9800 SE vs 9800 Pro - info needed

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joe727
  • Start date Start date
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
 
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
 
Scott Wasilewski said:
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.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info.

Joe
 
Thanks for the info.

Joe

Mix-Master said:
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
Click to expand...
 
John Hall said:
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
Click to expand...
<snip>
Hi - have you found anymore info on this? Thanks.

Joe
 
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
 
Joe727 said:
pro
<snip>
Hi - have you found anymore info on this? Thanks.

Joe
Click to expand...
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
 
Manu T said:
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
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info.

Joe
 
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