Looking to buy X1950pro

Dem2k · Mar 21, 2007, 10:28 PM

Hey all

I'm in the market for x1950pro. I had just RMA'ed my last HiS X1950pro ICEq3 Turbo as It would not run at the clocks advertised without VPU erroring out of video games. Well anyway the Sapphire X1950pro Ultiamte has caught my eye, anyone have this card I did a forum search but I only found a single review. Is the card reliable I know there is a BIOS fix out for it to fix the clocks, but more then anything I want the card to be reliable.

Any help on this would be greatly appreicaited.

Cheers

topbob · Mar 22, 2007, 12:53 AM

funny you bring this up, I just bought that Sapphire card, should have it by week's end.

Dem2k · Mar 22, 2007, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topbob

funny you bring this up, I just bought that Sapphire card, should have it by week's end.

I am leaning towards one too, as I have had some decent cards from sapphire in the past. I won't be touching HiS ever again, I've had a nightmare thats ended up costing me money even after a refund that I haven't received yet

.

Would be nice to hear from more x1950pro ultimate users, I really want it clear in my head before I purchase.

Tipstaff · Mar 22, 2007, 08:23 AM

Actually, the cards work at their advertised speeds. The problem is 2 fold: in my case, the cards a clocked 14mhz higher than advertised clock speeds, and that the fans are not adjusted properly. If it was set to 620mhz I'd have less trouble, but it's not. Instead it's clocked at 634mhz. Plus, the fan don't kick go above 41% until the temps hit 70C, but then it only does it in 5% increments for every 5C above that. By the time it reaches 100% fan you'd be sitting at 95C. Once you adjust the fans to 100% for anything above 60C the card runs like a beast for hours... even at 634mhz GPU clock.

'Course, you were right to send it back. The card absolutely doesn't run as advertised, and you shouldn't have to alter aspects of the card to get it to work.. voiding the warranty in the process. For me, I was just too damn lazy to send both back, and pray to God I got working cards. Instead I decided to stick with it as I can adjust for HIS' stupidity. Next time though.. HIS Tech isn't in the cards for me. I'll be staying away from them from now on.

Dem2k · Mar 22, 2007, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tipstaff

Actually, the cards work at their advertised speeds. The problem is 2 fold: in my case, the cards a clocked 14mhz higher than advertised clock speeds, and that the fans are not adjusted properly. If it was set to 620mhz I'd have less trouble, but it's not. Instead it's clocked at 634mhz. Plus, the fan don't kick go above 41% until the temps hit 70C, but then it only does it in 5% increments for every 5C above that. By the time it reaches 100% fan you'd be sitting at 95C. Once you adjust the fans to 100% for anything above 60C the card runs like a beast for hours... even at 634mhz GPU clock.

'Course, you were right to send it back. The card absolutely doesn't run as advertised, and you shouldn't have to alter aspects of the card to get it to work.. voiding the warranty in the process. For me, I was just too damn lazy to send both back, and pray to God I got working cards. Instead I decided to stick with it as I can adjust for HIS' stupidity. Next time though.. HIS Tech isn't in the cards for me. I'll be staying away from them from now on.

Hi there

My problem with the HiS was that the card would vpu error out of games or artifact then vpu error out. I actually had read some of your replies and found them helpful, I installed ATI tray tools and viewed the onscreen GPU temps, I found that my card would like you said only run at 40% fan speed untill it had reach high temputures. Well for me I also found out the card would vpu error around the 59-60C mark, and a few days later it would vpu out within seconds of loading a game. The solution for me was to lower the core to 600 and increase the fan speed to 100% on manual and yes it did run stable, but I wasn't happy with that at all so decided to send it back.

This was around 2 weeks ago, unfortunately the company I returned it back to messed up the RMA and charged me monies to send it back to me and there no fault found charge of 30£, so I had to pay for it to be returned yet again and I still am waiting for my refund. Its not really HiS fault more so the companys terrible customer service, but the fact that HiS has released a revision 2 of the same card with lower core clocks suggest they knew they released a bad apple.

Anyway I was happy with the card when it was stable after the changes, but I couldn't warrant not sending it back and buying a different brand that just works out of the box.

Tipstaff · Mar 22, 2007, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dem2k

Anyway I was happy with the card when it was stable after the changes, but I couldn't warrant not sending it back and buying a different brand that just works out of the box.

Yep. I understand completely. In the back of your mind you know something isn't right with the card... and it eats at you. Anything crashes, anything runs unstable.. hell... any error at all and your first thought is, "Oh no, not again."

To be honest, I would consider grabbing an X1950GT (although slower clocked it is supposed to not have any of the issues the Pros do, and still use the internal Crossfire connectors), or pony up a little more money and picking up an X1950XT instead... even if it's a 256mb version. Infact, if I had to do it all over again, I'd have gone with the X1950XTs instead.

RageJon · Mar 22, 2007, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dem2k

Hey all

I'm in the market for x1950pro. I had just RMA'ed my last HiS X1950pro ICEq3 Turbo as It would not run at the clocks advertised without VPU erroring out of video games. Well anyway the Sapphire X1950pro Ultiamte has caught my eye, anyone have this card I did a forum search but I only found a single review. Is the card reliable I know there is a BIOS fix out for it to fix the clocks, but more then anything I want the card to be reliable.

Any help on this would be greatly appreicaited.

Cheers

Mine is being delivered today m8y so will let you know.

As far as i know its the saphire ultimate as well.

Someone did mention there were a few fualty ones.

Dem2k · Mar 22, 2007, 01:20 PM

RageJon nice

I hope it all goes well for you.

Tipstaff I was thinking of getting the x1950XT but my budget won't allow it, and the x1950pro's are ment to be the best bang for your buck right now though the x1950GT is an option.

Dem2k · Mar 22, 2007, 05:47 PM

Hey RageJon did you get your card yet? Hope all is well.

RageJon · Mar 29, 2007, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dem2k

Hey RageJon did you get your card yet? Hope all is well.

Very nice card lads sorry late getting back i only have the net in work atm.

Scores 3800 more then the x1650pro

getting 8900 with

3.2 64 939 processor

512 x 2 = 1 gig mem 800mhz

350 p/s

Not bad realy.

Mar 21, 2007, 10:28 PM	#1
Dem2k DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 27 Rep Power: 0	Looking to buy X1950pro Hey all I'm in the market for x1950pro. I had just RMA'ed my last HiS X1950pro ICEq3 Turbo as It would not run at the clocks advertised without VPU erroring out of video games. Well anyway the Sapphire X1950pro Ultiamte has caught my eye, anyone have this card I did a forum search but I only found a single review. Is the card reliable I know there is a BIOS fix out for it to fix the clocks, but more then anything I want the card to be reliable. Any help on this would be greatly appreicaited. Cheers __________________ I disagree Sir! What use would a disinfected camel bring?

Mar 22, 2007, 12:53 AM	#2
topbob HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: SFBA, CA, USA Posts: 463 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	funny you bring this up, I just bought that Sapphire card, should have it by week's end. __________________ 12090 in 3DMarks06 on current system, 5001 on old system, 4164 on older, 1587 on oldest

Mar 22, 2007, 08:23 AM	#4
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,772 Rep Power: 190 System Specs	Actually, the cards work at their advertised speeds. The problem is 2 fold: in my case, the cards a clocked 14mhz higher than advertised clock speeds, and that the fans are not adjusted properly. If it was set to 620mhz I'd have less trouble, but it's not. Instead it's clocked at 634mhz. Plus, the fan don't kick go above 41% until the temps hit 70C, but then it only does it in 5% increments for every 5C above that. By the time it reaches 100% fan you'd be sitting at 95C. Once you adjust the fans to 100% for anything above 60C the card runs like a beast for hours... even at 634mhz GPU clock. 'Course, you were right to send it back. The card absolutely doesn't run as advertised, and you shouldn't have to alter aspects of the card to get it to work.. voiding the warranty in the process. For me, I was just too damn lazy to send both back, and pray to God I got working cards. Instead I decided to stick with it as I can adjust for HIS' stupidity. Next time though.. HIS Tech isn't in the cards for me. I'll be staying away from them from now on. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Mar 22, 2007, 01:20 PM	Thread Starter #8
Dem2k DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 27 Rep Power: 0	RageJon nice I hope it all goes well for you. Tipstaff I was thinking of getting the x1950XT but my budget won't allow it, and the x1950pro's are ment to be the best bang for your buck right now though the x1950GT is an option. __________________ I disagree Sir! What use would a disinfected camel bring?

Mar 22, 2007, 05:47 PM	Thread Starter #9
Dem2k DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 27 Rep Power: 0	Hey RageJon did you get your card yet? Hope all is well. __________________ I disagree Sir! What use would a disinfected camel bring?