except the 64MB Vivo Retail uses 6ns (usually Samsung) memory and a core clocked at 166mhz. The retail version uses 5.5ns memory and is clocked at 180 something. The Radeons run the core and memory syncronous, and they can't be adjusted independantly like the GF cards..

 

[j@cko]

will the OEM version of 32MB DDR overclock well?

 

[TravisBickle]

I've seen reviews saying the card wasn't stable at anything over its factory clock. ATi puts lower rated parts a bit cheaper into OEM boxes so that PC makers can claim the pc has Radeon inside, although it's a poor man's one. I'm sure there's cherry picking from the production line for the retail boxes, but I don't suppose it means all oems are not overclockable.

 

[j@cko]

because there's a OEM 32 DDR Radeon for only $95!..
but I wanna overclock.. however, as you said, it's not very overclockable..
only very small percentage of card will actually overclocked well...

 

[Insane3D]

My oem 32mb overclocked to 201/201...you should be able to hit at least the 180/180 of the 64mb retail model...

 

[j@cko]

where did you get yours?

 

[Insane3D]

Buy.com...

 

[j@cko]

they sell OEM as well?
what was your initial clock at?

 

[Insane3D]

It was at 166/166. They all are at 166/166 except the 64mb Retail. The 32mb OEM and retail are exactly the same. The 64mb non-VIVO OEM and VIVO OEM are also at 166/166...Only the 64mb Retail VIVO is at the 180/180 and has the 5.5ns memory. The Radeon cores are the same in every radeon. Most of them are clocked lower because of the 6ns memory. The core may run at 200+, but the core and memory run syncronous so even if the core runs at 200, the memory has to be able to do it too and 200mhz(400DDR) is pretty high for 6ns memory...

 

[oldfart]

I'm getting tired of posting on this subject. I'm even more tired of people posting misinformation. It's usually the same few "if its not Nvidia, it sucks" people. First, the drivers don't suck. They are very good. 2nd, as far as the card not being overclockable, its also a false statement. All OEM and most retail 32 meg cards come with 6ns ram and are clocked @166. OEM 64 meg cards are clocked @ 166 as well. Retail 64's come with 5.5ns ram and are clocked @ 183. The recent HS only fanless OEM cards that have hit the market come through @ 148. Many people have bought these cards (as low as $95) and clock them @ 166 - 180+ no problem at all. This is a great deal on a video card if you don't mind having to adjust the clock rate with Powerstrip. The retail 64 meg cards easily go over 200Mhz. From what I have seen, over 200 there is no performance gain, so there is no need to try to go any higher.

Here is a thread on the hot deals forum about the $95 card.

 

[NeonFlak]

I would just like to clear something up. Using an older version of powerstrip you can overclock mem and core seperatly. But the performance gain won't be as high as it would be if you ran them syncronous.

 

[j@cko]

may be with that version of power stripe, on its interface it supports the the seperate adjusting, but in reality it doen't actually support?

 

[CQuinn]

TravisBickle,

That statement makes no sense to me.

The OEMs are ATI largest customer base, and it would cost more in time
and production to create a separate assembly line for lower rated parts
than it would to just make all the cards work to a minimum OEM standard.

That they might then be "cherry-picking" the best cards for retail is a
possiblity, but in that case they are no different than AMD, Intel or
half a dozen other companies. There have also been reports of engineering
sample cards getting out into the grey market, but no proof that ATI was
actually attempting to deliver a lower quality card to the people that
really pay the bills for the company.

 

[oldfart]

TravisBickle,


<< I've seen reviews saying the card wasn't stable at anything over its factory clock >>


How about some links to those reviews????

 

[sharkeeper]

The chips are probably floor sweepings.


Cheers!