Good deal on a 9800np.....maybe

[Wedge1]

Is there any reason to think that this 9800np at Best Buy would not flash to a 9800pro?

I've been eyeballing that OEM Sapphire at Newegg, which has a good reputation for flashing to 9800pro clock speeds, and it costs the same as this one at Best Buy. This deal at Best Buy isn't bad, but you would have to add sales tax.

Cost issues aside, what do you guys think about this card? Is it likely to flash to the pro speeds or not likely?

Btw, is the non-pro not a 256 bit interface?

 

[GullyFoyle]

I would say your odds are good you will get a card able to flash to a Pro.

The only cards I've heard any issues with are ones that come with Infineon (sp?) RAM. I hear ATI prefers the Samsung 2.8 ram on their cards. Buying at Best Buy, it should be relatively easy to return it if you get stuck wth the Infineon RAM.

In as much as I've seen people advertising Built-By-ATI cards, I've also heard that Sapphire makes those same cards for ATI.

The tax you would pay would be worth the three year warranty you get by buying an ATI.

Go for it.

 

[Wedge1]

Thanks for that response Dan A 3 year warranty is a good deal.

But I have one more question. I edited this same question to my original post. I'm looking at the description of Best Buy's card: I don't see "256 bit interface" that is advertised with the 9800 pro.

Are the 9800 np's only 128 bit? Perhaps this is why Newegg and Best Buy sell them for $250? Obviously, I'm confused. Help me out here.

 

[modedepe]

Both 9800 pro's and non pro's have a 256 bit memory interface. The only 9800 that doesn't have it is one version of the 9800 se.

 

[modedepe]

Btw - somebody in the hot deals forum said theirs had 3.0 infineon. I heard a while back that best buys 9800's all seemed to come with the crappy ram. If you definitely want to flash to pro and don't want to mess with a possible return, get the one from newegg.

 

[Wedge1]

Ah, ok thanks!

The only way to verify would be to view the card out of the box and check the chips?

 

[FullRoast]

I went through the same decision yesterday. I actually had the box in my hands at Best buy, but decided to order the Sapphire card from newegg instead.

If you do get the card from Best Buy, please post which memory it has. Just curious.

 

[hclarkjr]

i have a best buy radeon 9800 non pro in my system right now, tell me where and what to look for on the memory to see what kind it is.

 

[ethebubbeth]

look on the actual BGA ram chips, they will have the manufacturer listed on them

 

[PepperDog]

MY BBA 9800 Non-pro from Best Buy came with the 2.86ns (-GC2A) Samsung. You can always return within 30 days, so whats the harm in trying?

It flashed to a pro with no problems, running stock pro speed (378/337 I think?) now. It will clock to 400+ core and 350+ memory with no problems too. Much higher than 350 mem and I get some artifacts, but the stock pro speed is good enough for me atm.


Good luck...YMMV of course

 

[Wedge1]

Originally posted by: PepperDog
MY BBA 9800 Non-pro from Best Buy came with the 2.86ns (-GC2A) Samsung. You can always return within 30 days, so whats the harm in trying?

Cool!! Maybe I'll get that lucky. I still haven't had time to go there this weekend. Maybe I'll just buy it without asking to view it first. Like you said, I have 30 days to return it. I won't be able to go for another couple of days, but I will definitely post back when I do.

 

[risingpheonix]

Got the 3.0 infineon from best buy exchanging now. Wish me luck.

 

[GullyFoyle]

I won't be able to go for another couple of days, but I will definitely post back when I do.

Specials usually last for one week at retail stores. You know, Sunday to Saturday. Too late, it's not $250 anymore.

 

[Wedge1]

Yup too late. It's an hour from where I live and I did not have time to make the trip over there this past weekend. Oh well. There will be other sales. Probably should go with Newegg anyway since so many people are having good luck with them.

 

[zdecker]

Circuit City has the 9800np right now for $250. Its a BB ATI card. I'll have to double check but I believe mine came with the Samsung RAM as it is the smaller type as opposed to the larger type which i believe is the Infinieon(sp)? Regardless its a lot better then the Intel Extreme Integrated graphics which I was using

 

[Chompman]

You got a link to the circuit city deal? Couldn't find it myself for 250 or is it not on website?

 

[hans007]

you guys who return things because you dont get the ram you want for o/cing are terrible. youa re just upping the cost of retail goods . i hope you pay restocking fees up the ass.

 

[Chompman]

Then they should tell you what the ram is and we won't ned to return the products

 

[DerLord7]

So is the $250 deal at circuit city real or not? I can't seem to find anything at the site even regarding a 9800np. Is the sale only in-store or something?

 

[modedepe]

Originally posted by: DerLord7
So is the $250 deal at circuit city real or not? I can't seem to find anything at the site even regarding a 9800np. Is the sale only in-store or something?

Unless this is some unadvertised deal, possibly only at one location or something, I don't think there is a deal. I can't find anything on the cc website, and the only card advertised in the cc ads for this week was a 9600 pro.

 

[zdecker]

Hate to bring this back to the top but................The Circuit City deal is for real. It's not a special promotion or rebate which they are having, it's also non-advertised. I went to CC with all intentions of picking up a 9600 pro. They had 2 9800np left without any price attached. Guy ran a price check and came back at 249.99. Didn't believe it myself and had a 2nd guy run a price check, same result. I calmly went to the register and handed over my money Did they mess up the price? I don't think so, but it is a good deal!

 

[Regs]

there any reason to think that this 9800np at Best Buy would not flash to a 9800pro?

I'm a reason. Like others stated, I too got stock with infineon ram which cannot work stable after 300 Mhz. Built by ATI, bought it at Best Buy.

 

[Wedge1]

I just got the same card - 9800np with infineon 3.0ns.

Haven't tried overclocking it yet, but I have RivaTuner and will see what I can do later.

 

[Errors]

Overclockers NZ did a review of a Gigacube 9800np that uses Infineon 3.0ns ram and seemed quite happy with it...
3.0ns 9800 review

 

[Wedge1]

Hmmm......can't get my memory past 3-twenty-something. It artifacts badly at 330.