Initial impressions of VisionTek 9800 Pro 256 MB

[WxChaser]

I can finally pass along some impressions of this new vidcard to you guys. Actually I was quite suprised at the overclockability of the video card with the extra 128 megs of memory onboard.

Since it's DDR II it does get hotter, so the card is pretty much completely sinked, stock from the factory. I took the stock HSF off and they had a good helping of TIM on it (I cleaned and applied my own AS3), then put the stock hsf back on the VisionTek Xtasy 9800 Pro.

It actually overclocked pretty damned well, perhaps just a hair under my 128 MB ATI Radeon 9800 Pro as far as pushing it very hard. I need better cooling before I do much more with the card at this point.

Also, I scored 145 points higher today than I have on 3DMark03...made it to 6660. I had to run my mem timings on the XMS3500 pretty relaxed at 230 otherwise it wasn't very stable. I need to squeeze more than 230 FSB out of the mobo, so tomorrow brings on the TwinMos PC3700, hoping to ride that up to 235 to 240 FSB hopefully.

Link from the 6660 run: (only 1500 or so behind OP!).

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=803556

This is all on air cooling by the way.

The Xtasy 256MB card comes bundled with the 6292 drivers, which do NOT recognize the 256 MB memory, if you bench, you'll only see 128 MB show up. So I ran the benches with the Catalyst 3.4's, card is unmodified at this point.

Here's some pics of the cards I am quite happy with the card, and VisionTek did a good job on this one. TigerDirect also did great in getting the product to me as advertised, I was impressed.







I have a comparison I'll throw up later that shows this card pretty much next to the 128MB ATI card at about the same settings. The 256 does better at a little slower speeds actually and performs pretty well.

[bowman1964]

man you got my card....lol...keep us posted......

[WxChaser]

man you got my card....lol...keep us posted......

Sure thing buddy.

My next move is to get into phase change or at least pelt the card and do some water cooling. Trying to decide whether to fork out the cash for the new Prom or just do water cooling and suffer.

Wish I could build one like you, but no way do I have those kind of skills, especially in refrigeration. The Dude is a lucky man!

[bowman1964]

Originally posted by WxChaser
Sure thing buddy.

My next move is to get into phase change or at least pelt the card and do some water cooling. Trying to decide whether to fork out the cash for the new Prom or just do water cooling and suffer.

Wish I could build one like you, but no way do I have those kind of skills, especially in refrigeration. The Dude is a lucky man!

well pelt the sucker for now.its alot cheaper and will give nice results.or pick up up a old vapo or prommy

yea the Dude is happy i hope...i miss my baby though

[WxChaser]

At least you 2 spent some very happy times together. How's the new "beast" coming along?

[bowman1964]

evaperator is my hold up.i want the best no hold bars on this design.brand new never before done idea.like a fuel injector in your car i am designing a injector to inject the CO2.no more capillary tubes or vavles.waiting on some brass tubbing to machine the injector with....taking a big leap..i hope i dont fall

[JeffPH]

nice card, did it came with those heatsink on the vid memory or did you mod it?

[BrainStorm]

Pretty sure he said it's all stock.

[WxChaser]

Yep, all the sinks you saw in my pics are stock. I did add a copper sink to the VPU on the back of the card.

[DR. YT]

Originally posted by bowman1964
evaperator is my hold up.i want the best no hold bars on this design.brand new never before done idea.like a fuel injector in your car i am designing a injector to inject the CO2.no more capillary tubes or vavles.waiting on some brass tubbing to machine the injector with....taking a big leap..i hope i dont fall

i wish you would start a thred on the new cooler in works(hint hint) i gotta say im learning alot from you and realy enjoy reading about your work. keep it up

[JeffPH]

thanks, keep us posted

[WxChaser]

taking a big leap..i hope i dont fall

- bowman there's no way that'll happen. You've got it figured out to a T.

Can't wait to see it when you get done, like the idea of injectors instead of the tubes. That way you get what you want where you want, so you should see a lot colder temperatures as a result. Now designing an injector would be hell though!

[bowman1964]

i wish you would start a thred on the new cooler in works(hint hint) i gotta say im learning alot from you and realy enjoy reading about your work. keep it up

docyt ...i will proberly start a post in the forum next
or so.on my progress since i am getting overwhelmed on requests.it is going to be slow and boring but if guys want to watch the ride you can.

now back to the r9800.....WxChaser i am watching you also right now.i believe you have the card to run and take over the orb.
the memory is the key ,not the amount but the ddrII ..i believe it will get you better that 800mhz speeds if a volt mod can be done right.

[WxChaser]

I was just thinking this morning how best to do the vmods to the card, should be the same as the 9800 128 versions. I have to take the card out later today, going to bench some TwinMos and try the new 2.0 bios revision.

I also like the "progress" reports! I think it's cool you've been recognized for your prowess in phase change, that should make you feel great. Now remember the next one you build, should be for me, not some huge fancy national mag cover!!!

[mdzcpa]

Great thread WxChaser

I'm watching with interest...keep us posted! BTW, how much of a gain over the 128 card did you get? Is that the 145 points?

[WxChaser]

Great thread WxChaser

Thanks Mike, appreciate it.

Unfortunately, instead of benching so far today I've been spending time trying to figure out a bandwidth problem with my ISP (Charter Communications). Their main backbone provider got hit yesterday with a major DOS attack and it took me down to 14.4 speeds for a while this morning! It may be 3 to 4 days before I get my beloved bandwidth back (tears forming in my eyes as we speak).

I think the 256MB card has a lot of possibilities. It seems to score higher at slower clock speeds, probably due to faster renders. I haven't noticed too much of a heat problem yet with the DDR-II ram chips either. Give me some time later today & tonight for further exploration of this card.

Just got sidetracked. My goal is to check out the card with my TwinMos PC3700 in it for higher FSB's, should get 235 to 240 FSB that way. Also I want to flash the latest Abit bios and see how that flys (1.1 and 1.2 versions on my revision 2.0 NF7-S board were not too good, I'm using the 1.0 shipping bios) with my 2800+ (3rd L12 bridge cut).

Mike - off topic, how was the Detroit AMD stop? Sent you an email but didn't hear back from ya.

[mdzcpa]

Sorry about that...works been kickin my butt lately. And I couldn't make the Detroit show either due to my crazy work schedule Between work and the newborn, the schedules been crazy.

So I had to rely on your AMD Tour thread from Chicago to get my fix.

[WxChaser]

No problem Mike - besides you've made the trip to the dark side anyway!

Trying out an updated bios to see if I can get above 233 FSB using the TwinMos PC3700.

Can't wait to get my Canterwood board, but have about 3 weeks or so before I can do it.

[WxChaser]

Still really liking the VisionTek. You can really tell the sinks on the ram chips are doing their job, they get pretty toasty during runs.

I was able to bump the FSB up to 236 today, did runs at 232 and 236 for 3DMark03. It was hard getting really stable above 235 FSB no matter the vdd voltage or Vcore. (Abit NF7-S 2.0)

6714

6691

1st run (higher score) done at 232 FSB. 2nd run was done at 235 FSB.

[Major]

Good scores ! Are you contemplateing doing the vmods to your shinny new toy ???

I did the Vddr and Vgpu mods today, I got nothing extra from the memory, but I can clock up to 528 now !!!!! but my MCW50-T cant keep up at that clock, so 510 is about the highest she will do without artifacts. I think with the memory you have to do the Vref (which is a known board killer) and the Vddq to gain anything. I might try them tomorrow.

Keep it up WxChaser !! Looking forward to seeing you with that new Intel rig

[WxChaser]

Thanks Major Slaughter. I'm making a move to either phase change (if I can get enough money together) or wc when I build the Canterwood system. I've got enough memory around for the board so...why not.

Just have to reconvince my wife...again. I go thru this every time I upgrade or build another box, lol.

I am planning on doing the mods when I get some extra time, vacation coming up in June, so that should be when it happens and after I "break" the card in, lol.

[Boogotop]

why you cant push more clock on memory?
i think the official limit of the memory are 450mhz...
i can change my 9800pro 128mb for a 256mb version for just 50$ (canadian) but if the memory stop around 360mhz....i don't know...

[WxChaser]

why you cant push more clock on memory?

Because as of yet, I haven't had time to do the volt mods on the card, and haven't pelted it or done any other type of cooling to the card other than stock (did add a copper sink on back of card for VPU).

I'm sure I'll be able to push it much harder soon. Actually waiting to get a Prom in July and then pelt the card.

To be honest I just have not had time to do much lately as far as benching, getting ready for vacation (starting today, woo hoo!), but I do think the card is excellent.

[Boogotop]

ok...but do you've tried to push it more than 360mhz without v-mod??

right now my sapphire 9800 Pro do 445/390 stock

[WxChaser]

I haven't pushed the memory above 360 yet...I'll try it when I get back from vacation next week.