[claymore]

the best price i could find for the two was $185CDN for the 9800 and $259CDN for the 9800 pro (in british columbia). Both are 128 mb.

i was wondering if the $75 price increase to the pro is worth it....im on a budget and upgrading my 64mb card for BF2 when it comes out.

Heres the info on both....

9800 --- http://www.sapphiretech.com/vga/9800-256-128.asp

9800 pro --- http://www.sapphiretech.com/vga/9800proatl.asp

any help is greatly apreciated!

[CaptainGinger]

I'd have no problems recomending a standard 9800 over a 9800 pro if the price difference was significant as that's exactly what I did myself.

However the 9800 you linked to is the one Sapphire make with only a 128 bit memory bus, normal 9800's have a 256 bit memory bus the same as the Pro version. It's worth checking with the shop to see if it is the 128 bit version before you buy.

If that is indeed your choice I'd recomend you buy the Pro version as the higher price is worth it for the extra performnce it'll have.


All IMO.

[phenix]

AFAIK there is no retail non-pro 9800 with 256bit memory bus. The one you linked is definitely with 128bit bus.

[Richard]

Btw, some 9800 Pros actually come with a R360 core and you can flash its bios and get a 9800 XT (yes, even with just 128mb) later on so you might want to invest in a 9800 Pro anyway.

[CaptainGinger]

Originally Posted by phenix

AFAIK there is no retail non-pro 9800 with 256bit memory bus.

I'm sorry that's just wrong, there was loads of them about back when I bought my one. These days most 9800's seem to be of the Pro version but the non-pro's weren't always so scarce.

The marketing of 128bit 9800's is a fairly recent thing which if I recall was started by Sapphire and they were vilified (rightly) for not stating they were 128bit clearly enough in the marketing material or even on the box.

Thankfully it seems they have changed that policy as the link claymore posted has the 128bit bus clearly marked.