Radeon 9500 non pro Red PCB

[burrens]

I want to purchase a non pro 9500 so I can overclock it to a 9700. I have found a couple of sites that still have the sapphire 9500 red PCB version that are supposedly moddable. My question is this, because they are on the reb PCB and not the black one, will they have the L-shape memory orientation and thus are able to be modded, or are there cases of red PCBs with the memory orientation in a stright line, like on the black PCBs. Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[JBT]

the only hackable cards are ones with an "L" shaped memory. If it is straight then no dice u will only be upgradding that puppy to a 9500 pro. I have actauly seen a black card with "L" shapped memory not sure if it was hackable though.

 

[burrens]

ok next question, since this is out of the way sort of. Would you risk getting just a 9500 non pro for about $165 or possibly getting a moddable 9500, or would you go for a ti4600 for $175?

 

[Viper96720]

I wouldn't go for a ti-4600 would go with a 9500 or pro. Would wait for one of the FX's maybe.

 

[DClark]

If you're going to go for a Ti4600 for $176 (though Pricewatch.com lists the Ti4600 as having a minimum price of $190, and the cheapest Ti4600 at Newegg is $199), you may as well go for a Radeon 9500 Pro for $181 (Newegg.com).

In my opinion the 9500 to 9700 mod was never worth the risk, considering the cost of the 9500 and the peformance of the only slightly more expensive 9500 Pro.

 

[Killrose]

Keep an eye on the Newegg refurb section, i've seen 9700 non-Pros for $175 there. I would go with a 9500 pro insread of chancing the 9500np hack.

 

[JBT]

go for 9500 pro. I heard about 40% of the non pros CANNOT be hacked to a pro with out suffering significate visualy errors IE checker boarding etc.... Go for the 9500 Pro for 2 reasons 1. it is about the same as a ti4600 without AA/AF off but about $20 cheaper even on a reputable reseller. And 2. with AA/AF on it really beats up the 4600. Just check out the review from anandtech.