$170 Budget

[duckylam]

The Connect3d 1800gto is $175 after rebate. Look at the Oblivon benches again and tell me how someone can even consider a 7600GT? This card also flawlessly can be flashed to an 1800XL for the full 16 pipes.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814142067

I would totally go for this deal if not for the mail in rebate. I've never had much luck with MIRs.

 

[ahho]

well for the newegg on if you get 7600gt with the GRAW than that a great deal. 1800gto is only slightly better than 7600gt but if you are somewhat of OCCer this is a great card for you because there are possibilities that you can mod it to 1800xl but the probability is unknown

 

[banGerprawN]

Its been done with a bios which is floating around the net. (not the fake one which simply ocd the card but still kept 12 pipes, another bios). Its the SapphireXL bios I think. Even some of the manufacturer sites say it may have 16 pipes.

Awesome. I'll be checking that out.
As to the manufacturer links and "info", all manufacturers do that. They just use a generalised description of the core it's based upon. Been happening for a while now, it generally isn't anything more than marketing.

 

[Prodani12]

The connect3d seems to be unlocking, while the Saphires are not.

Unlocking or not, by enabling software voltage control on the stock heatsink I've been able to break 9k in 3DMark05 with a few programs running in the background. For a 12 pipe card that I paid minimal for (bought it used), I can't complain.

I can run 700Mhz on the core and about 650 on the memory as of now. Still playing around.

Anyways, just posting my results, get the card that suits you best.

 

[velusip]

That is straight out bullshit, there's no way a OC'ed x1600 can beat a 7800GT, no fucking way.

It can't. But it comes close for half price.