Softmodding a 9800SE

**ABitterConscious** · August 19th, 2004, 12:34 AM

I'm almost certain I have determinded which card I will be getting. The Leadtek nVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra or the POWERCOLOR ATI RADEON 9800SE.

The only thing that is holding be back from getting the 5700 ultra is the possibility of softmodding the 9800SE. I've read on softmodding and I haven't found a forum that discusses softmodding a 9800SE to a 9800PRO. All I see are 9500's and 9700's. Can anyone please give me any encite on softmodding. I read in a forum that your computer should recongnize the card to be a 9800PRO after all drivers are installed. It might read like a 9800PRO but does it preform like a 9800PRO? And not all cards are softmoddable. I have to get the right card. There is no specific model. Some cards are moddable and some arn't(so ive read).

**HeadBand** · August 19th, 2004, 12:41 AM

never tried softmodding before but i'd just like to say if you go for the 9800SE make sure its the 256 bit version or else it won't be a true 9800 pro...there is also a 256 bit version with a lower clock speed than a regular 9800 Pro and that would be better than a 128 bit at full speed and you can also overclock it...also note 256 bit is different than 256 MB

anyways i would go with a 256 bit 9800SE over the 5700 U without the softmod it is still better

**ABitterConscious** · August 19th, 2004, 12:46 AM

Take a look at these benchmarks headBand

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/gra...229/index.html

The 5700ultra beats the 9800SE in fps in almost every gaming benchmark.

**HeadBand** · August 19th, 2004, 12:54 AM

that is the 128-bit version

this compares the 128-bit version the 256 bit version, the 256 -bit version with softmod and the 5900 http://www.digital-daily.com/video/a...se/index05.htm
i cant find one to compare to the 5700 U though i wish toms would include the 256 bit version the their charts though...mabey when they make a new one that includes the next gens

**ABitterConscious** · August 19th, 2004, 01:09 AM

Thank you for the link! I think I have found a much easier and full proof way to softmod the 9800SE. And I totally didn't think about the 128 and 256 difference in those benchmarks.
*slaps himself

I guess maybe the 9800SE and the 5700Ultra could be really close in benchmarks if someone made benchmarks for a 256bit 9800SE.

**ABitterConscious** · August 19th, 2004, 07:58 AM

Ok here is a link to what looks like a very simple program to softmod the 9800SE.

http://www.digital-daily.com/video/a...se/index02.htm

But I still dont really know which card to get. The link pretty much says if its a 256 bit card then it will work. I've read in many forums that its just a case of look. Even though your card might be the same model number as a card that was softmodded it might not work. Its a gamble.

**nwo75200** · August 19th, 2004, 11:00 AM

Like I said before, it definitely is a gamble and even though someone else with the exact same card might be able to soft mod it, that doesn't give you a 100% chance that it will work for you.

That link shoulda helped you a lot, as you can see there is quite a big difference in preformance between the 256 and 128 bit version(s) of the 9800SE, so I think that the 256bit 9800SE could even be better than the 5700U

**washe** · August 19th, 2004, 11:14 AM

I used the drivers from this guys to softmod my 9500np to 9700..

They work correctly no artifacts even I can run Doom 3 fine.

http://softmod.techpowerup.com/

**pinipig523** · August 19th, 2004, 01:01 PM

my brother had a sapphire 9800se 256bit... it softmodded to 8 pipelines... but with artifacts. luckily doom 3 is very dark and the artifacts are hard to see.

**ABitterConscious** · August 19th, 2004, 05:38 PM

What are artifacts?

How well will the card peform when its not overclocked or softmodded?

If I get it to softmod to a 9800pro will I need to buy a new fan for the card?
Someone said in a forum that you can get it to a 9800PRO if you can overclock it enough. Which means I can't keep the card stock...right?

I think your right nwo75200. 256bit makes a big difference so i've read.

**nwo75200** · August 19th, 2004, 05:42 PM

Artifact are erm.... dots, lines, or other unusual stuff on the screen. The card will preform better than the 9600xt when its not overclocked or softmoded, and about equal preformance with the 5700U. If you ONLY softmod, you will probably not need a new fan, although its highly recommended and if you get a good heatsink+fan you can (which I recommend you do only if the softmod works without artifacts) then you can probably OC it to 9800XT stock speeds maybe :/ I have seen people (online) with the softmoded and overclocked 9800SE get a little over 6k in 3dmark03

**ABitterConscious** · August 19th, 2004, 06:38 PM

I've never installed a different fan or heatsink on a graphics card. How hard is it to do? And is there a major risk I might damage something? The only think I have enhanced was my processor(which i no longer have). I simply put a new copper heatsink and fan on it so i could overclock it. thats it.

A 9800XT!

I really dont see that being realistic. Thats insane nwo75200! If it could be done why arn't there hundreds of people softmodding and overclocking the 9800SE? I'm going to guess that most people dont research enough on the cards possibilites. I'm not saying your wrong or anything....its just.....the 9800xt is over 300 dollars.....some are over 400 dollars!!!

If you would please post a link of were you found the info on getting the 9800SE to a 9800XT. I'm very interested in seeing that!

Which 9800SE can be overclocked AND softmodded?
Also since i've never searched for fans for a graphics card or a heatsink for a graphics card im totally open to any advice on what to do! I've been looking at newegg on heatsinks or fans for a graphics card. But Im not finding anything that will work with 9800SE.

Here are my system specs again encase anyone notices some possible compatiably problems.

MotherBoard: Biostar M7NCD PRO Five32- PCI bus master slots One AGP:AGP3.0 8X interface at 533Mb/s Supports AGP 2X, 4X, 8X

Processer: AMDxp 2500+
Ram: 512 DDR Kingston
Sound Card: Audigy2 ES

**ABitterConscious** · August 19th, 2004, 09:12 PM

Oh I see that I can simply get a slot fan over the card. I guess I dont have to put a new fan and heatsink on the card. But if I did would that give me anymore peformance boost than a fan not on the card?

**pinipig523** · August 20th, 2004, 02:15 AM

Originally Posted by ABitterConscious

A 9800XT!

I really dont see that being realistic. Thats insane nwo75200! If it could be done why arn't there hundreds of people softmodding and overclocking the 9800SE? I'm going to guess that most people dont research enough on the cards possibilites. I'm not saying your wrong or anything....its just.....the 9800xt is over 300 dollars.....some are over 400 dollars!!!

The reason?

Artifacting and instability.

**MoJoe** · August 20th, 2004, 02:57 AM

Here is a helpful link, a guide to overclocking this card.

http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx...ar1=101&var2=0

In this article, he says that the card gets very hot when overclocked, due to the fact that the heatsink is small and pathetic. If you want your card to be stable, you really do need a good heatsink.

Like wash said, it's very simple to do with the drivers from http://www.techpowerup.com/softmod/downloads.php.
You want the top link there, that say 'Softmodded Catalyst Package version 4.8'

You should know that a friend of mine has the Sapphire 9800SE from Newegg, its like $130, and he was able to overclock it.

Good luck, I would say go with the 9800SE for sure.

**ABitterConscious** · August 20th, 2004, 08:06 AM

Thank you MoJoe! The first link is what I need! And on the second i dont know what file to download. Oh wait I do now.

**nwo75200** · August 20th, 2004, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by ABitterConscious

A 9800XT!

I really dont see that being realistic. Thats insane nwo75200! If it could be done why arn't there hundreds of people softmodding and overclocking the 9800SE? I'm going to guess that most people dont research enough on the cards possibilites. I'm not saying your wrong or anything....its just.....the 9800xt is over 300 dollars.....some are over 400 dollars!!!

Which 9800SE can be overclocked AND softmodded?

People don't do it because there's an extremely small chance that you will acheive 9800XT stock speeds, like maybe about 10-20% WITH proper cooling

Any 9800SE that has 256 bit memory can be softmodded, I belive there are no special requirements like there were for the 9500

**ABitterConscious** · August 20th, 2004, 09:16 PM

Does overclocking damage a graphics card? Someone told me that at school.

Ok I just read all of these pages on this link

http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx...ar1=101&var2=0

I think I finally understand my odds of softmodding the card now.

"To the card manufacturers, however, all 9800 SE chips are the same. Whether the 9800 SE chip is physically flawed or merely crippled for the market, they go right into Radeon 9800 SE cards."

Even though I dont soft mod it or overclock it....it might even be very defective and have lots of problems. Errr this is a bigger gamble than I thought. There are three different 9800SE cores. I gots to get the right one. And even before I softmod it I have to put a new fan and heatsink on it or it will fry. ERRRR DECISIONS!!!

.....input people

**nwo75200** · August 20th, 2004, 09:56 PM

Dude, if you're not gonna overclock or softmod, why the hell would you need a new fan/heatsink!?

**ABitterConscious** · August 20th, 2004, 10:02 PM

I've read in several reviews that the card gets really hot even when not overclocked or softmodded. And also if I did get the card I would have to wait a few more weeks before my mom would allow me to buy the heatsink and fan. I might be stuck with a heatsink and fan and it doesn't softmod. Of course I could always return it I think. Theres some guy in another thread having problems with his 9800SE. I guess I should stop complaining.......its simply a gamble........I just got so excited is all. I'm going to order my card this sunday unless something else big comes up. Im still not sure though. Right now im just going to read more reviews and sites on it when its not softmodded or overclocked. I want to compare the 256 9800SE to the 5700ultra. I can't seem to find that though.