Looking for a 9500 Pro

[WhiteKnight]

I've been watching the FS/FT forum but I haven't been able to get a used 9500 Pro off of anyone. I see them going on ebay for about $100 plus $12 ship. It is a bare card only. Is it reasonable to consider one of these or am I just setting myself up for problems?

example

 

[jiffylube1024]

Check their recent feedback posts and make sure they have good feedback.

That one you linked looks like it would be fine - the seller looks respectable. Who knows what the final price will be, though. I'd say if you want that card, bid on it (the closer to the end of the auction, the better, though).

 

[justin1466]

I have one for sale, was in use for exactly 1 year and is still goin strong, talk to me and i'll give you a good deal

 

[Ages120]

Might wanna look for a 9500 non pro. I have the pro and I think a mod with 4 more pipes would have been much more powerful then the faster memory. It holds its own with aa and af on droppping 5-6 percent performance though.

Thats right isn't it that pro had the faster memory bus but the non pro could unlock the extra pipes right.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Ages120
Might wanna look for a 9500 non pro. I have the pro and I think a mod with 4 more pipes would have been much more powerful then the faster memory. It holds its own with aa and af on droppping 5-6 percent performance though.

Thats right isn't it that pro had the faster memory bus but the non pro could unlock the extra pipes right.

Yeah, but unlocking the NP only brought it up to about Pro levels. That is, if the unlock worked. Why do you think they're selling the 9500NP then?

- M4H

 

[Cawchy87]

it has a 30day money back garentee, try to soft mod it, if it doesn't, then return it.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Cawchy87
it has a 30day money back garentee, try to soft mod it, if it doesn't, then return it.

:|

Then they test it, find it working, and don't give you your money back.

- M4H

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: Ages120
Might wanna look for a 9500 non pro. I have the pro and I think a mod with 4 more pipes would have been much more powerful then the faster memory. It holds its own with aa and af on droppping 5-6 percent performance though.

Thats right isn't it that pro had the faster memory bus but the non pro could unlock the extra pipes right.

Yeah, but unlocking the NP only brought it up to about Pro levels. That is, if the unlock worked. Why do you think they're selling the 9500NP then?

- M4H

Unlocked 9500 NP becomes 9700. That's better than 9500 Pro.

 

[fzaba]

^ Yep, you got that right. But, with the 9500 PRO you can flash the bios to 9700 Pro and overclock from there. I own a 9500 Pro and am using it right now with the 9700 Pro bios. WhiteKnight, if you want it, I can sell it to you for $100 shipped to your door. PM me for details. 100% Ebay feedback (fzaba1721) and I just mediated a $700 deal over at the Sounddomain forums.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Naustica

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: Ages120
Might wanna look for a 9500 non pro. I have the pro and I think a mod with 4 more pipes would have been much more powerful then the faster memory. It holds its own with aa and af on droppping 5-6 percent performance though.

Thats right isn't it that pro had the faster memory bus but the non pro could unlock the extra pipes right.

Yeah, but unlocking the NP only brought it up to about Pro levels. That is, if the unlock worked. Why do you think they're selling the 9500NP then?

- M4H

Unlocked 9500 NP becomes 9700. That's better than 9500 Pro.

Radeon 9500 Pro (R300) - 275/540, 128-bit memory, 8x1 pipe structure
Radeon 9700 (R300) - 275/540, 256-bit memory, 8x1 pipe structure

I thought that the softmod only unlocked the extra four pipes, not the 128->256-bit memory. Might be mistaken.

- M4H

 

[fzaba]

Link about modding Radeon 9500
snipets:
"First of all, it turned out that the 9500 had a 256-bit memory bus, not the stated 128."

"And sure enough, it turns out that the 9500 has the same 256-bit memory bus that the 9700 cards use. Look also at the memory chip arrangement on the 9500 Pro as a comparison--all together along one side of the board. 128-bit bus, as advertised."

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: fzaba
Link about modding Radeon 9500
snipets:
"First of all, it turned out that the 9500 had a 256-bit memory bus, not the stated 128."

"And sure enough, it turns out that the 9500 has the same 256-bit memory bus that the 9700 cards use. Look also at the memory chip arrangement on the 9500 Pro as a comparison--all together along one side of the board. 128-bit bus, as advertised."

Well, I'd never actually tried the softmod, so that settles that.

Hmm, crow or humble pie.

- M4H

 

[WhiteKnight]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Too bad I didn't get these replies earlier. I got a 9500 Pro for $102 from Ebay. I would have preferred to do business with someone on AT, but oh well.

It is my understanding that with the correct firmware I'll be able to oc the 9500 Pro but that only the non-pro version does the 9500->9700 softmod.

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
Thanks for the feedback everyone. Too bad I didn't get these replies earlier. I got a 9500 Pro for $102 from Ebay. I would have preferred to do business with someone on AT, but oh well.

It is my understanding that with the correct firmware I'll be able to oc the 9500 Pro but that only the non-pro version does the 9500->9700 softmod.

That's my understanding as well. Enjoy your 9500 Pro. It's a great card!

 

[nRollo]

I bought an Abit 5800 OTES off E-May, it was DOA perhaps due to the seller shipping in an envelope.
Although he wouldn't return my money due to needing it for spring break, he did offer to help me defraud Abit for a RMA.
(I did not)