MSI finally make the jump

[Pete]

MSI's 9800P looks interesting. Does it use a new PCB entirely, or is it borrowed from an AIW design? I wonder if the "downgrade" to a floppy connector will limit OCing, or if the huge heatsink will aid OCing.

 

[bizzoshaker]

WHICH CARD IS BETTAR?

 

[anaqer]

Does it use a new PCB entirely, or is it borrowed from an AIW design? I wonder if the "downgrade" to a floppy connector will limit OCing, or if the huge heatsink will aid OCing.

Yeah, noticed this a few weeks back... that's some funky component layout there. Definitely not an AIW-design tho', I bet it's a custom job.
The style of the power connectors has nothing to do with OC, it's the juice that's flowing through it what matters, right?

 

[Pete]

Well, I'm guessing the two are linked. Three-pin connector means less power means lower potential OC.

 

[Fodder]

Does it use a new PCB entirely, or is it borrowed from an AIW design?

Didn't the 9700 and 9800 cards MSI made for Medion use custom PCB designs too?

 

[Dave Baumann]

MSI's 9800P looks interesting. Does it use a new PCB entirely, or is it borrowed from an AIW design? I wonder if the "downgrade" to a floppy connector will limit OCing, or if the huge heatsink will aid OCing.

The power connector is where the chunky analogue tuner would be placed.

 

[anaqer]

Well, I'm guessing the two are linked. Three-pin connector means less power means lower potential OC.

Nay, that's a four-pin FDD power connector there, just like on R300 cards.
What makes me scratch me head is the VIA chip - is that for DVI or some VIVO function?

 

[Pete]

Didn't the 9700 and 9800 cards MSI made for Medion use custom PCB designs too?
Good point. I was thinking of that, but didn't bother Googling it until now. There are some changes to MSI's 9800 XL PCB, which itself looks like a modified 9600TX. All three have that [torroidal convertor?] on the top left and similar capacitor groupings and power and fan connector locations.

The power connector is where the chunky analogue tuner would be placed.
I'm a little confused by this coment, Dave. What would an analogue tuner be doing on a 9800P? If you're talking about the AIW 9800P, that board looks even shorter than a typical 9800P, strangely enough.

Nay, that's a four-pin FDD power connector there, just like on R300 cards.
Sorry, I was talking out of my hoo-ha when I said the floppy connector was three-pin. And I guess using MSI's floppy-HD convertor means it'll be getting just as much power as other 9800s.