Got a 9600 Pro today in a 9600SE box

I decided it was time to replace my 32 MB ATI Radeon VE 7000 card, and I read this thread in Hot Deals about the 9600 Pro being boxed in certain 9600SE packaging. I went to Best Buy armed with some gift cards from a while ago, and decided to take the plunge. After discovering that someone had HIDDEN the only 9600SE box that qualified as having the 9600 Pro in it, I bought it and took it home to install.

The difference is amazing. From a 3DMark2003 score of two hundred something with my old Radeon VE, I'm getting a score of 3232 now with the 9600 Pro. I think I'm being limited a little by my RAM (512 MB DDR 2100), but I'm going to hold off on more RAM until I get more into gaming.

Added to that, I got the 9600 Pro AND a free copy of Half-Life 2 (card in the box) for $137 after taxes, before gift cards. I never thought a video card would make such a huge difference! I'm glad I found out about this deal.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Twenty bucks says it was a BB employee trying to score one at end-of-day.

- M4H

 

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Twenty bucks says it was a BB employee trying to score one at end-of-day.

- M4H

Most likely. It was hidden amongst the 9200s!

 

[CraigRT]

awesome!
yeah the 9600 pro would be a HUGE difference over the 7000
the 7k is basically an office oriented video card... it has NO 3D balls. (I have one in my PC at work)

good deal man!

 

[Quixfire]

I did the same thing two weeks ago and installed two nights ago replacing my 7500 AIW.

Here are the results of a couple before and after benchmarks.

Text

 

Originally posted by: CraigRT
awesome!
yeah the 9600 pro would be a HUGE difference over the 7000
the 7k is basically an office oriented video card... it has NO 3D balls. (I have one in my PC at work)

good deal man!

Yeah, I got it when I got my computer because it was the only cheap video card I could find that had acceptable DVI performance (I'm using a Dell 1504FP).

 

[boyRacer]

would a 9600 Pro at 500/350 be as fast as a 9600XT?

 

[adlep]

Pheh, I got my Radeon 9800 yesterday for $180.00 (Newegg's refurb)...
It will destroy your pooney 9600...
:evil:

 

Originally posted by: adlep
Pheh, I got my Radeon 9800 yesterday for $180.00 (Newegg's refurb)...
It will destroy your pooney 9600...
:evil:

But you paid $80 more for a refurb!

 

[Hubris]

Friend of mine's getting me a 9800 Pro for $200.

 

[adlep]

But you paid $80 more for a refurb!

Yeah, bu t twice as powerfull -$100.00 I will get for my current Ti4400... = $80.00 for a Radeon 9800 :evil:
Edit: But your deal is not bad at all

 

[nitsuj3580]

haha..that happened to me back last year when people were finding the 8x 128 MB GF4 4200 cards inside GF4 4200 4x 64 MB boxes for $79

I walked into Best Buy and didn't see any on the shelfs. Low and behold I crouch down to look way in the back of the bottom row behind other random vid cards and found one

Brought it back home and sure enough, 8x 128 MB card!