Saphire x800pro

S

Suprnova04

Limp Gawd
Joined
Apr 1, 2004
Messages
439
Can someone tell me why the card that is cheaper here is seemingly identical to the more expensive card, except that it ALSO has hdtv out?

Also, are these cards worth getting? Is saphire a worthy brand? why are they cheaper than other x800pro cards?
 
The reason the second one is more expensive is that it has VIVO - Video In Video Out...

Sapphire makes almost identical cards to ATi's own Built by Ati series of cards. So they are pretty good.

While the x800 Pros are not bad, they are hindered by only using 12 pipes, while spending a little more you can get a better performing x800 XL, which is probablly the best buy for the money right now, IMO.

Either way if you do decide to get the x800 Pro, the performance is not going to be bad, it will be pretty good, and you really will not tell a difference until you start cranking the res above 1280x1024 with AA and AF, of course that depends on the rest of your system as well.
 
Ok, thanks a lot for the info. (i'm looking at these as well)

I also have a question about VIVO. How does it handle video-in and what are the capabilities? Like what could i hook up to it?
 
I'm not sure if it is still possible but if you buy that particular VIVO like I did last summer you can unlock the sleeping pipelines and make it a 16 pipe card via bios swap. Then with another bios swap you can make it a full fledged X800 XT PE by overclocking. Not bad for pro prices ;) Anyways, if this still works like it did last year it only works with VIVOs (very important)
 
this card is going to go toward my first real build, so i'm not real adept with hardware and i'm not sure I would attampt that overclock.
 
Well, if you decide to try it (that is assuming other people here can confirm you can still do this) Here is a link that helped me through it...check pg __ for the full detailed instructions on how to do this (w/ links)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unlike most x800 pro, Sapphire and other VIVO x800 pro cards, do not come with the pipelines laser cut, only disabled. All 16 pipelines are there with 4 disabled, to enable these pipelines to 16 allows better performance.
After you softmod to XT you can softmad back to x800 pro and still retain the new 16 pipelines. REMEMBER IT ONLY WORKS ON VIVEO CARDS, this method tested on Sapphire X800 Pro 256 VIVO, with Samsung 1.6ns GRam.

with x800pro bios @ 16 pipelines = +1000 over stock x800 pro in 3DMark
with x800XT bios @ 16 pipelines = +2000 over stock x800 pro in 3DMark

Before Proceeding
Make sure you have 1.6ns Samsung GRam.
This guide absolutely works, don't forget to underclock your XT to about 20Mhz lower than stock XT settings, it will run a lot more stable.
Also after the flash if your display does not post then remove the svideo cable from your video card if there is 1 plugged in, and reboot and it will post - i had the same problem. Running perfectly - it never goes above 52 C

Here a Link to ATi Tool with which you can check your pipelines and clock - http://atitool.ocfaq.com/

Heres a screenshot and proof it works

http://ottomans.home.comcast.net/mod.bmp

ATI RADEON X800 Pro VIVO > X800 XT

BIOS FLASH GUIDE

**************************************************************************************************** ********

Equipment & files required

2 x floppy discs

DrDos boot disk creator: HERE
http://paddy007uk.freeservers.com/VGAbios/drdflash.exe
FlashROM 2.37 + floppy creator: HERE
http://paddy007uk.freeservers.com/V...+Floppy2.37.exe
Gigabyte Flash utility & X800 XT BIOS: HERE
http://paddy007uk.freeservers.com/V...,0&at_a_time=50
Retail ATI X800 XT BIOS: HERE
http://paddy007uk.freeservers.com/VGAbios/X800XT.bin

**BEFORE FLASHING THE BIOS, MAKE SURE YOU MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR OLD ONE**


**************************************************************************************************** *******


To back up your BIOS: (Floppy 'A')

(a) Create a bootable floppy disc with flashrom on it by double clicking the Flasher+Floppy2.37.exe.

(b) Restart the PC with the floppy disc inserted & boot in DOS.

(c) Once activity has ceased you will be at the A:\ prompt, type the following command line to back up your existing BIOS:

flashrom -s 0 backup.bin

You now have a file on the floppy disc named 'backup.bin' this is your original BIOS which you may require at a later date.

(d) Remove the floppy disc & reboot the PC.

**************************************************************************************************** *******

To flash to the Gigabyte X800XT BIOS for enabling the 4 locked pipelines (Floppy 'B')

(a) Create a bootable floppy disc by double clicking the DrDos boot disc creator.

(b) Unzip the Gigabyte Flash utility & X800 XT BIOS, then place the files on the floppy disc.

(c) Restart the PC with the floppy disc inserted & boot in DOS.

(d) Once activity has ceased you will be at the A:\ prompt, type the following command line to flash the BIOS:

GVF11 -p -f A:\r80x256v.f1

(e) Remove the floppy disc & reboot the PC.

**************************************************************************************************** *******

To flash to the ATI Retail X800 XT BIOS, for improved over clock (Floppy 'A')

(a) Insert floppy disc 'A' into into the floppy drive (leaving existing files in tact).

(b) Place the downloaded Retail ATI X800 XT BIOS ( X800XT.bin ) on to the floppy.

(c) Restart the PC with the floppy disc inserted & boot in DOS.

(d) Once activity has ceased you will be at the A:\ prompt, type the following command line to flash the BIOS:

flashrom -p -f 0 X800XT.bin

(e) Remove the floppy disc & reboot the PC.

**************************************************************************************************** ******

I recommend you retain the 2 floppy discs for future use.

If you have followed the instructions carefully you should have a fully fledged ATI Radeon X800 XT 520mhz core / 560mhz memory.

Due to the heat generated by the additional 4 pipelines your maximum core over clock is likely to be reduced by on average 20mhz

RESULTS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
HERE ARE THE DIFFERENCES : I have a modded x800 pro to x800 XT@16 pipelines
*********************************************************
NORMAL ATi X800PRO VS REAL ATi X800XT-PE
http://www.tweaktown.com/document.p...dId=680&dPage=4
normal
Processor(s): AMD Athlon 64 3400+
Motherboard(s): nVidia nForce 3 250GB reference (Supplied by nVidia)
Memory: 1 X 512MB Kingmax PC4000 (Supplied by Kingmax)
Hard Disk(s): Western Digital Raptor 36GB 10,000 RPM
Operating System: Windows XP Professional SP1
Drivers: ATI Catalyst 4.7 and DirectX 9.0c
Aquamark Scores
RETAIL ATi X800PRO - 46588
RETAIL ATi X800XT-PE - 59604
*********************************************************
MY X800XT -PE MODDED with16pipelines 500gpu/540mem Samsung 1.6ns
http://ottomans.home.comcast.net/mod.bmp
Abit-IC7 Max3 BIOS 1.6☼Intel Pentium 4 3.0c @ 3.2☼Corsair 4000 TWINX (DualChannel) XMS PRO 1024☼Softmod from Sapphire X800 pro to True ATi X800XT PE@16 pipelines 500gpu/540mem, 256 DDR3☼1 WD Raptor 74GB (RAID 0)☼1 WD 250GB☼Pioneer 4x DVD-RW☼Antec TrueControl 550W PSU☼Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 RTM
► http://ottomans.home.comcast.net/Computer.jpg ◄
http://arc.aquamark3.com/arc/arc_view.php?run=884911071
MY AquaMark Score: 60546
+++
 
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