Best 9600 XT?

[MostCS]

Hey guys,

I am new to overclocking and I just got a Koolance case. I am thinking of upgrading my video card and it looks like the 9600 XT is probably the way to go. I read the article HardOCP had and looked at the spread sheet on Saphire site:
http://www.sapphiretech.com/product-matrix/full_retail.xls
Which part number would be recommended for the best OC? It looks like the PN: 1024-HC19-3C-SA is the best but I am not sure.
This one even includes a coupon for Half Life 2, supports overdrive, and is listed as 500/325. However it only has 128MB DDR. Is this important? Am I going in the right direction?

Thanks,

Zych

 

[UberNewb]

I'm very happy with my built by ATI 9600XT.

 

[V0ltage]

i just dont think a 9600 is worth it...
nowadays id only go for an 8-pipe card such as a 5900NU/XT/SE or a 9700/9800pro.

 

[nst6563]

Originally posted by V0ltage
i just dont think a 9600 is worth it...
nowadays id only go for an 8-pipe card such as a 5900NU/XT/SE or a 9700/9800pro.

for those of us on tight budgets, the 9600xt is a *VERY* nice choice.

btw, the p/n on mine is:
1024-HC19-1A-SA

no thermal monitoring, but see my o/c in the sig. It's not the max I can hit with it...but it's the max I'll run with stock cooling.

in case you're curious, heres the 3dmark03:
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=2117219

3dmark01:
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=7592971

default settings/default benchmarks.

 

[MostCS]

Very nice scores. I noticed it is the same model I was looking at but with out the overdrive support. Do you think the overdrive support is needed if I overclock? If so I will check to see if I can get a better price on it, but I think they will cost about the same.

Has any taken a look at the excel sheet to see what they think is the best to OC?

- Zych

 

[nst6563]

the only reason I see to validate overdrive is the thermal monitoring (which would be useful for overclocking)...otherwise, overdrive won't push your card enough to make a noticeable difference.

as far as the spreadsheet goes, any with the higher mem speed should be fine since it's pretty much a given that they come w/ 2.8ns samsung bga.

 

[retardedchicken]

i have an Asus 9600XT and i like it, comes with goodies too(ViVo, wont get taht on a sapphire, and a thermal/voltage/fan speed monitor/OCing too)

its more expensive though but solid quality with solid performance comes at a price

that sapphire ultimate 9600XT looks good too

 

[TekieB]

I thought all the "XT" line of cards had thermal monitoring?

 

[Merlin45]

it is built into the core on the 9600xt, but the use of the diode requires the board builder to spend more money on parts, so some opt to save money by not putting in the necessary circuits to read the temp.

 

[nst6563]

I think adding the parts would be feasable though. you'd simply have to compare a card with the monitoring hardware to a card without. Chances are the missing parts are available from many online electronics stores.

I know there is a chip and some caps/resistors missing on the back side of the board. Not sure if that's all that's missing or not though.

Any1 have good hi-res pics of a Sapphire 9600XT WITH thermal monitoring???

The components in the red circle are the ones (well, most of them I think) for thermal monitoring. (sorry about the size, I downsized it from 2048 to 1024)

ATI 9600XT with OD Chip
[url]http://www.ati-news.de/Bilder/News/Overdrive/ati_96_xt.jpg[/url]
[IMG] HIS 9600XT with Overdrive Chip
[url]http://www.ati-news.de/Bilder/News/Overdrive/his_9600_xt.jpg[/url]