"softmodding" A 9800se In Lieu Of A 9600xt

ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
edited August 2004 in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Is this wise?</div> Here's the deal:

My radeon 8500 pro is showing it's age. I'm looking at buying a new video card (ATI ONLY plskthx). All these new-fangled cards are waaay out of my price range. I'm probably looking at nothing more expensive than a 9600XT.

I heard that a 9800SE gave the same performance as a 9600XT and it was $50 lower in the price department. I then heard that it was possible to "<a href='http://www.techpowerup.com/softmod/' target='_blank'>softmod</a>" a 256bit 9800SE to something similar to a 9800 pro.

Now I'm looking at <a href='http://www.i-tech.com.au/products/item3257.asp' target='_blank'>this powercolour card</a>. It's cheaper than a Sapphire 9600XT which is what I was initially considering purchasing.

Anyone got any tips or advice?

Links:
<a href='http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx?location=3&var1=101&var2=0' target='_blank'>Softmodding tutorial.</a>
<a href='http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33769809&highlight=ajruck' target='_blank'>9800SE thread on Rage3d.</a>

--Scythe--

P.S. If one more person, just <b>one more</b>, suggests I get a significantly more expensive card I will make it my life's goal to ensure that person suffers as much as humanly possible for the rest of their miserable life.

Comments

  • JediYoshiJediYoshi The Cupcake Boss Join Date: 2002-05-27 Member: 674Members
    Whatever you do, watch out

    <a href='http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=16650' target='_blank'>http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=16650</a>

    <a href='http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-368&depa=0' target='_blank'>http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc....-102-368&depa=0</a>
  • CreepieCreepie Join Date: 2003-02-19 Member: 13734Members
    Stupid board ate my post. OK, summary of post.

    $260 way too much for 9800SE.

    Newegg sell 9800 Pro 256M for same money.

    Check with them whether it has the R360 core, which is potentially softmoddable to an XT.
  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    /me points at the .au extension on the aforementioned website.

    /me points to a <a href='http://www.xe.com' target='_blank'>currency converter</a>

    Thanks for trying to help though. ^_^

    --Scythe—
  • spinviperspinviper Join Date: 2003-05-08 Member: 16151Members
    Hah, yeah same problem I live in Singapore though. I managed to get a R9800PRO for 449 SGD. 1.79 SGD = 1USD
  • CreepieCreepie Join Date: 2003-02-19 Member: 13734Members
    edited August 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin-Scythe+Aug 20 2004, 05:33 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Scythe @ Aug 20 2004, 05:33 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> /me points at the .au extension on the aforementioned website.

    /me points to a <a href='http://www.xe.com' target='_blank'>currency converter</a>

    Thanks for trying to help though. ^_^

    --Scythe— <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    My apologies. Where can I hide my shame ? I'm in Britain too so I should know better.

    Check PM.
  • panda_de_malheureuxpanda_de_malheureux Join Date: 2003-12-26 Member: 24775Members
    edited August 2004
    That's the one I was looking at before.

    <!--QuoteBegin-that link+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (that link)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Although officially soft-modding is frowned upon, soft-modding your Radeon 9800 SE will not void your warranty. If the soft-mod does not work, all you need to do is revert the changes.

    However, you will need to change the cooler and that will void your card's warranty. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    There should be a way to remove it without breaking anything and put it back on later if it dies (noone needs to know tehehehe).
  • WindelkronWindelkron Join Date: 2002-04-11 Member: 419Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-spinviper+Aug 20 2004, 10:41 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (spinviper @ Aug 20 2004, 10:41 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Hah, yeah same problem I live in Singapore though. I managed to get a R9800PRO for 449 SGD. 1.79 SGD = 1USD <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    1 USD? what a deal!
  • ExerExer Join Date: 2003-02-05 Member: 13167Members
    If you're gonig to sofmod the 9800SE make SURE you have a card like this:

    Chipset/Core Speed: ATI RADEON 9800SE/380MHz
    Memory/Effective Speed: 128MB DDR/680MHz

    It will give you the best result.

    Here it is at Newegg:
    <a href='http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-131-236&depa=0' target='_blank'>http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc....-131-236&depa=0</a>

    Going for $144
    What you're looking for the the faster RAM and the newer Core (this can be checked by making sure the chips form a "L" shape

    Hope this helps! Now if only they sold to Canada <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • UnderDOGUnderDOG Join Date: 2003-04-05 Member: 15221Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Windelkron+Aug 20 2004, 03:30 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Windelkron @ Aug 20 2004, 03:30 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-spinviper+Aug 20 2004, 10:41 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (spinviper @ Aug 20 2004, 10:41 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> 1.79 SGD = 1USD <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    1 USD? what a deal! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Its an exchange rate...
  • romanoromano Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4296Members
    <a href='http://www.techpowerup.com/softmod/faq.php' target='_blank'>http://www.techpowerup.com/softmod/faq.php</a>

    All you need to know.
  • spinviperspinviper Join Date: 2003-05-08 Member: 16151Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Windelkron+Aug 20 2004, 03:30 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Windelkron @ Aug 20 2004, 03:30 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-spinviper+Aug 20 2004, 10:41 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (spinviper @ Aug 20 2004, 10:41 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Hah, yeah same problem I live in Singapore though. <b>I managed to get a R9800PRO for 449 SGD.</b> 1.79 SGD = 1USD <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    1 USD? what a deal!<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    COUGH COUGH
  • OttoDestructOttoDestruct Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7790Members
    Never EVER buy anything based solely on overclocking. Go with the 9600 XT.
  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    <!--QuoteBegin-romano^_^+Aug 21 2004, 07:02 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (romano^_^ @ Aug 21 2004, 07:02 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <a href='http://www.techpowerup.com/softmod/faq.php' target='_blank'>http://www.techpowerup.com/softmod/faq.php</a>

    All you need to know. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I linked to that site in my first post...

    Well I've almost made up my mind, I made a <a href='http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?p=1333110159' target='_blank'>post</a> at the rage3d forums but noone's responded with a worthwhile comment.

    --Scythe--
  • Har_Har_the_PirateHar_Har_the_Pirate Join Date: 2003-08-10 Member: 19388Members, Constellation
    NEVER BUY A SE VERSION OF A CARD (ati has se cards, nvidia calls em something else)
  • panda_de_malheureuxpanda_de_malheureux Join Date: 2003-12-26 Member: 24775Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-OttoDestruct+Aug 21 2004, 12:08 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (OttoDestruct @ Aug 21 2004, 12:08 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Never EVER buy anything based solely on overclocking. Go with the 9600 XT. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It's not overclocking, it's enabling things via software.
  • JimJim Join Date: 2002-11-26 Member: 9989Members
    you are still taking a risk though, on some cards the extra pipelines could be broken which mean ugly artifacts <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • ExerExer Join Date: 2003-02-05 Member: 13167Members
    No risk at all. It's a sofmod. If it doesn't work, nothing bad happens physically to the card. Just turn it off and use it as a regular SE card.
  • panda_de_malheureuxpanda_de_malheureux Join Date: 2003-12-26 Member: 24775Members
    The risk is, if you are hoping to get a PRO from a SE and it doesn't work, you wasted some money there. Unless you can return it or are happy with either a SE or PRO, it's a risk.
  • CreepieCreepie Join Date: 2003-02-19 Member: 13734Members
    Um, I was under the impression there was a risk when softmodding. You can stuff the card so you can't see anything, then how do you get it back to the old BIOS ? Plus, the thing could overheat.
  • ChargeCharge Join Date: 2003-02-05 Member: 13144Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-_Creep_+Aug 22 2004, 02:46 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (_Creep_ @ Aug 22 2004, 02:46 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Um, I was under the impression there was a risk when softmodding. You can stuff the card so you can't see anything, then how do you get it back to the old BIOS ? Plus, the thing could overheat. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    type it in blind / have an backup pci card and flash it with that
  • SandrockSandrock Join Date: 2002-12-16 Member: 10905Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    You dont even necessarily have to flash the bios to get the se to a pro. My stepbrother just purchased a powercolor 9800 se and he used the omega drivers to softmod it to a pro. It unlocked the 4 extra pipelines no problem. With those, its all driver-specific, so you could take the card out of your system, stick it in a friends and its a se again.
  • GundamCLGundamCL Join Date: 2003-08-03 Member: 18786Members
    <a href='http://forums.ocfaq.com/showthread.php?t=2755' target='_blank'>OC FAQ: How to overclock 9800 SE</a>

    I gambled by getting a refurbished 9800 se and the first one newegg sent me was broken then spent like 5 dollars returning that garbage and the second one was working,but I couldn't open all 8 pipeliens so i just said screw this and returned it and bought a MSI 9800 Pro, which in my opinion is the best 9800 pro out there.


    So whatever you do, don't buy refurbished 9800ses, they are bound not to open 8 pipelines.

    There is almost no chance that overclocking will damage your vid card unless you let the card overheat like hell.

    Newegg is the best for buy vid cards from my experience since they are fast and professional and their prices are pretty good.
  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    Could you please elaborate on what you mean by "refurbished "?

    --Scythe--
  • GundamCLGundamCL Join Date: 2003-08-03 Member: 18786Members
    edited August 2004
    Refurbished means used but "checked out by the manufacter to be good" which I think is total bs because my card came freaking broken, buts its not Neweggs fault since they can't check it.


    I wouldn't get refurbished vid cards because most of the time because the previouse owner was stupid enougth to break the damn card either by letting the card overheat too much, static shock, or they just physically damage something.
  • OttoDestructOttoDestruct Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7790Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Jim+Aug 21 2004, 07:04 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Jim @ Aug 21 2004, 07:04 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> you are still taking a risk though, on some cards the extra pipelines could be broken which mean ugly artifacts <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Youre enabling things on hardware that it hasn't been necessesarily constructed for. It may be able to do it, but im pretty certain an actual 9800 has a hell of a lot more robust circuitry to deal with the pipelines.
  • GundamCLGundamCL Join Date: 2003-08-03 Member: 18786Members
    A 9800 SE is EXACTLY like a 9800 Pro, but the 9800 SE is a defected copy of a 9800 pro, meaning that many companies use defective 9800 pros as 9800 SEs because some of the 8 pipelines are messed up.
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