Some information about MSI 9800PRO_"PLUS" 128 MB, Please ???

[Franklogus]

Hi all !
I am going to buy a new PC, and I am very confuse about the choice of its video card (Not its model, but its BRAND...). I am intending to have a PC with the following basic configuration: P4 3.0C HT, 1GB Memory DDR 400, 200 GB HD SATA 150, MoBo ASUS P4P800 and a Radeon 9800 PRO Video Card.
My doubt is about which would be a good brand for the Video Card. I have read about Sapphire 9800PRO (which would be a very consistent product - very good performance), but I had an advice in another forum to get an ATI product (BBA), which would have a better warranty (though it would have a slightly worse performance...). Anyways, I am having a budget offer about a MSI 9800PRO_PLUS 128 MB (MSI Part No: MS-8956-030).
As I didnt get a review about this specific card over the internet, I would appreciate some information about this MSI product (it seems that MSI have not much tradition in building ATI products ...). The vendor said me that this Model (MSI 9800 PRO "PLUS") is "recognized" by the PC system, as a "9800 XT", and would have "equivalent performance"... Hehehehe ... Isn't it a "marketing trick"?? It's hard to believe in his affirmation, and, as I didn't found any information/review about this specific model of video card over the internet, I need some help to decide ... Rather from someone who own it or have already used it ...
It's a good price card (here, in Brazil), but I am not secure about its real quality ...
Thanks a lot in advance for any help !!!

 

[Pete]

We had a thread a few weeks ago about the new, green MSI 9800 Pro on NewEgg. (You could try searching for it--I think MSI was in the title.) I'm guessing that's the card you're referring to? MSI is a pretty big name both behind and in front of the video card scene, and as an OEM they're no stranger to ATI cards, as they've been making them for a while now for Medion PCs (starting with the 9600 or 9500TX, IIRC [yes, TX, not XT]). So their quality should be fine. The cooler on this card looks nice and huge, which bodes well for cooling and for noise levels. It may well be recognized as an XT if it uses the XT core, the R360 (quite a few, if not most, 9800s currently do).

Plus or not, just make absolutely sure that it's got a 256-bit wide memory bus, the full eight pixel pipelines, and is clocked at 380MHz core and 340MHz RAM (680MHz DDR). Your instincts about too good to be true are wise, but I don't think MSI makes a 128-bit 9800P (like Sapphire did)--at least, not in the USA.

Edit: A couple of reader reviews at NewEgg confirm that their MSI 9800P shows up as a 9800XT, so this may be a good deal for you.