Two types of sapphire 9800 pro?
Ok, i'm getting really close to buying a 9800 pro and i've decided that i want the sapphire but i'm a bit confused because new egg seems to have two different oem sapphire 9800 pros. One of them is about $350 and from the picture link is the type that looks identical to the ati version. The other is the one that has the sapphire fan on it which i THOUGHT was the newer batch but those are only about $300. I'm wondering why there would be so much of a price difference between the two when i would think that they would be identical except for looks.
Also, i've mentioned that i have a bit of a fear of mail order companies buying 9800 np's and flashing them to pro and then selling them as pros. One fact that does lend itself to this theory is that new egg doesn't sell any 9800 nps at all. Do you think its possible that new egg flashed all their np's to pros and sells them as a slightly cheaper pro? Your first instinct might be to think that they'd never do anything that shady but it could be rationalized by the fact that many np's are read by systems as pros anyway. So with a large oem batch its possible that they could think/say they got sent pro instead of nps.
Also, i've mentioned that i have a bit of a fear of mail order companies buying 9800 np's and flashing them to pro and then selling them as pros. One fact that does lend itself to this theory is that new egg doesn't sell any 9800 nps at all. Do you think its possible that new egg flashed all their np's to pros and sells them as a slightly cheaper pro? Your first instinct might be to think that they'd never do anything that shady but it could be rationalized by the fact that many np's are read by systems as pros anyway. So with a large oem batch its possible that they could think/say they got sent pro instead of nps.
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Sapphire's 9800 Pro's have Samsung 2.8ns DDR memory modules. Their 9800 Non-Pro's have Samsung 3.3ns DDR memory modules. If you order a Pro, they send you one with 2.8ns DDR memory modules. Check the code on top of the RAM chips, specifically the last 2 (or 4) digits. If it's "GC33", then it's 3.3ns memory. If it reads something along the lines of "GC2A" it's 2.8ns memory. NewEgg is a reputable company and wouldn't put their business and name at risk by doing something that dumb.
ATI is phasing out the Radeon 9800 Non-Pro and replacing it with the 9800 SE, a 4-pipeline version of the 9800 NP with cuts the cards performance in exactly half. That's why you can't find 9800 NP's anywhere.
As for the price difference between those cards.... I'm not sure I like that Sapphire 9800 Pro on the black PCB with only the floppy extra support power connector. AFAIK, Sapphire didn't change their 9800 Pro PCB and the 4-pin molex connector is standard in order to provide enough additional electricity to the 9800 Pro. I'll look into that PCB a little more.
Play it safe. $352.00 for the Sapphire Atlantis 9800 Pro.
However, i found a 9800 NP from http://www.hightech.com.hk/html/9800.htm that i just ordered and i have confirmation that it has Sammys on them. Lucky enough, it actually was the cheapest 9800 here in europe as well. 240 dollars/euro.
I've visited 3 local computer shops here in the Greater Toronto Area and they all carry the first generation Sapphire 9800 Non-Pro's on the REB PCB with Samsung 3.3ns memory and the 4-pin molex connector. $330.00 CDN ($245 USD).
Get 'em while you can!