9600xt 128 or 256 [Archive]

shwaip

15 Dec 2003, 5:32pm

I've been looking @ getting a 9600xt, and I don't know whether or not to opt for the 128MB or 256MB. I can get the 256 retail for 196 shipped, but it has TSOP ram. Is there any advantage of BGA ram over TSOP?

SimGuy

15 Dec 2003, 5:33pm

BGA overclocks better than TSOP and runs cooler.

shwaip

15 Dec 2003, 5:34pm

I figured as much. Is it worth it to get 256 on a 9600xt, or should I just get 128?

SimGuy

15 Dec 2003, 5:40pm

Personally, I don't see a need for a 256 MB frame-buffer right now.

At 1600x1200 with AA & AF, we don't fill 128 MB's yet, but come pretty close, so unless you are going to be running at max AA/AF at extremely high resolutions, the 128 MB should do ya fine.

Plus, as that 256 MB is TSOP, I'd keep my distance from that...

shwaip

15 Dec 2003, 5:45pm

thanks. One last question:
BBA or other brand?

SimGuy

15 Dec 2003, 6:01pm

BBA, Sapphire or Hercules. :)

Personally, Sapphire's 9600XT Ultimate Edition looks very appealing, shipping with a silent Zalman cooler instead of the usual dinky VPU cooler. :)

Slap a 92mm Panaflo U1A on there and you'll be overclocking like mad :)

http://www.sapphiretech.com/vga/9600-xt-ult.asp