Hello forum... I'm kinda new to gaming, longtime DV/audio editor. Got a refurb Powercolor 9700Pro 128MB/256 bit from newegg, just arrived for the new box I'm putting together and came across t[H]is place after the fact. I will say that this card is unlike anything experienced to date, and can see how the newer cards could become truly addictive.
Some basic questions:
Good deal for barebones card at $138? It is built on the 9800-style setup with large 4-pin molex onboard. does NOT have a heatsink on the back of the card as I have seen on other 9700's.
How to test for artifacts,etc.? I noticed some 'shimmering' in 3dmark2001SE (old box w/new card in temporarily). It seems to be just a few specific parts of the tests and only a couple small parts of the screen which seem to be on the scen itself and not specific to areas of the monitors. Also some white pixels during the point sprite test at the end (horse). Do I need to be concerned? Try different drivers? Poss just 2001and this card? My old Voodoo3 and Viper V770 Ultra did not do that as I recall.
Cooling solutions? I want it to live a long time for life in the other boxes as I upgrade and not cook the MSI Neo2 and 2.8C where it will be for now (a lot better than the ol' P3's @ 15% OC I have been using.
Thanks!
Some basic questions:
Good deal for barebones card at $138? It is built on the 9800-style setup with large 4-pin molex onboard. does NOT have a heatsink on the back of the card as I have seen on other 9700's.
How to test for artifacts,etc.? I noticed some 'shimmering' in 3dmark2001SE (old box w/new card in temporarily). It seems to be just a few specific parts of the tests and only a couple small parts of the screen which seem to be on the scen itself and not specific to areas of the monitors. Also some white pixels during the point sprite test at the end (horse). Do I need to be concerned? Try different drivers? Poss just 2001and this card? My old Voodoo3 and Viper V770 Ultra did not do that as I recall.
Cooling solutions? I want it to live a long time for life in the other boxes as I upgrade and not cook the MSI Neo2 and 2.8C where it will be for now (a lot better than the ol' P3's @ 15% OC I have been using.
Thanks!