Radeon 9800 Pro Retail vs. Radeon 9650??

dave marshdave marsh
Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
Hi all. I'm getting ready to replace my old 2000 Sawtooth G4 PowerMac with the new 2.7GHz G5 PowerMac, and have a question about the video card. Earlier in the year I upgraded my Sawtooth with a Radeon 9800 Pro (128MB) Retail video card. I see that the stock card in the new G5 is a Radeon 9650 (256MB) video card, and wonder whether I should swap it out with my 9800? I have a 23" Apple Cinema Display, which works fine on my Sawtooth running Tiger, so doubt I'll miss the 256MB in the 9650. However, will I notice a performance improvement in the 9800? I think I should, but it is an AGP 2x/4x card, vice the 9650's AGP 8x. Any advice?

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 11
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,425member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Dave Marsh

    Hi all. I'm getting ready to replace my old 2000 Sawtooth G4 PowerMac with the new 2.7GHz G5 PowerMac, and have a question about the video card. Earlier in the year I upgraded my Sawtooth with a Radeon 9800 Pro (128MB) Retail video card. I see that the stock card in the new G5 is a Radeon 9650 (256MB) video card, and wonder whether I should swap it out with my 9800? I have a 23" Apple Cinema Display, which works fine on my Sawtooth running Tiger, so doubt I'll miss the 256MB in the 9650. However, will I notice a performance improvement in the 9800? I think I should, but it is an AGP 2x/4x card, vice the 9650's AGP 8x. Any advice?





    The 9800 will absolutely demolish the 9650. Get it and don't worry about 4x AGP as neither card saturates the 4x bus so there's no limitation there. You are correct..the extra 128MB memory in the 9650 cannot make up for the difference in processing power the 9800 enjoys.
  • Reply 2 of 11
    dave marshdave marsh Posts: 349member
    Thanks. That resolves my concern. The 9800 has been a disappointment in the Sawtooth, compared to the 8500 it replaced, and I'd very much like to put it to use. Should I put the 8500 back in the Sawtooth, or the 9650 (i.e., will it even work in the Sawtooth's 2x AGP slot), when I get rid of it?
  • Reply 3 of 11
    smalmsmalm Posts: 677member
    The 9650 won't fit in a AGP 2x slot.
  • Reply 4 of 11
    dave marshdave marsh Posts: 349member
    Thanks. I'll just put the old 8500 back in then.
  • Reply 5 of 11
    kalikali Posts: 634member
    Be cautious. I have a 9800 in my dual G4, and I don't think it will fit in a new G5. The card may not have the right size, and it needs a special plug for power. You need the special edition for G5. I may be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure you can't put the 9800 designed for a G4 into a G5.
  • Reply 6 of 11
    exhibit_13exhibit_13 Posts: 110member
    normally i'd post this somewhere else, but since its already up here, it seems to fit. does anyone know if the AGP slot in the digital audio PM is 2x or what? i've looked everywhere and i can't find it. cuz i'm thinking of finding a faster GPU for that computer. just curious
  • Reply 7 of 11
    altivec_2.0altivec_2.0 Posts: 995member
    The PowerMac DA had a 4x AGP Slot
  • Reply 8 of 11
    smalmsmalm Posts: 677member
    Is it true that the RAM on the 9650 is Samsung 2.86ns ?

    And is the GPU a RV350 or RV360 ?
  • Reply 9 of 11
    dave marshdave marsh Posts: 349member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Kali

    Be cautious. I have a 9800 in my dual G4, and I don't think it will fit in a new G5. The card may not have the right size, and it needs a special plug for power. You need the special edition for G5. I may be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure you can't put the 9800 designed for a G4 into a G5.



    Thanks, I guess I'll have to do some more research.
  • Reply 10 of 11
    skatmanskatman Posts: 609member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by smalM

    Is it true that the RAM on the 9650 is Samsung 2.86ns ?

    And is the GPU a RV350 or RV360 ?



    9650 uses RV351 chip.

    In terms of memory, 3.7ns would be sufficient to sustain the 270 MHz memory clock. However ATI (or whoever the OEM is) maybe putting some headspace, so 2.86ns isn't unlikely.
  • Reply 11 of 11
    smalmsmalm Posts: 677member
    Thanks!

    The RV351 is just a RV350 on a 110 nm process, also rated 400 MHz.

    Found in the german periodical c't #11 review of the PM 2.7 GHz that the RAM on the 9650 is indeed rated 350 MHz.

    Gentlemen, start your ATIccelerator
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