Which X800 GTO is the best for @800XT MOD (R430 VS R480)

[Cipote Ibérico]

Hi,

First of all, I want you to know that I'm referring to AGP version.

I've read several threads in this forum talkin' about the X800 GTO mod for turning it into X800XT or X850XT. After that I took a look in the spanish online market in order to acquire a graphic card that matches the requirements needed to succesfully mute in X800XT, unlocking the GTO 4 extra pipes.

In the market I've found one which could be the best choice, because it comes with the VIVO feature (I saw the report on techpowerup about mutability of VIVO versions), it's the POWERCOLOR X800 GTO VIVO Retail:

SPECS

(Powercolor webpage)

Memory & Bus Width 256 MB GDDR3 / 256 bit
Core Speed 475 MHz
Memory Speed 450 MHz x 2
Output DVI/ / CRT/ VIVO/
Interface AGP 4x / 8x
Pixel Pipelines 12
Direct X Support 9.0
TV Connector S-Video

Store specs

This one become very famous in the spanish hardware forums because of its good performance when flashed to X800XT. This card easily unlock the 4 extra pipes and stands quite stable at the GPU/MEM clocks of X800XT, but it mounted the R420 Chip (X800 firts version)

The problem here is that I think it's quite hard to find one which includes the R420, because newer versions have the R430 (this is what the forums says).

Once settled the problem (we must find a good chip in order to ask for it properly to the store boy), I noticed that nowadays almost ALL X800 GTO comes up with the R430 or R480 chip. Then, I heard about the mutable capability of the other card I want to talk about in this thread, it's the SAPPHIRE X800 GTO AGP Light retail:

The store web shows this picture, but I'm not sure if the Light Retail version is the one which includes the heart-shaped heatsink (above) or the one shown down here:

SPECS

This one has hecome famous in this forum too due to its good performance when overclocked. It's able to unlock the XT model 4 extra pipes too, but NOT ALL OF THEM can do such a thing . The ones which takes the R430 seems to have bigger easyness to mute, having the all 16 pipes unlocked and good rates of overclocking.

At the other hand, as far as I've read here, it seems that the R480 offers quite good capability of overclocking (giving even better rates on GPU and MEM than the R430), but the unlocking of the extra pipes is impossible, or rather difficult. Most people may think that the R480 (the same chip installed at X850XT's) could be better-performing because of its high valued origin (top of Radeon x8xx range), and have actually weigh up the possibility to acquire one of this in order to make the Mod X800GTO(R480)@X850XT. But, Is this possible?

In my opinion, I give more importance to the fact of having 16 pipes, instead of having major capability of overclock. Don't you think the same? What GPU would you look for if you were in my skin now?

At this point, I asked the store customer support for information about GPU and MEM of these graphic cards, and their response was that both are quite similar, thought the Powercolor has the VIVO feature. They gave me no information about the MEM, but told me that the GPU's mounted by SAPPHIRE in latest video cards is the R430, though in some cases it has the R480.

I want to buy the graphic card this week, it will surely be the last thing I'm gonna buy to make my Athlon 64 +3000 last for at least a couple of years (playing properly), and I would like you to tell me what chip would you look for, or what specs would you ask for in order to acquire a HIGH PERCENTAGE modeable X800 GTO. I'll try to make them know your suggestions, oh HARDWARE GURU'S!


Thank you all in advance, hope to read your opinions soon. (Sorry for my english)

Cipote.

 

[dolf]

1. The first one is based on X850 PCB (with R481 or R420 installed). Probably the VIVO variant of the card could be unlocked to 16 pipes.

2. Based on X800 PCB (non VIVO) - most probably can't be unlocked.

3. R430 card (bridged to AGP with Realto) - almost 100% unlockable now days.

 

[Cipote Ibérico]

1. The first one is based on X850 PCB (with R481 or R420 installed). Probably the VIVO variant of the could be unlocked to 16 pipes.

2. Based on X800 PCB (non VIVO) - most probably can't be unlocked.

3. R430 card (bridged to AGP with Realto) - almost 100% unlockable now days.

Ok, thank you.

So the one I should look for is this one, isn't true?

In the other hand, I've searched for Realto Bridge (also known as ATI Bridge) in google and this is what appears:

It seems to show the internal side of the heatsink, around the GPU. So, how can we know if Rialto Bridge is included just giving an external look to the graphic card?

Please keep on giving your opinions

 

[micron]

The AGP R430 core GTO will unlock to 16pp, but it still sucks ass, even after being unlocked. I had the R480 core GTO, and it got a higher 3dmark score on only 12pp then the R430 core card can get after being unlocked.

The R430 cards suck ass at overclocking, and even unlocking pipelines wont help them.

 

[dolf]

It is partly true but not of your interest because you can't find R480 on AGP card . I would recommend choice 1.) because the card (VIVO) probably could be unlocked to X850/X800XT or if unlockable can be overclocked much higher (500+MHz) than R430 core. Or tht choice 3.) because it can be unlock to 16 pipes (limited overclock - up to 450MHz)

Choose wise

 

[Cipote Ibérico]

It is partly true but not of your interest because you can't find R480 on AGP card . I would recommend choice 1.) because the card (VIVO) probably could be unlocked to X850/X800XT or if unlockable can be overclocked much higher (500+MHz) than R430 core. Or tht choice 3.) because it can be unlock to 16 pipes (limited overclock - up to 450MHz)

Choose wise

Is this completely true??? In the store I wanna buy the card they told me that latest cards had the R430 and R480 chip... and in fact, I think I've seen some X800 GTO owners in the Sapphire pipes unlock treah who had included the R480 in their cards