Who makes the "built by" cards for ATI?

[tart666]

I keep hearing different OEM's named as the supplier for ATI. Saphire and some others.

Does anyone know for sure? Which models are made by whom?

 

[LostHiWay]

Sapphire does

 

[tart666]

how come newegg says you can't use Saphire cards with the DVI-VGA converter? And why is Saphire PCB is green?

ATI is always red and you CAN use the DVI-VGA converter on "built by" cards

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: tart666
how come newegg says you can't use Saphire cards with the DVI-VGA converter? And why is Saphire PCB is green?

ATI is always red and you CAN use the DVI-VGA converter on "built by" cards

Some (if not all) the Sapphire cards output DVI-D. There is no analogue signal to convert to VGA at all.

For a DVI->VGA converter to work you need a DVI-I output.

By the way, I installed a Sapphire card and then returned it. The Sapphire drivers were funky.

 

[rbV5]

Its my understanding that Sapphire is a subsidiary of PC Partner, a large Taiwan Holding company. PC Partner has built the majority of ALL ATI cards including OEMs for the last several years and started up Sapphire recently as an outlet for their own branded cards. So Sapphire and ATI cards may not be the same card even if they are produced by the same manufacturer.

Also, both the RAMDACs on 9xxx are internal, so the DVI-I/ DVI-D nonesense of some 8500 cards should no longer be true. All Radeon 9xxx DVI are now DVI-I.

 

[tart666]

So, am I to understand that the underclocking / crap RAM and weird drivers for Saphire cards are limited to 8*** series?

And the new batch of Saphire 9*** have no such issues? And the may even be the same as Retail "built by" cards?

 

[buleyb]

I thought Built-by was an ATI only thing, and 'powered-by' was everyone else...

 

[308nato]

I just read a couple of reviews this morning and I could swear they both used the ATi standard issue CAT's for the drivers.



EDIT: If you go to Sapphires web page, the link to download drivers looks to be the same link from ATi's page.

 

[rbV5]

So, am I to understand that the underclocking / crap RAM and weird drivers for Saphire cards are limited to 8*** series

The OEMs are more free to change components on the NP cards, but ATI holds tighter reins on the Pro models which should be more standard. Also, the "built by" drivers have been basically the same drivers as the ATI drivers, except for install routines. As time goes on you are going to see more and more cards, and configurations. The best thing to do is go to Rage3D and check what other users are reporting with specific cards, let someone else be the guinea pig. You can always trust the "built by" cards, and now I think that applies to the pro models as well.

The "powered by" use the "reference" cat drivers

 

[Eug]

Maybe, but my 9000 Pro Sapphire was recognized as a Sapphire and not an ATI by Windows XP. And the drivers didn't seem to want to load properly. Eventually I just gave up and returned the Sapphire.