Looking to softmod a Radeon 9800 - Help

[d33pblue]

Its time for a new video card. I did have my eye on the 9600 XT for $158 shipped from Newegg. However I've been seeing things about people softmodding Radeon 9800s into 9800 pro cards and softmodding 9800SE cards into 9800 cards.

How safe is this procedure? Does it put undue strain on the video cards cooling? If so, would a cooling upgrade be necessary?

Finally, if anyone could point me to specific links to softmoddable cards, I would greatly appreciate it. I havent done much research on the subject and I dont know which cards are prime candidates for this procedure and which arent.

Thanks.

 

[Richdog]

If you live in Europe I can point you to links... if you live in the USA as far as I know there are no sites (that I know of anyway) that sell them as 100% guaranteed soft-moddable. If you live in the USA I strongly suggest you keep your eyes to Ebay, and search daily for someone selling one.:beer:

 

[d33pblue]

So youre saying you dont know of ANY US sellers that sell cards that are known to be softmoddable?

 

[Richdog]

That's what the post says.:beer:

 

[Killrose]

There was a good article somewhere recently on the 9800se and which ones are moddable. There are basically two types of 9800se models. One has ram in a straight line configuration with a 128bit bus, the other in an "L" configuration and 256bit bus.

They had stock/un-softmodded benches, and the "L" shapped configured 256bit bus 9800se blew away the other version 9800se. So if you are in the market for a 9800se, keep that in mind.

The same sorta thing that went on with the 9500np>9700 softmod hack, whereas the "L" shaped mem configuration is the only possibility for a softmod to a 9800np/pro.

 

[d33pblue]

Thats just it... I cant seem to find any of the SE cards with the 256bit bus.

 

[modedepe]

Yes the softmodable 9800se's seem to be pretty hard to find in the US. On top of that, the 256 bit ones are often as much or more than a 9800np. Frankly, I would bother trying to get one. Even if you find one there's no guarentee it will mod (unless you do buy a guarenteed one off ebay).

 

[Richdog]

This is why it's worth it here in Europe...

9800 PRO AIW - £350

9800 SE AIW guaranteed - £200
soft-moddable

 

[Killrose]

Originally posted by: d33pblue
Thats just it... I cant seem to find any of the SE cards with the 256bit bus.

Well if you know what to look for, keep looking at Newegg from time to time, or other vendors that show actual product.

 

[d33pblue]

I just picked up a regular 9800 (not pro, not se) off Ebay for $200 shipped