Best x1900xt Brands?

[Karndog]

I need some help deciding which brand of x1900xt to buy. This will be the first ATI card i have bought. My current card is a BFG 6800GT. I have been very happy with it. It died once after about 12 months of heavy use, and BFG replaced it, sending it here to Australia via Express Airmail which was a nice surprise.

Anyway, i chose the BFG brand because they were getting rave reviews at the time for their excellent customer service, lifetime warranty and all round quality product. I am looking for something similar on the ATI side.

Which ATI brands offer good customer service, a warranty of some sort, and a reliable, quality product? Noise and heat isn't really an issue, (unless it's like vaccuum cleaner loud) but i would like a card that is a known, decent overclocker.

Also which brands should i stay away from?

Thanks.

 

[psychot|K]

I love my Sapphire card, I'd reccommend them in a heartbeat.

 

[boomheadshot45]

The MSI one. Its 390 $ and then it has a 100 $ mail in rebait

 

[Anti-Hero]

The HIS branded cards have a model with an improved cooler over the stock one, most of them can overclock to speeds higher than an XTX.

 

[psychot|K]

The HIS branded cards have a model with an improved cooler over the stock one, most of them can overclock to speeds higher than an XTX.

I'd still reccommend taking off the cooler, applying some AS5 and reseating it. But yes, the HIS model with the ICE cooler is a great option! Especially since it blows the hot air out of the case.

 

[Anti-Hero]

I'd still reccommend taking off the cooler, applying some AS5 and reseating it. But yes, the HIS model with the ICE cooler is a great option! Especially since it blows the hot air out of the case.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[maverick777]

Another vote for the HIS. Haven't applied AS5 on mine. It doesn't get that hot anyways. 45 idle 75C max which is way better than the stock cooler anyways.

 

[Anavel0]

If I remember correct aren't all the ATI X1900's made by the same company. Every one with a stock cooler has the ATI girl on it, the other companies just put a sticker over her. But I degress, I have used Sapphire for a while now and have always had good luck with them.

Oh also I forgot to mention. I reset my stock cooler with Artic Silver 5 and with it uncured it's roughly 10C cooler. Also, on the sound of the stock cooler fan. In my old case with 2 80mm fans it was inaudible. Now in my new Lian-Li PC-V1000 PlusII with 4 120mm fans, this includes the heatsink fan, I notice when the fan changes speed. It isn't very loud per say. You just hear it spin up a little faster and that's all. Nothing that I would go crazy about.

 

[-=WooDWorKeR420=-]

Another vote for the HIS. Haven't applied AS5 on mine. It doesn't get that hot anyways. 45 idle 75C max which is way better than the stock cooler anyways.

Well that seals it for me... I was debating on this card for a while, but with the new 1950's coming out and the upcoming price drop, its definatly worth picking one up.

 

[evilmedic]

My understanding is that the boards are all made by Sapphire Technology for ATI and ATI provides the boards to its other partners.

 

[psychot|K]

Well that seals it for me... I was debating on this card for a while, but with the new 1950's coming out and the upcoming price drop, its definatly worth picking one up.

I'd usually agree, however, if the leaked benchmarks are any indication, it might be a smarter buy to spend the $ and get the 1950. We need to wait for the official reviews however.

 

[ApeofDooM]

That MSI 1900xt is very tempting right now. I'm thinking about getting that for $279 after rebate from newegg. It'll go with my conroe 6600... hmm the only thing i'm curious about is how well it handles my dell 2407 at 1920x1200 res.

 

[seanmcd]

Sapphire has always been good for me. I have their X1900XTX and it has been rock solid. I still have a Sapphire 9800Pro series card that is working as good as new...