Different Card Manufacturers ...

[DanioJ]

I was thinking of upgrading my nVidia Gforce4 ti4600 to a Radeon 9800 pro.

However while also not knowing if it is worth it, I am not sure which manufacturer I should go with. There is a noteable difference in price and I can not see where the differences lie, if any, and are they considerable?

The ones I can see are Hercules, Power Color, Connect3D and Sapphire.

Does anyone have any comments? :)

[stncttr908]

From what I've seen, the Power Color cards seem rather cheaply produced. They're the only ones I'd stay away from. I have a Sapphire, and it's great. It's the reference card basically. You can go with Visiontek, Gigabyte, any of those if you want. Just stay away from Power Color.

Here is why.

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NDgzLDc=

[B&R]

I suggest sappahire. Even better if u can get a Sapphire 9800np. It is the best perf/price card.

[saturnotaku]

Hercules cards are cool looking with the blue PCB and led cooling fan. But I don't think they're worth the price premium over Sapphire or Connect3D. I've owned ATI cards from both these manufacturers and they are of excellent quality. If you get a retail-boxed Sapphire card, their Redline tweaking/overclocking utility is excellent.

[cthellis]

I'd go with Sapphire offhand as well. That, or whoever gives you the best warranty. ;)

[DanioJ]

Thanks guys :D

[theultimo]

Sapphire is the fastest/best support, Hercules has its "extras," and ASUS ??? :)

[sytaylor]

My powercolor pwns j00 all.. seriously, not a single issue with it yet, and im willing to bet it will overclock :afro:

[B&R]

I thought powercolors come with slow ram timings??:confused: Or Is it jus 9800np's that come like that?

[sytaylor]

well to say the CPU/mobo/ram im benching on it seems to run very well in benchies :D

[ragejg]

Gigabyte video cards: Poopy/corny hsf setups... they all run hot... coincidentally, so do their northbridges... ... heh, they need a shakeup in the hsf department!!:p:p

[theultimo]

Or everyoine could invest stock in peliter coolers and we'd ALL have sub-zero temps.. :firedevil