Sapphires' New 9800 Pro (128 bit) and Old 9800 Pro (256 bit)

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easy123

Member
May 4, 2004
39
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Attention Experts and Novices alike:


There are 2 versions of the 9800 Pro being manufactured today.

When recommending the 9800 Pro, a person now has to qualify

whether they mean the 128 bit version or the 256 bit version.

Otherwise someone could easily purchase the wrong one and

be disappointed in its performance.


Just a FYI post. Sorry, if it is a repost.
 
LTC8K6

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
1,575
126
Yeah, some folks got excited about the lower price until they figured out it was 128bit memory. It does have 8 pipes though.

I am just going to call it the 9500Pro. :D
 
K

Killrose

Diamond Member
Oct 26, 1999
6,230
8
81
Is'nt that the card that is known as the 9550 in China? and I think an internet boycot of Saphire products should be started because of this. Ati needs to pull Saphires chain and get them to behave, this kinda crap needs some control.
 
LTC8K6

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
1,575
126
The 9550 is a 4 pipe card. It's basically a downclocked 9600. 250Mhz core....bleh.

There will also be a 9550SE hobbled by 64 bit memory.....double bleh.
 
rbV5

rbV5

Lifer
Dec 10, 2000
12,632
0
0
Originally posted by: Killrose
Is'nt that the card that is known as the 9550 in China? and I think an internet boycot of Saphire products should be started because of this. Ati needs to pull Saphires chain and get them to behave, this kinda crap needs some control.
Click to expand...

That would be even worse, the 9550 is a crippled 9600! The 9800 VPU spec is 256bit bus, if thats truely a 128bit bus card, its not a 9800pro. How can ATI let Sapphire pull that kinda crap?
 
G

GeneralGrievous

Banned
Apr 14, 2004
1,599
0
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How can ATI let Sapphire pull that kinda crap?
Click to expand...
My guess is they had this card released so they can keep the prices of standard 9800 Pro's at around $200. AFAIK the cost of making a 256 memory bus vs 128 bit bus is negligible, so the profit made on these new cards is lower. But it allows them to both keep the 9800 Pros high (it's already a great card at that price anyway) and possibly get double buyers, which helps clear out excess R350/360 cores.
 
M

mamisano

Platinum Member
Mar 12, 2000
2,045
0
76
Yeah, I guess that they are going to try and get rid of all the 9800's they have in stock with the X800s hitting the shelves. The 9700 line died off soon after the 9800 was released. I personally think that graphics cards are updated too quickly these days.... Keeping my 9800 Pro until at least next Spring :)
 
E

easy123

Member
May 4, 2004
39
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Originally posted by: GeneralGrievous
How can ATI let Sapphire pull that kinda crap?
Click to expand...
My guess is they had this card released so they can keep the prices of standard 9800 Pro's at around $200. AFAIK the cost of making a 256 memory bus vs 128 bit bus is negligible, so the profit made on these new cards is lower. But it allows them to both keep the 9800 Pros high (it's already a great card at that price anyway) and possibly get double buyers, which helps clear out excess R350/360 cores.
Click to expand...

but

Couldn't Sapphire accomplish those goals, without involving the 9800 Pros' name?
 
RussianSensation

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
126
Even this LINK i posted recently HAS been changed from 256-bit memory to 128-bit. So Buyer Beware!

Without a doubt, though, eventually "true" 9800Pro cards will hit $170-150 mark (probably close to summer end).
 
H

hifisoftware

Member
Apr 27, 2004
80
0
0
How can you tell which card is which? I got ATI 9800Pro for 170$. My card looks like 256 version of Sahire, but the only difference that I can see is a heatsink.
 
H

hifisoftware

Member
Apr 27, 2004
80
0
0
Actually I see more differences now. Extra power connector is diferent (looks like 4 pin for 256 vs 3 pin for 128), board layout is different. Size maybe too as 128 seems smaller. Well looks like I got 256 version..
 
RussianSensation

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
126
Originally posted by: hifisoftware
How can you tell which card is which? I got ATI 9800Pro for 170$. My card looks like 256 version of Sahire, but the only difference that I can see is a heatsink.
Click to expand...

Run 3dmark03 and if you get above 5000 you have a 256-bit version.
 
D

Delorian

Senior member
Mar 10, 2004
590
0
0
Sapphire shouldn't mislead, but also everyone should be looking at the specs/pictures of the product being purchased. I didn't see the ads several days ago so they may have changed, but as far as I can see now the board has I-shaped memory and is labeled a 128-bit. If it was labeled incorrectly then it's definitely neweggs (or other retailers) fault as they were misleading not sapphire, but sapphire needs to realize you can't call a 128-bit version of a 9800 card a "PRO." ...call it an "ESE" Especially Shi*** Edition.
 
Todd33

Todd33

Diamond Member
Oct 16, 2003
7,842
2
81
This thread scared me, I freaked out and DL'ed 3dmark2003 to test my semi-new 9800 pro. It scored around 4100! I then found out I was forcing vsync and then I scored arund 5600 and relaxed. I didn't buy a sapphire from Newegg, but you never know.
 
J

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: easy123

When recommending the 9800 Pro, a person now has to qualify

whether they mean the 128 bit version or the 256 bit version.
Click to expand...

the only REAL 9800 pro is the 256-bit version and Sapphire should die for misleading so many people :|
 
S

Skillet38

Junior Member
Jun 23, 2003
11
0
0
Allrighty. I've been watching prices on the 9800 pro, as I'm anxious to replace my Ti4200. Bananapc's add which is linked in an earlier post, indeed listed the card as having a 256bit bus Monday. I bit, and shelled out my $170 dutifully.

Today, after reading this thread, I revisited the site and saw that they had changed the description. I emailed them clearly explaining that I had no use for a crippled, make-believe 9800 and I received the following reply,


"Hi ,

We apologize you for the inconvenience. That was typo and we fixed yesterday. Please refuse the package when UPS deliver to you. We will fully refund back your
purchase price when we receive back the package. Sorry for the mistake.

Best regards,
BananaPC Service."

So, at least they're taking care of business. I've always been a NewEgger, but I was impressed by how quickly they processed and shipped my order and I received an answer to my email in about 4 hours, so I'm giving Bananapc.com credit for correcting their screw up. It's not hard to imagine somebody copying and pasting info from a real 9800pro onto their add.

So.... me not give up on em yet.
cheers

actually, after all this stress, maybe I deserve an 800xt
 
G

GeneralGrievous

Banned
Apr 14, 2004
1,599
0
0
from newegg


Unfortunately there was a typo in the specifications that has since been
corrected. You will not recieve a 256-bit video card, it will actually be a
128-bit video card. If you do not wish to keep this item, you can refuse the
item as you have mentioned. We do not intend to charge you any additional
charges or restocking fee's. You will be FULLY refunded. We apologize for
these unfavorable circumstances. If you have any further questions or concerns
please do not hesitate to contact our customer service department at
800-390-1119 or email us at service@newegg.com <mailto:service@newegg.com> .
 
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