I got the information below from Guru 3D.

Posted by Hilbert Hagedoorn - views: 6318


I'm making this post a sticky for a while.

ATI for sure launched a cheap version of the Radeon 9800 Pro graphics card. We recently already reported this in our news section. Again I like to warn each and everyone of you that is in the market for a Radeon 9800 Pro that there is something very questionable going on in the industry right now. And it has ATI's approval as more manufacturers are selling this version.

I was just checking our forums and noticed that people are able to buy a Radeon 9800 Pro in the 170-180 USD range, and they have no clue why the card was so cheap. Fantastic price, yet a way too low price. It's a Radeon 9800 pro alright, yet equipped with 128-bit memory where it should be 256-bit. Basically frame buffer bandwidth is cut in half and despite full eight pipes it's placing itself in the mid-range segment as core and memory clocks are lowered also. This will have a serious effect on overall performance. Take a Suzuki Hayabusa motor cycle which can do like 300 KPH yet it is forced to drive on a small road where it will never exceed 100 KPH. Look at the Suzuki as the Radeon 9800 Pro and the road the memory bandwidth.

I'm not saying it's a bad card, I do think you should be well informed to make a proper decision before buying.

Source: http://www.guru3d.com

Yes http://www.guru3d.com is a reliable source. Better watch out!

yes ... there is 1 card manufacturer that sends out 128bit card which is quite a while ago and since the confusion about it the put a sticker on it saying ... HEY 128bit inside !
so not big deal
and if you are fooled about that get it back to local store and you are fine

Well, lets see how Club3D did that - they have:

9800SE - 128 MB, 256 bit
9800 - 128 MB, 256 bit
9800PRO - 128 MB, 256 bit
9800PRO 256 - 256 MB, 256 bit

and recently CLub3D has to offer:

9800LE - 128 MB, 128 bit

The clearly made a new model (LE), so you do not have to think "is this 9800PRO with 128 bit or with 256 bit memory?" - they made new model with 128 bit memory.

Some other manufacturers who sell 9800pro cards with 128 memory, should have "128 bit" sticker on it, and every site selling those cards should have that "128 bit" notice. But... what does 128 bit or 256 bit mean to an average PC user? Nothing. Advanced users know what is the difference in speed between those 2 models. I wouldn't but 9800pro with 128 bit memory; maybe nobody of us here would not buy it. But there are average users who will be tricked, and they will buy those cards. Some of them will eventually complain. Let's face it - there is much more average users than advanced users. Also, both ATI and nVidia sell more mainstream cards than top-rande cards; but most internet sites benchmark top-class cards.

totally agree mmmm

When getting my 9800pro, i emailed the Comapny and asked if there specific model had 256Bit mem bus;

apparently one way to tell is to look at the positions of the memory. If the mem is 128Bit the memory is located in a horizontal line along the top end of the card, above the gpu. In 256bit models the mem is L shaped around the gpu.

i may be wrong tho, tis just soemthign ive noticed

Peav

that´s a well known problem from ati
i remember 8500, 8500LE and 8500LELE for example...

i got an msi radeon 9800pro for £147 inc vat

im now worried as the shop i got it from has other 9800pros for a lot more

it benches at 18169 in 3dmark 2001 and upping it 2 1280 with 4xaa it gets 11100. is this bout right for a 256bit card or is this 128bit

the box or manual says nothing about the memory aside 128mb ddr

goliath,

rivatuner should tell u the mem bit rate..

but look at my last post about memory positions.

BTW and MSI 9800pro for 147 is about right now. I can get a 9800pro done by Peak ( rebadged i think ) for 124 and it has 256bit mem

If u look elsewhere, maybes overclockers.co.uk and check the prices u'll see urs is about right. The 256mb cards are easily another 80 quid on top, maybes this is what u saw ?

Peav