I have to make sorta of a tuff decision on a video card

Regs

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
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Well the new cores are just around the corner, but I have a slight problem. I think on one of my overclocking adventures with my new A64, I damaged my 9800 Non pro. 3dmark crashed, then framerates dropped until the system video card cooled itself off. Framerates returned to normal, but im afraid the damage is all ready done and the card shows many instability issues.

It's not like it crashes every time I load the games up, but it seems once the card gets heated through hours of gameplay it decides to give out.

So my problem is I have to decide either to get a 210 dollar 9800p or wait a few months for the new cores.

My main question is, how long would I have to wait for the new cores? Any news in which the new GPU cores will be available? What would you do in my situation?
 

ZombieJesus

Member
Feb 12, 2004
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But if you await for the new cores the 9800s will be cheaper waiting is good any way you look at it.
 

Regs

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
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Originally posted by: ZombieJesus
But if you await for the new cores the 9800s will be cheaper waiting is good any way you look at it.

Problem is, I would most certainly prefer the higher performer than the bargain buy. I guess it's only a answer best solved by someone's financial means.
 

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
33,944
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RMA your current video card if you think it's bad. If you need a replacement card now...then buy it now.
 

Yossarian

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
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Originally posted by: John
RMA your current video card if you think it's bad. If you need a replacement card now...then buy it now.

Blah don't RMA a card that got damaged due to overclocking. That is essentially fraud.
 

magomago

Lifer
Sep 28, 2002
10,973
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Or if money isn't too much of an issue....buy a 9800pro, use it for the next two months-->sell it once the new cards come out and use that money towards a NV40/R420
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,505
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Check to see if your vidcard fan is working properly, it may just need to be replaced.
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
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Originally posted by: Yossarian
Originally posted by: John
RMA your current video card if you think it's bad. If you need a replacement card now...then buy it now.

Blah don't RMA a card that got damaged due to overclocking. That is essentially fraud.

Yeah, sell it to an AT member on FS/FT, hope he doesn't cross-reference with earlier posts and blame instability on their system ;)

I'd imagine that with enough of such RMA activity, cards will soon burn to an PROM (Not EEPROM) as soon as they've been run out of spec (Effectively voiding your warranty). You'd have to do BIOS hacks and driver modifications if you want to OC and maintain your warranty :)



But seriously, if it is heat related try going with an overkill cooling solution for now. That Zalman fanless heatpipe thing with the optional blow-hole fan sounds like it could also be useful for protecting your future OC endeavors :)
 

KristopherKubicki

Golden Member
Jul 31, 2002
1,636
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People ask Anand Derek and I all the time about when to buy a video card. The truth of the matter is, buy the card for the game you play NOW. Waiting 3 months to buy a card and playing your game on a MX 400 doesnt make sense :) The converse as well, buying a card now expecting it to kick ass on doom 3 isnt a good idea either.

I will probably publish a price guide today or tommorow - personally i think a 9700 pro or a 9600XT are great cards for the buck. The 9600XT All in wonder just hit shelves too and that is even faster than the existing 9600XT.

Kristopher
 

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
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Originally posted by: stranger707
Why don't you just buy an Nvidia card and step up to reliability. The ATI cards flaky to begin with.
Threadcrap somewhere else.
 

Atlantean

Diamond Member
May 2, 2001
5,296
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So you think its crashing because of the heat now... that and some damage done to card? Maybe put ramsinks on the ram and they won't get as hot and might not crash.