Keaner
10-13-2004, 12:13 AM
Hey guys, I just wanted to point out something really cool. I just purchased a PowerColor 9800pro for my dad's Homebuilt. First of all, I chose this card
because of its price mainly, but then when I researched a bit more, I realized how awesome it is!
Apparently, PowerColor (a powered by ATI provider, #1 in sales for ATI boards) uses some signifigantly higher components for their cards than the Boxed by
ATI versions, and for a better price! ATI wants 230 for a 9800pro, whereas I got mine from ZipZoomFly for 200 bucks. Not a huge difference, but the
performance difference was worth it! PowerColor reportedly uses (according to Toms Hardware) the first choice Samsung memory for their cards, which as you
all know, is the fastest available. The Card also has an amazingly nicer cooler.
The other thing I noticed in my research, is that the PowerColor card came with ALL the accessories, something that the Sapphire I was looking at didnt, and
the ATI lacked as well. Those alone are worth a bunch.
Finally, I have heard reports that ATI support can take a while, whereas PowerColor promises a 12 hour response by email, and even shorter troubleshooting
from their forums!
Overall, purchasing my PowerColor ATI card was the best experience I could have imagined. I would recommend the company to anyone! Anyway, I just wanted to
make sure anyone who wants a nice card could have the opportunity to consider such a wonderful card!
because of its price mainly, but then when I researched a bit more, I realized how awesome it is!
Apparently, PowerColor (a powered by ATI provider, #1 in sales for ATI boards) uses some signifigantly higher components for their cards than the Boxed by
ATI versions, and for a better price! ATI wants 230 for a 9800pro, whereas I got mine from ZipZoomFly for 200 bucks. Not a huge difference, but the
performance difference was worth it! PowerColor reportedly uses (according to Toms Hardware) the first choice Samsung memory for their cards, which as you
all know, is the fastest available. The Card also has an amazingly nicer cooler.
The other thing I noticed in my research, is that the PowerColor card came with ALL the accessories, something that the Sapphire I was looking at didnt, and
the ATI lacked as well. Those alone are worth a bunch.
Finally, I have heard reports that ATI support can take a while, whereas PowerColor promises a 12 hour response by email, and even shorter troubleshooting
from their forums!
Overall, purchasing my PowerColor ATI card was the best experience I could have imagined. I would recommend the company to anyone! Anyway, I just wanted to
make sure anyone who wants a nice card could have the opportunity to consider such a wonderful card!