how good are sapphire cards?

sithlink · Post by **sithlink** » Thu Nov 28, 2002 11:05 pm

I am in the market for a ATI card (8500, 9000, or 9500) and it seems that sapphire video cards with the ati chips are a lot cheaper than the ati built cards. since the price is lower does it mean the sapphire built cards are not as good as the ati built cards? are sapphire cards reliable? do they use the same drivers as the ati cards?

thanks

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Thu Nov 28, 2002 11:06 pm

Pretty much identical. so save the $.

Greg

blade · Post by **blade** » Fri Nov 29, 2002 10:46 am

I recently got a 8500Le and everything seems the same, but I think the clock speed is lower. I've seen others say their LE came clocked at 250/250 or 250/230. Mine came 250/200.

But I can oc it to 260/240. That's as far as the oc slider goes.

*correction, 260/230 is about the limit with included cooling. Started to get artifacting at 260/240

sithlink · Post by **sithlink** » Sat Nov 30, 2002 12:15 am

does this OC software come with the video card?

blade · Post by **blade** » Sat Nov 30, 2002 12:37 am

You have to get it seperately. I tried power strip but I prefer rage3d tweaker since it adds a tab under display/settings for overclocking. And it's very easy.

Doesn't have those annoying pop ups tips on each reboot that powerstrip has.