"softmodding" A 9800se In Lieu Of A 9600xt
Scythe
Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
<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.
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
<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>
$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.
/me points to a <a href='http://www.xe.com' target='_blank'>currency converter</a>
Thanks for trying to help though. ^_^
--Scythe—
/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.
<!--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).
1 USD? what a deal!
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-->
1 USD? what a deal! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Its an exchange rate...
All you need to know.
1 USD? what a deal!<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
COUGH COUGH
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--
It's not overclocking, it's enabling things via software.
type it in blind / have an backup pci card and flash it with that
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.
--Scythe--
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.
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.