I'm trying to pick out a new video card and would appreciate any input on
which vendors have quality "Powered by ATI" cards. I tried one from ST
labs and it had very poor image quality compaired to a Factory ATI card that
I have. I would rate image quality above cutting edge speed.

The Saphire and Powercolor cards seem popular. How is there image quality ?
Or should I stick with a "Built by ATI" card ?


Thanks for any help.

Jim

Jim wrote:
> I'm trying to pick out a new video card and would appreciate any input on
> which vendors have quality "Powered by ATI" cards. I tried one from ST
> labs and it had very poor image quality compaired to a Factory ATI card
> that I have. I would rate image quality above cutting edge speed.
>
> The Saphire and Powercolor cards seem popular. How is there image
> quality ? Or should I stick with a "Built by ATI" card ?


Sapphire is supposed to be good. I can't fault my Crucial. I haven't heard
many complaints about Powercolor

Ben
--
I'm not just a number. To many, I'm known as a String...

"Ben Pope" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bngfdg$10j669$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Jim wrote:
> > I'm trying to pick out a new video card and would appreciate any input
on
> > which vendors have quality "Powered by ATI" cards. I tried one from
ST
> > labs and it had very poor image quality compaired to a Factory ATI card
> > that I have. I would rate image quality above cutting edge speed.
> >
> > The Saphire and Powercolor cards seem popular. How is there image
> > quality ? Or should I stick with a "Built by ATI" card ?
>
>
> Sapphire is supposed to be good. I can't fault my Crucial. I haven't
heard
> many complaints about Powercolor
>

Sapphire builds cards for ATI and quality is very good. I've owned several
and never been disappointed. Based on reviews and the opinions of owners,
I'd rank the others this way:

PowerColor formerly cut corners with substandard ram that wouldn't overclock
well, but they have made considerable improvements lately and offer some
best-in-class models. Crucial is always good. Hercules and Gigabyte have
flashy coolers and OC utilities, but the prices are usually higher and the
performance is no better than the others.

Skid wrote:
> Sapphire builds cards for ATI and quality is very good.

Has anybody actually seen verification of this? It was on a site once and
what was written could have been taken to mean that, but it wasn't
definitive.

I'd like to see a statement from Ati or Sapphire, or some other
distuingishing feature that is identical on both cards.

It's kind of academic anyway, both ATI and Sapphire cards are good.

Ben
--
I'm not just a number. To many, I'm known as a String...

"Ben Pope" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bngmsu$102jiu$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Skid wrote:
> > Sapphire builds cards for ATI and quality is very good.
>
> Has anybody actually seen verification of this? It was on a site once and
> what was written could have been taken to mean that, but it wasn't
> definitive.
>
> I'd like to see a statement from Ati or Sapphire, or some other
> distuingishing feature that is identical on both cards.
>
> It's kind of academic anyway, both ATI and Sapphire cards are good.

I once wasted an hour trying to track it down. Sapphire is in the top tier
of ATI "partners" and it is reported as fact on several websites that ATI
contracts with Sapphire to build at least some of its cards.

Here's a sample from www.digit-life.com, not the last sentence:
----------------------
As you know, Sapphire Technologies is actually the main partner of ATI in
the video card sphere. This company produces the broadest line on the ATI's
processors. The company is based in Hong Kong but is a daughter enterprise
of PC Partner which is the greatest Chinese components manufacturer and an
old partner of ATI (today all video cards "Built by ATI" are produced at the
PC Partner's plants).
----------------

But you're correct that neither Sapphire nor ATI will directly confirm it.
They prefer to dance around the specifics, as in this quote from
www.sapphiretech.com:

---------------------
Ever since ATI announced its manufacturing & distribution relationships with
ODMs and AiBs in June of 2001, SAPPHIRE has always been the key ATI Graphics
Boards Supplier worldwide. SAPPHIRE designs, manufactures and distributes
the most complete range of ATI video boards--from mainstream level Xpert98
to the state-of-the-art technology-enriched Radeon 9700Pro boards.
All SAPPHIRE ATI video boards are manufactured under 100% ATI production
criteria including QC and outgoing system. Our monthly video board
production capacity can reach a lofty 1.8 million. Our factory has always
been the major manufacturer on ATI boards for most of the top ten tier 1
OEMs worldwide.

------------

In other words, it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck ...

probably a contractual agreement that no 'ONE' company out of the 'partners' will be singled out as a preference


"Skid" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:ZFRmb.35552$e01.66597@attbi_s02...
>
> "Ben Pope" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:bngmsu$102jiu$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Skid wrote:
> > > Sapphire builds cards for ATI and quality is very good.
> >
> > Has anybody actually seen verification of this? It was on a site once and
> > what was written could have been taken to mean that, but it wasn't
> > definitive.
> >
> > I'd like to see a statement from Ati or Sapphire, or some other
> > distuingishing feature that is identical on both cards.
> >
> > It's kind of academic anyway, both ATI and Sapphire cards are good.
>
> I once wasted an hour trying to track it down. Sapphire is in the top tier
> of ATI "partners" and it is reported as fact on several websites that ATI
> contracts with Sapphire to build at least some of its cards.
>
> Here's a sample from www.digit-life.com, not the last sentence:
> ----------------------
> As you know, Sapphire Technologies is actually the main partner of ATI in
> the video card sphere. This company produces the broadest line on the ATI's
> processors. The company is based in Hong Kong but is a daughter enterprise
> of PC Partner which is the greatest Chinese components manufacturer and an
> old partner of ATI (today all video cards "Built by ATI" are produced at the
> PC Partner's plants).
> ----------------
>
> But you're correct that neither Sapphire nor ATI will directly confirm it.
> They prefer to dance around the specifics, as in this quote from
> www.sapphiretech.com:
>
> ---------------------
> Ever since ATI announced its manufacturing & distribution relationships with
> ODMs and AiBs in June of 2001, SAPPHIRE has always been the key ATI Graphics
> Boards Supplier worldwide. SAPPHIRE designs, manufactures and distributes
> the most complete range of ATI video boards--from mainstream level Xpert98
> to the state-of-the-art technology-enriched Radeon 9700Pro boards.
> All SAPPHIRE ATI video boards are manufactured under 100% ATI production
> criteria including QC and outgoing system. Our monthly video board
> production capacity can reach a lofty 1.8 million. Our factory has always
> been the major manufacturer on ATI boards for most of the top ten tier 1
> OEMs worldwide.
>
> ------------
>
> In other words, it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck ...
>
>
>
>

Skid wrote:
> I once wasted an hour trying to track it down. Sapphire is in the top tier
> of ATI "partners" and it is reported as fact on several websites that ATI
> contracts with Sapphire to build at least some of its cards.
<snip!>

Convincing enough for me, thanks.

Ben
--
I'm not just a number. To many, I'm known as a String...

Thank you all for the info.

I put the Saphire 9800 on my list. NewEgg has them for 243.00 A bit more
than I was going to spend on an ATI9600 pro but it should be future proof
for a while.




"Ben Pope" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bngsec$1144fa$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Skid wrote:
> > I once wasted an hour trying to track it down. Sapphire is in the top
tier
> > of ATI "partners" and it is reported as fact on several websites that
ATI
> > contracts with Sapphire to build at least some of its cards.
> <snip!>
>
> Convincing enough for me, thanks.
>
> Ben
> --
> I'm not just a number. To many, I'm known as a String...
>
>

"Jim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:_U%mb.26220$mZ5.123151@attbi_s54...
> I put the Saphire 9800 on my list. NewEgg has them for 243.00 A bit more
> than I was going to spend on an ATI9600 pro but it should be future proof
> for a while.

I suggest you follow the three links at the end to the discussion groups
about this product.

The following is posted at resellerratings.com
http://www.resellerratings.com/selle...seller_id=2121

Comment (Very Dissatisfied)
Posted by
10/26/03 10:18 PM
My Bad Experience With Newegg
------------------------------
I bought an ATI Sapphire 9800 Non Pro OEM from Newegg on
October 22nd, 2003, and instead i received a Sapphire 9800 OEM.
No difference you think? Well, there is, actually. So i was pretty
disappointed but figured i could get a Full refund considering the
circumstances, even though the item was "NON-REFUNDABLE", i
figured they would make an exception seeing as they sent me a
different item, though they only offered an exchange for the same
exact, or a higher priced item, which mean i would have to pay to
ship it back, and pay a 15% restocking fee. I don't understand why i
would want to exchange the wrong item for the same exact one?
And everything that was priced higher wasn't a good deal for me.
So it's a shame to have such a bad experience with what is usually
a great company. $243 is a lot for me...a lot of working hours there.
So my first experience with Newegg was full of hassle, and in the
end, much disappointment. Even if i could get a full refund, it wouldn't
have been worth it. I will not shop at Newegg again.

For more information, please check these threads:
http://www.amdforums.com/showthread....5&pagenumber=1

http://www.sharkyforums.com/showthre...hreadid=212168

http://forums.anandtech.com/messagev...45&STARTPAGE=2

"Mario Digerati" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bnj39d$12f3pm$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Jim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:_U%mb.26220$mZ5.123151@attbi_s54...
> > I put the Saphire 9800 on my list. NewEgg has them for 243.00 A bit
more
> > than I was going to spend on an ATI9600 pro but it should be future
proof
> > for a while.
>
> I suggest you follow the three links at the end to the discussion groups
> about this product.
>
> The following is posted at resellerratings.com
> http://www.resellerratings.com/selle...seller_id=2121
>
> Comment (Very Dissatisfied)
> Posted by
> 10/26/03 10:18 PM
> My Bad Experience With Newegg
> ------------------------------
> I bought an ATI Sapphire 9800 Non Pro OEM from Newegg on
> October 22nd, 2003, and instead i received a Sapphire 9800 OEM.
> No difference you think? Well, there is, actually. So i was pretty
> disappointed but figured i could get a Full refund considering the
> circumstances, even though the item was "NON-REFUNDABLE", i
> figured they would make an exception seeing as they sent me a
> different item, though they only offered an exchange for the same
> exact, or a higher priced item, which mean i would have to pay to
> ship it back, and pay a 15% restocking fee. I don't understand why i
> would want to exchange the wrong item for the same exact one?
> And everything that was priced higher wasn't a good deal for me.
> So it's a shame to have such a bad experience with what is usually
> a great company. $243 is a lot for me...a lot of working hours there.
> So my first experience with Newegg was full of hassle, and in the
> end, much disappointment. Even if i could get a full refund, it wouldn't
> have been worth it. I will not shop at Newegg again.
>
> For more information, please check these threads:
>
http://www.amdforums.com/showthread....5&pagenumber=1
>
> http://www.sharkyforums.com/showthre...hreadid=212168
>
>
http://forums.anandtech.com/messagev...45&STARTPAGE=2

I had seen all those threads before, and they are good for a chuckle.

Some people were ****ed because the photo at NewEgg showed a red card and
they got a black one. Some people were ****ed because they thought they were
getting an "ATI" card and they got a Sapphire. Some people were ****ed
because they got 300 points less in 3DMark 2003 than they THOUGHT they would
have gotten with a different card.

Meanwhile a fair number of people were delighted to get a card that runs
almost as fast as ATI's top-of-the-line model for a lot less money. And many
of them were able to get respectable overclocks as well, to Pro speeds or
better.

As for your complaints against NewEgg, I don't think you have any cause to
gripe. They tell you up front the manufacturer may make substitutions and
photos may be inaccurate. They warn you that this card is not refundable and
there is a restocking fee.

You got a card with exactly the specs listed, in fact it appears to be
simply an underclocked version of the OEM Sapphire 9800 Pro. The vast
majority of the owner reviews of the card you bought at NewEgg are raves.

If you don't want it, sell it on eBay or ask NewEgg about a trade-up to
another card. They've done that for several people without restocking fees.