9800 SE vs 9800 Pro - info needed

[Joe727]

New Egg has Sapphire 9800 SE OEM non-pro cards for $166. Can anyone please
explain the difference between these cards and the 9800 Pro?

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=9800,pro

Thanks

Joe
P.S. If this is a duplicate post - my apologies in advance.

 

[Scott Wasilewski]

New Egg has Sapphire 9800 SE OEM non-pro cards for $166. Can anyone please
explain the difference between these cards and the 9800 Pro?

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=9800,pro

Thanks

Joe
P.S. If this is a duplicate post - my apologies in advance.

9800SE has only four pipelines, whereas 9800 (Pro and non-pro) have 8.
This will affect overall performance. I'd go for a 9800 non-pro over
a 9800SE if you can afford it.

 

[Mix-Master]

Just make sure you go for the 256-bit memory 9800SE and then you can use the
hacked drivers (eg omega) and turns it into 9800pro

 

[John Hall]

I have read a number of times in this newsgroup that you can turn on the
additional 4 pipelines on the 9800 se using the omega drivers. I must say
that I am a little sceptical of that. I'm not even sure that a bios flash
could accomplish that since the # of pipelines is a hardware achitecture
issue. I understand that the 9500 could be turned into a 9700 pro through
various hacks, and I know that my 9800 non pro could be turned into a pro by
flashing the bios because I've done it. But I thought that the 9800 se was
in fact a lesser chip.

Hey, I'm just being skeptical here, but I do have an open mind on the issue.
Enlighten me!

JK

 

[Joe727]

9800SE has only four pipelines, whereas 9800 (Pro and non-pro) have 8.
This will affect overall performance. I'd go for a 9800 non-pro over
a 9800SE if you can afford it.

Thanks for the info.

Joe

 

[Joe727]

Thanks for the info.

Joe

Just make sure you go for the 256-bit memory 9800SE and then you can use the
hacked drivers (eg omega) and turns it into 9800pro

 

[Joe727]

I have read a number of times in this newsgroup that you can turn on the
additional 4 pipelines on the 9800 se using the omega drivers. I must say
that I am a little sceptical of that. I'm not even sure that a bios flash
could accomplish that since the # of pipelines is a hardware achitecture
issue. I understand that the 9500 could be turned into a 9700 pro through
various hacks, and I know that my 9800 non pro could be turned into a pro by
flashing the bios because I've done it. But I thought that the 9800 se was
in fact a lesser chip.

Hey, I'm just being skeptical here, but I do have an open mind on the issue.
Enlighten me!

JK

<snip>
Hi - have you found anymore info on this? Thanks.

Joe

 

[DaveL]

I think that saphire card is not only 4 pipes but 128 bit memory bus too.
That would make it slower than a 9600 Pro. Avoid it.

Dave

 

[Manu T]

pro
<snip>
Hi - have you found anymore info on this? Thanks.

Joe

Some are 'lesser' chips (notably the ones with a 128-bit memory interface)
the others are usually 'clipped' 9800 (non-pro) chips with 256-bit memory
interface and 8 pipes. I presume a bios tag (9800 SE) evokes a 'lesser'
software driver which enables only half the pipelines.

By forcing the software to accept the 9800 non-pro driver you can enable on
these cards the full 8 pipelines.

I believe the GPU's used in these cards are either defective or not good
enough for a 9800 or not QC for 9800 non-pro. But they probaly run fine at
lower speeds and with a lower load on the GPU (hence decreasing bandwidth by
disabling 4 pipes). Probably to decrease wastage they relabel them as 9800SE
and sell them to interested parties who want to build a 9700Pro-like card
with the flashy 9800-label on it

Regards,

Manu T

 

[Joe727]

Some are 'lesser' chips (notably the ones with a 128-bit memory interface)
the others are usually 'clipped' 9800 (non-pro) chips with 256-bit memory
interface and 8 pipes. I presume a bios tag (9800 SE) evokes a 'lesser'
software driver which enables only half the pipelines.

By forcing the software to accept the 9800 non-pro driver you can enable on
these cards the full 8 pipelines.

I believe the GPU's used in these cards are either defective or not good
enough for a 9800 or not QC for 9800 non-pro. But they probaly run fine at
lower speeds and with a lower load on the GPU (hence decreasing bandwidth by
disabling 4 pipes). Probably to decrease wastage they relabel them as 9800SE
and sell them to interested parties who want to build a 9700Pro-like card
with the flashy 9800-label on it

Regards,

Manu T

Thanks for the info.

Joe