Sapphire GraphicsCard 9800 PRO

[ukmgranger]

Any thoughts on This card?!?

I'm looking for a relatively inexpensive ATI card to try in my machine. I just want to satisfy my curiosity really in terms of what kind of image ATI's produce.

I have been trying to run my 'Galaxy nVIDIA 6800GT 256mb' at a rez of 1920x1080i, but I just dont get a good picture using VMR9. I can almost see the screen re-drawing from top to bottom when there is allot of movement on the screen.

I thought that a card like this would be nice to test. And I can eventually put it in my client machine (when it's built).

[silkshadow]

I have that card and am currently using it on a client with Sage. Its a nice card and can be softmodded to make it a 9800xt, though that didn't give me any improvements in HTPC use. Using DVI-out I can get 1080p resolutions cleanly and it seems to be very VMR9 capable. I use Zoomplayer VMR9 renderless on it and get incredibly sharp pictures with ffdshow. Sage looks really good on it as well. Though my 6800gt has never been used on a HTPC (its in my gaming rig), I don't think my 9800pro is anywhere as good as my 6800gt.

[blade]

I have a 6600GT and it works perfectly at 1080i. Have you tried v3.0.11 with FSE enabled? It makes a huge difference.

[ukmgranger]

Yes, I am running it with VMR9 and FSE enabled. It is fine at 1280x720 but at this resolution my LCD TV has big black borders. That is my reason for trying to run at 1080i.
I am on forceware 77.76 if this makes any difference.

any other ideas?

[dagar]

FWIW My 9700 Pro exibits impressive interlacing at 1080i timing on my Sammy HCN RPHDTV. I don't know if/how to reduce it. I have to run at 720p otherwise. I use the component output.

[Fluffdaddy]

I have 9800 Pro And for the price I'm happy. I'm use the DVI out for my SD/HD rig. I have it set to 720p for my 57" DLP

[Blue]

I've been running the Sapphire 9800 Pro for over a year now (not in my HTPC). I haven't had any problems with the card, but I will suggest replacing the fan with an Arctic Cooler, as the stock fan is quite loud.

[silkshadow]

I find the Arctic cooling VGA cooler (if thats what you mean) is also quite loud. I use one on my 6800gt in my gaming rig. I opted for a Zalman and that thing is whisper quiet.

[ukmgranger]

I use the Artic cooling VGA cooler on my 6800GT, but I have inserted a fan-speed-reducer to slow down the fan and decrease the noise levels.

Would heat have anything to do with my card not being able to perform at 1080i?

[Naylia]

I love my Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro, it's been solid and stable for about a year now. I only use it for SD and am quite happy with the image from the s-video out. I also replaced the fan on it with the Artic Cooling VGA Silencer Rev 3.0...which has an adjustable switch for two speeds and it's pretty darn quiet at the 1200 RPM setting.