Upgrading memory on 9800PRO

@Husky · Mar 27, 2005, 07:09 AM

Hello everyone! I'll get straight to the point....

Can I upgrade memory on my 9800PRO (128MB)?
Could it handle 256MB if it has a R350 core? (Dunno if its R360 yet)
Vram or Wram?
Is it expansive?
Will I be able to use AA and AF without big performance drop? (I know that at least I could play at bigger resolutions)
Wich memory brand is the best? Samsung? Hynix? Other?

Worth it?

***craig5320*** · Mar 27, 2005, 08:03 AM

As far as I kno you can't upgrade the memory on 9800's or most modern gfx cards

**Asmoday** · Mar 27, 2005, 08:04 AM

Nope, i don't think it can be done. Never heard about anyone even attempting it either...

@Husky · Mar 27, 2005, 08:48 AM

Mhhh, I remember seeing this in a Build-it-yourself computer book, but I can't remember clearly. Must have been an old book for older technology I guess...

But I believe it could be done on any card... with some risk... it's not like changing system RAM, you got to hardmod the card.

daedal · Mar 28, 2005, 09:56 AM

Hey Husky, ca va?
There actually isin't much difference between the 256mb and 128mb Radeon 9800 Pro cards. In most cases running high-resolution FSAA, the most gain was 6-7 FPS or so as I recall. Just read a few reviews on the 256mb versions.

The biggest advantage is that it can be easier to convert the 9800 Pro 256 to a 9800XT. Apart from that, it's not really worth the additional cash and as far as simply "adding" memory, as far as I know, it's most likely a very complex operation.

redsolar · Mar 28, 2005, 01:17 PM

What you are likely talking about are the old cards (512K, 1M, 2M cards), which you could upgrade, they had special user-mountable chip receptacles, which you could populate with RAM chips to increase the video memory. As others mentioned, this is no longer possible on modern cards.

@Husky · Mar 28, 2005, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redsolar

As others mentioned, this is no longer possible on modern cards.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jules Verne

Whatever one man is capable of conceiving, other men will be able to achieve.

El Kapitano · Mar 28, 2005, 04:28 PM

Hehehe, if you try it can I see the video, I'd love to see someone with a blowtorch trying to solder pin grid or ball grid array IC's to a board because I'm pretty sure you wont have access to flow or dip soldering equipment.

The answer, in short is no, no modern graphics cards are upgradeable, they are as they are bought with the exception of overclocking and bios flashing.

me972 · Mar 29, 2005, 10:13 AM

there is no way to do this cause you'd have to connect diferently to the cards memory BUS and Address BUS... not to mention all the timing signals...
with todays PCB's and their soldering sizes you'd need a LAB and microscope to do this... no to mention the schematics of the card which I'm sure you wont be able to get...
in other words... FORGET it :-)