Sapphire Toxic X800 with VIVO

[WeaponX]

Anybody play around with this card yet? It has VIVO so I'm thinking it should flash to XT pretty easily. But I haven't heard of anyone touching the card yet.

[WeaponX]

I guess not....

It's either I get the Sapphire Toxic X800 then mod it to an XT (deal with all the headaches in between) or just pick up the VisionTek X800 XT for 40 bucks more... hmmm....

[mikead_99]

Hmm, I got a Sapphire VIVO that mod'ed up ok. Barely makes XT stock clocks though. Not sure what Toxic is? non-oem flavor I guess?

[Arkangyl]

Toxic comes with a modified Arctic Cooling Silencer and a special backplate a-la 9800XT to cool the ram; awkward shape though as it goes to the top of the card then goes 1 slot over the mobo away from the PCI slots.

Still, if I'm reading correctly the Toxic might be a cream de la cream of R420's and might OC better. Plus it comes with Prince o Persia 3D and Pandora Tomorrow...

[stasiu]

I'd go for the straight XT. I have a Sapphire XT that i've been benching in 3D01 and 03 up to 590 on the GPU with stock cooling. Check my links. It seems some of the VIVO -> XT conversions are getting 570 on the GPU...i'd be very happy with that ... but for $40 it's no where worth the chance of getting a crappy clocker.

[WeaponX]

The only problem is finding one at a descent price anywhere...

[mikead_99]

I doubt any VIVO model is the cream de la cream. They are XT's that didn't make the cut, IMO. I owuld think having the enhanced cooling would improve your odds of making XT clocks after unlocking the other 4 pipes. Putting mine under a TEC block helped significantly (duh), giving me near 600 MHz at stock voltage when it was only stable at 510 MHz with the reference cooler. Making those extra 10 MHz to XT speeds probalby would have happened with just a better hsf though.

In the end, I ended up picking up an Asus x800xt as well. It wasn't much more impressive then the mod'ed VIVO with the reference hsf, but certainly scales up better with extra voltage and the pelt. If you just want 16 pipe performance, go VIVO. If you want to get a decent o/c, go badged XT. With 1.6V XT = 648 3d benchable, VIVO = 608.

All just my 2 cents. :toast:

[StormPC]

The VisionTek is a great XT also. Mine does 627/615 on less than 1.55vgpu. It has the #1 100% aircooled spot in 2k1 at the moment. The scores in my sig are with stock cooling on the VC as well, but the CPU is on a PC Ice single stage phase-change.:D

[WeaponX]

That's a nice OC Storm, would you know where I can get one? Been pulling my hair out all week looking for one (I'm not paying 800 bucks for one, sorry, I already had that war with the FX53 and 3500+, I need FX). Been keeping a close eye on Compusa, maybe I should go have a word with the manager :mad:

[Arkangyl]

any real feeling as to how the Sapphire VIVO'st stack up to others?

[Adelon]

oke here a stupid question i wonderd if what collor pcb the sapphire xt pe got? (i saw some pic whit blue)

[WeaponX]

That question has also been bugging me too. Sometimes I see the Sapphire X800XT PE in a blue PCB and then I read reviews that have in red PCB. AND THEN I go to Sapphire's own website and they don't even have a picture of one....I want blue....X800 XT....

[DeForce]

Originally posted by Arkangyl
any real feeling as to how the Sapphire VIVO'st stack up to others?

my sapphire x800 pro VIVO isn't too bad it does like 550/570, I haven't measured voltages yet, but i'm sure it could use a v mod. nobody is gonna set any records overclocking the VIVO's I think, but it's an easy way to get an XT for a little cheaper.