Read this before buying Powercolor!!

[webtron]

I bought a powercolor Radeon 9600 pro EZ 256mb ddr
The card is running at 400 cpu & 400ddr memory speed
Well, i got the spec for the memory and it is elixir type 6ns 333ddr (166mhz) memory. So Powercolor is constantly overclocking 166mhz memory to 200mhz. This card really performs POORLY and how reliable can it be? Further overclocking the, already seriously overclocked, memory is of course out of the question. I am not lying about this fact and i can show pics of the memory chips. they are type
elixir N2DS25616BT-6K I emailedolor's tech Dept about this and not surprisingly got NO response. My advice: Don't buy Powercolor!!

 

[doctrnick]

I had a similar problem. I bought a Evil Commando 9000 non-pro, and founf out that it was clocked at 245/333 instead of 250/400. I contacted them about it and they said it was a "lite" version that i bought. Nowhere on the box did it say anything about it being clocked slower than normal or anything to even indicate that it was lower than ATI spec. DONT BUY POWERCOLOR

 

[TheRod]

The problem is not only PowerColor.

The problem is that ATI should be more "agressive" and ask "Powered by ATI" partner to provide GPU/memory speed on packaging.

The best would ba a chart with the different version of the GPU... Let's say you have a Radeon 9800 by NoName, with a chart indicating the "ATI Specs" for Radeon 9800 NON-PRO/PRO/XT with a fourth row for the actual powercolor card...

This would look like this :
9800 : 325/580/256bits
THIS CARD : 350/600/256bits
9800 PRO : 380/700/256bits
9800 XT : 412/730/256bits

So, customer would know how the card they buy will actually perform. This would be great.

--
Would you buy a GPS enabled soap bar?

 

[cleeve]

That would be awesome for the consumer.

Of course it'll never happen, because Ati is probably scared of vendors jumping ship to Nvidia if they're too strict...

________________
<b>Radeon <font color=red>9500 PRO</b></font color=red> <i>(hardmodded 9500, o/c 322/322)</i>
<b>AthlonXP <font color=red>2600+</b></font color=red> <i>(o/c 2400+ w/143Mhz fsb)</i>
<b>3dMark03: <font color=red>4,055</b></font color=red>

 

[TheRod]

Not necessarly, many customer don't even check spec of video cards. People usually buy video card baed on "GPU brand name".

Most people will want a Radeon or a GeForce FX, and then they buy the one with the price tag they can afford.

I know many people that think they have good 3d cards, because they have GeForce MX cards... And every one knows that MX cards are not that great.

The comparison chart would help hardcore customer to buy that model they really want. And obviously, ATI should require that the brand name extension can only be use if you actually meet the spec or are above the spec.

So instead of Radeon 9800 PRO "lite", the Noname company would call is card a Radeon 9800 "PLUS" or "Extreme" or whatever cool name they want...

The SE/PRO/XT extension would be reserved words. I think it's simple rule that would make everyone happy...

I can't wait to see a Radeon 9600 SE "Extreme" or a Radeon 9800 PRO "GAMER"...
And this one would be great :
NoName
Powered by ATI
Radeon 9800XT+

--
Would you buy a GPS enabled soap bar?

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

It'll never happen because nV doesn't do it either (remember all the MSI and Chaintech FX5900Ultra that were ultra cores and slower memory?).

NEITHER company wants to force their vendors to go through extra hoops in a time where competition is so tough.

In the end it's buyer beware.

It's not like this is a new issue around here.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK