9800 se and 9600pro are pretty much similar in FPS. THe 9600 has the LOW pawer consumption-low heat .13 fab gpu. Thats the only Major diff. And a few mainboard bios's needed flashed just to recognise it proper and boot. LOL. No such issue ever came of the 9800 core. So its pretty hard descision between the two. Me I just said the heck with it. And got the 9800 NON pro-non Se for little more. Was $250. But newegg is out and they are getting pretty hard to find. So I see your delema. But theres not really a cut and dry answer to it. Your gonna have to base it on price you can get each at-what extra's the 9800 core has vs power useage/lower heat of small fab 9600. And then choose.