I was surfing the web and came across this
beyond3D review of the Sapphire 9600 (non-pro) and I noticed that it was passively cooled. Amazing. I guess I shouldn?t be too surprised as the 9600 is ATI?s first core on the new 0.13 micron fab process and their current 0.15 manufactured cards already run cool with small hsf?s.
The 9600 is clocked 325/200 as opposed to the pro?s 400/300.
In the pictures of the 9600 review it?s possible to make out that it comes with ?4ns Hynix memory. This is good news for overclocking. I was hoping the 9600 didn?t have cheap ?5 memory like a lot of cards with 200mhz memory. A lot of time 5ns memory doesn?t even make it to 250mhz. I checked a few reviews and 4ns hynix usually gets up to around 280mhz in the tests I?ve seen (128MB cards) and over 300mhz on 64MB cards. Some of the new ?4 memory on 128MB cards are even getting over 300mhz these days.
This makes a 30% overclock for both GPU & memory a piece of cake. Stock 325/200 ----> 422/260. I would think the 9600 GPU should get up to around 500mhz, but even clocked around 450 with the memory at 275 it should be about as fast as the 9600pro.
The one downside to passive cooling is you probably don?t want to overclock the card. Shoot. I?ve been waiting for this card and it?s overclocking potential. Oh well, if I get one I?ll just have to add a little fan on that HS. In my experience even a little airflow on a HS makes a huge difference in temperatures.