I've decided to buy low cost R300 cards when I can, re-flash them, and offer them both for sale (at cost) and as developer donations.

I've just purchased the first one, a Radeon 9700Pro 128MB card on Ebay for $17.80 (that's the full price including shipping).

When I'm done, if anyone wants it they can have it for cost plus shipping.

This includes our posters outside the US as well, as shipping to some locations is not that pricey.

Jim

Second card purchased (also on Ebay) and, believe it or not, also for $17.80 (weird).

Its a Radeon 9500Pro 128MB card. Similar to the 9700, but clocked slightly slower and with a 128bit memory path (instead of the 9700's 256 bit memory).

Same offer as previous card (obviously the former would be a slightly better deal, but there is only aminor performance difference - I had one of these as my first R300 based card - cost me $200).

Lost the bid on one more 9700Pro.
Now trying to acquire one or two R360/9800 cards.
Then, I'll look at systems to put them in.

[ Edited by Jim 13.10.2012 - 01:13 ]

I`ve got an old AGP 9800XT but I`m probably saving it for myself! We`ll need the power one day - I remember the buzz when I got it before, eventually I get to have it again!

Just don't get into a bidding war with those of us trying to secure one for ourselves

email sent to you Jim. I'm interested in getting one of those cards, a 9800Pro, or XT would be nice, but any of them that shows 128mb of VRAM, or more, while running MorphOS3.1 in my over-clocked MDD PowerMac tower would be great.

I'll just keep running my re-flashed Radeon 8500 until the R300 video card drivers include the 3D support that is currently being worked on.

Alright David,
I'm going to have more dificulty getting a good price on 9800s, but I'm just going to keep low ball bidding on them till I get one or two.
I think its still going to take awhile for the 3D driver, so we've got time.
Personally, i think the 9800Pro card (or oe sold as a Pro with an R360 GPU) will probably be the way to go.
That way we don't have to worry about fan speed control.

Jim, check pm mate :)

OK, response sent.

I just won bidding on a 9800Pro 128MB video card.
Got it for $16, making this the lowest priced card yet.

Same offer as before, flashed, at cost plus shipping.

The 9700Pro has arrived.
The seller of the "9500Pro" has shipped me an older Geforce2 based card that I will not accept.
The 9800Pro is on its way and I have bids out on another 9800Pro and a 9800XT (256mb).

I have two 9800XT 256mb video cards comng.
Both cost $30 plus $8.20 shipping.
Only one is available as the other is promised to Stefanos.

I've also purchase one 9800Pro 256mb card for AmigaDave.

That leaves one 9700Pro 128mb, one 9800Pro 128mb, and one 9800XT 256mb available.

I'm now going to look for more 256mb cards with either Pro or XT GPUs.

Jim wrote:,
Quote:


If you don't mind, I will switch to buying the spare Radeon 9800XT from you, since it is faster than the 9800Pro (unless you have some advice that makes the 9800Pro the better choice?).

Let me know if the 2nd 9800XT is still available?

Thanks for performing this great service of converting these video cards for us MorphOS3.x users who don't have a Windows PC that has an AGP slot in it for the re-flashing process. Plus, since you have more experience in doing the re-flashing process, it is more likely that you will get it converted correctly, and less risky than me trying to do it myself while the card is installed within my G4 PowerMac.

Sure, I can do that.
But there is one qualifier.
The 9800XT has a speed controlled cooling fan.
Also, if you use a 9800XT bios, you lose the option of using the DVI output (only VGA works).

To get around these problems, you need to use a 9800Pro bios. This gives you back the use of the DVI output and runs the cooling fan at full speed.
There is a utility that allows you to modify the bios to run at XT speeds that is available for OSX (so I'd need to re-flash on a PC and modify the bios speed settings on a Mac).

I'll probably need that G5 you offered me to do the second part of this conversion (I don't currently have OSX on my FW800).
I can send you a 250GB SATA drive to install in that system.

I appologize for the long winded thread to everyone that has no interest in this topic.
I've been interested in seeing support for more powerful video cads (then the R200s) for some time and want to do what I can to support this transition.

Jim

And, to recap, that leaves me with one 9700Pro (128mb) and two 9800Pros (one 128mb and one 256mb).
Now looking for more 9800XTs.

I have to ask Jim...

Recently I have had CRAP luck flashing 9800 XT cards... Turns out the only one I can get to work is the modifed PPC 9800 PRO v130 for 256MB vram. This is two cards now, the 9800 PRO 256MB one with a xt layout and an actual 9800 XT. Only issue is that the 9800xt is now clocked slower than what it was intended for. Which is fine with me.

Have you had luck flashing the recent 256MB pro and the 9800 xt? and what roms/versions did you use. Any i use over at mac elite all exhibit corrupted screens.

btw, do you use atiflash tool? Maybe its the tool program making it crap out. Either way, wanted to ask

@Jim,

Not sure which card would be better for me, the 9800XT, or the 9800Pro.

Definitely want to use DVI output from the card to my monitor, in case I ever want to use it with my DVI KVM switch. I also don't think I would want the video card fan running at full speed all the time, so maybe the 9800Pro is the better choice for me, instead of a little bit faster speed of the 9800XT.

Please switch back my preference to the 9800Pro video card, instead of the 9800XT and forgive me for causing the confusion.

David,
I can restore the DVI output of a 9800XT card by using a 9800Pro bios.
Then I'll need to install the cards in a Mac running OSX and run a package that allows me to change the GPU and memory clock speeds (back to 9800XT specs).

The added benefit should be that the cooling fan continues to run at full speed at all times.

In any case, there's no reason to decide which you'd like just yet as I haven't received any of the 9800s yet.

BTW - Now payed for and awaiting arrival on three 9800XTs (all 256mb), One 9800Pro (256mb, this may have an R360 GPUu), and one 9800Pro (128mb).

@Jim,

I don't see the cooling fan running at full speed continuously as a benefit. It will just fail sooner and make my attempts to quiet my G4 PowerMac futile, if I have the video card fan running at full tilt 100% of the time.

Its how all older R300 fans ran. They are small and don't generate a lot of noise.
I just exchanged a message with Frank and he is looking into incorporating fan speed control into the drivers for newer cards, so this may not be a issue in a little while.

I'll look at the 256mb 9800Pro I have coming in (it may have a R360 GPU). Since that would have DVI output, it would probably be your best bet.

BTW - The FireGL X3 you have in your G5 may need some software extensions to properly enable fan speed control under OSX.
I've got to check with Christian.

Take care.

Jim

[ Edited by Jim 19.10.2012 - 22:30 ]

Doffo,
Quote:

Always try the full 128k original Mac rom first.
My own 9800XT has this on it and it runs fine.
The only problem I'm having is an issue with the software control fan speed.
As a temporary measure I've replaced the heatsink/fan with a Zalman fan and added heatsinks to the memory chips.

As you have sucessfully flashed a 9800Pro bios to your card, if you still have access to OSX (an OSX partition to boot from) you can use this:

http://thomas.perrier.name/graphiccelerator.html

graphiccelerator allows you to modify the GPU and memory clock speeds of your video cards bios.
Use it carefully and following the directions exactly and you should bne able tyo return you GPU and memory speeds to XT levels.

OK, to recap.

AmigaDave isn't sure if he wants the 256mb 9800Pro or one of the 9800XTs.
Since David is a close friend I'm putting a hold on both of them.

Cool_amigaN (Stefanos) wil be getting the second 9800XT moddified with a modified 9800Pro bios and a Zalman cooler with memory heatsinks.

scrAb_ has expressed interest in the third 9800XT, but still has to decide on what options he'd like the card to be set up with.

This leaves me with two 9800Pro 128mb cards and one 9700Pro 128mb card. And I am looking for me affordable 9800XTs.

So, three people joining the R300/MorphOS comunity. Anyone else interested?

How hard is it to flash the cards? My stock card now has 64MB. The one in my PegII has 128MB. Will your cards be a lot faster?

So I am not holding up anyone else from requesting any of the video cards from you, or knowing which ones are available, I will request the 256mb Radeon 9800Pro, with working DVI and the cooling fan that does NOT run at full speed all the time, instead of either of your Radeon 9800XT video cards.

I am sure that the 9800Pro will still be plenty fast enough for my needs, and I prefer a more quiet G4 PowerMac tower, instead of one in which the video card cooling fan is running at 100% all the time it is turned on.

I am hoping that it will recognize at least 128mb of VRAM while it is running MorphOS3.1, if it cannot recognize the whole 256mb of VRAM.

Thanks for performing this service for all of us Jim, and just let me know when you are ready for me to send you the money to purchase the Radeon 9800Pro video card.

>How hard is it to flash the cards? My stock card now has 64MB. The one in my PegII has 128MB. Will your cards be a lot faster?


Flashing a 9800 is easier then a 9200.

They'll be the same speed as stock Apple cards used in a Mac running MorphOS or a PC card running in a Pegasos.