SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9600PRO

[fibes]

Hello,

Within next the couple of weeks, i'm going to build a computer for a friend. It's going to be a budget gaming system under $500(computer only, no monitor). I've deceided the best bang for the buck video card would be the 9600Pro. I would like to keep the costs of the card under $120. I found this card at newegg for $100 and would like to know your opinions on it Sapphire. I have heard mixed reviews of the card. Some people like Sapphire, others just say "don't buy Sapphire". I wanted to know if this card does truly have any issues, or are people just putting it down because "it may not overclock as well as the competition"?

Please tell me your thoughts or any suggestions you may have.
Thanks!

 

[futuristicmonkey]

I have one, no problems so far, it runs great.

 

[Marsumane]

Ive had many ppl i know order sapphire cards and report that they had no issues with them. I reccomend buying it if its the best buy of the 9600's.

 

[OnEMoReTrY]

Sapphire is a great company that makes great cards, I would recommend em.

 

[Pandaren]

I would've purchased that card, but I really distrust the 40mm fans that companies use on cheaper video cards. Both my Northbridge and Radeon 9100 had 40mm fan failures within the last month.

I opted for the Radeon 9600 Atlantis (just plain RV350 @ 325 MHz/400 MHz, passively cooled) and it runs nice and cool in my system. Doom 3 plays very well at 800x600 medium quality textures

 

[tungtung]

fibes: ask first what kind of Sapphire that is ... cause at that price here in Toronto, Canada ... all you will get is the Sapphire Radeon 9600 Pro Advantage. Which is basically an overclocked Radeon 9600 ... I have asked several stores here all they say is that this is the real Pro but uses a 446 DDR RAM ... however if you check on the web, Sapphire actually has something called Radeon 9600 Pro LE which seems to be a European only model (400 Core / 446 Memory) ... not sure how it ended up here though.

So be sure you ask the store ... or just make sure they will allow you to refund the card if it's not up to the real 9600 Pro spec (400 Core / 600 Memory).

Edit:
BTW it seems that something funny is going on here ... from most reviews I've read of the Sapphire Radeon 9600 Pro, it uses a black PCB and square memory ... but the card that Newegg pictured has a green PCB and rectangular memory, which is very similar to PowerColor Radeon 9600 Pro-EZ which is also a Radeon 9600 Pro on a Radeon 9600 PCB (400 Core / 400 Memory in case of PowerColor)

 

[ronnn]

I returned my sapphire 9600pro advantage - I was so annoyed at the deception of calling it a 9600pro. Problem was nothing else to buy in that price range - so got a ti 4200 off ebay and saved some money. Sapphire has become a crooked company and it totally annoys me. I know some other companies do the same (saw a super deal on an ultra 6800, but just in time realized it was quite different than a 6800 ultra), but .............................. I will give them no more money. Unless of course the price is just too good to resist.

 

[fell8]

If you're a gambling man, you could get a 128-bit R9550 (same chip clocked at 250MHz core, 200(400)MHz mem.) for $65 and o/c it. I got one up to 261(522)MHz memory with only minor artifacting (in the form of a barely visible line shadowing the pointer) and 365MHz core (no issues, I just lost my nerve 'cause the heatsink was getting a little toasty). I bet it would easily do 400Mhz, especially with only minor improvments to cooling (like adding a fan).

Similar permormance for 35% less money, now that's bang for the buck!

 

[kamranziadar]

I had this card it was excellent.

 

[fibes]

Originally posted by: fell8
If you're a gambling man, you could get a 128-bit R9550 (same chip clocked at 250MHz core, 200(400)MHz mem.) for $65 and o/c it. I got one up to 261(522)MHz memory with only minor artifacting (in the form of a barely visible line shadowing the pointer) and 365MHz core (no issues, I just lost my nerve 'cause the heatsink was getting a little toasty). I bet it would easily do 400Mhz, especially with only minor improvments to cooling (like adding a fan).

Similar permormance for 35% less money, now that's bang for the buck!

Yes, I've heard this card has great ocing capabilities. Now that you bought up the subject, I'm actually considering to get this card.

9550

 

[dguy6789]

I recomend just getting a full Radeon 9600 Pro. It is a great card.

 

[SneakyStuff]

Originally posted by: fibes

Originally posted by: fell8
If you're a gambling man, you could get a 128-bit R9550 (same chip clocked at 250MHz core, 200(400)MHz mem.) for $65 and o/c it. I got one up to 261(522)MHz memory with only minor artifacting (in the form of a barely visible line shadowing the pointer) and 365MHz core (no issues, I just lost my nerve 'cause the heatsink was getting a little toasty). I bet it would easily do 400Mhz, especially with only minor improvments to cooling (like adding a fan).

Similar permormance for 35% less money, now that's bang for the buck!

Yes, I've heard this card has great ocing capabilities. Now that you bought up the subject, I'm actually considering to get this card.

9550

3 words, WASTE OF MONEY. Get this instead ebay ebay is your friend, just buy from individual sellers (not those companies) and look for pictures of the card on an anti-static bag, not carpet, and you're good to go

 

[sBk2k4]

Outpost has the retail built by ati 9600 Pro for only $100. I ordered mine and just got it today. However, they're out of stock right now

 

[CraigRT]

Sapphire rocks, my 9700 Pro was Sapphire, and it ran like a champ.... top quality for low price... one of my favorite video card brands! :thumbsup: