Hey!!.. Im really at a loss here.. I have the option to get a 9500 and use the software patch to make it a 9700 with 256 bit, then oc it so it has 9700 pro speeds.. or just buy the 9500 pro... Im lost !!! What would you do ?? this card has the red pbc, with L ram.

Moving to hardware.

}---:)

hehe, you beat me to it, went to move and said an error occured, I was like wtf then found out it was moved already :P

well to the question at hand...
A lot of peeps over at futuremark use that software mod, and havent had any problems with it. But you are still running the card out of its default out of factory settings which may in the future ruin the card.

I would be careful overclocking the card, or anything for that matter. can loose some money that way. But like I said a lot of peeps over at FM have had great results with doing that soft-mod, no complaints yet that I have read.

I would go with a 9500 pro. I have a Saphire 9500 in my system and used the patch and I got mesh flashing in several of my games so I just removed the patch again. It has something to do with the anti-aliasing. Only about 30% people have been able to reliably use either the patch or the solder method without video garbage. Trust me. If you are at all worried about using the card when next gen games are out later this year, go with a Pro card that has been tested that all the pipelines, etc. are good.

trust them.... sure u can over clock the card...but if it is a new one, most likely i won't do that....

overclocking is dependant on individual machines...
if you have the extra cash to spare....then go ahead and give it a try...

Im working in a pc company which represent
Sapphire(ATI) products and Gainward(nVidia) products

I could help with some answers from time to time

test76