Overclocking P -> bulk or retail?

[Eminentulo]

If I buy the overpriced beauty, I want to have maximum performance.
I know the bulk and retail version differ in clockspeed but are they physically identical?

[UtwigMU]

Bulk tends to have slower memory, though not in all cases.

However, by now I'd imagine most of bulk cards have slower memory chips.

IIRC 3.6 for bulk and 3.3 for retail, but don't quote me on it.

Also it's not certain bulk will hit retail speeds (mine doesn't, but I was able to get it for $257, splurging $400 on European market for retail would be unjustifiable).

[rylan]

From what we've seen here neither version overclocks very well. But at least with the retail you'll get faster rated memory. Unfortunately its the graphics chip that will hold you back... especially with that lovely disclaimer about up to -10% clock speed.

[a_h]

AFAIK some chips differ sligthtly between the retail and the bulk version (just to save some cents I guess) - not much to worry about.

There are some bulks with 3.6 memory which isn't a limitation in anyway, since this memory can be driven with 275 MHz (aka 550 for sending data on falling and rising clock (DDR)) WITHIN spec.

The chip is the limiting factor here...if you get the retail, you get the 220MHz version, but lots of owners reported 217MHz speeds (including me). Matrox provides a tool to increase this clock (memory stays lowered, which can be corrected with matrox' own bios flash utility).

All in all, I would say the bulk is ok, but the retail would be (slightly) better - it depends on the price...

[gangster]

Assuming you live in the US, www.emicrox.com has oem Parhelias for $229 still. I got one from them and it has infineon 3.3ns memory and it clocked 210/600 without any mods.

[Eminentulo]

Originally posted by gangster
Assuming you live in the US, www.emicrox.com has oem Parhelias for $229 still. I got one from them and it has infineon 3.3ns memory and it clocked 210/600 without any mods.

OMG, that's 182 euro's atm.. Compared to the 340 I'd pay here (saidly I live in the netherlands) that is a very, very significant difference.. Too bad they don't ship internationally. Maybe if I order 5 of them .

If that doesn't succeed I tend to order the bulk version anyway. Price difference is 25 euro's and I haven't heared reports of significant difference in overclocking capabilities..

[Kurt]

yep, the P128 for the price of the P750... you've got to love a weak USD...

[borat]

ive seen 1 example of 3.3ns memory which clocked to 605mhz max, and 1 example of 3.6 ns memory which did 590mhz max. if you want my unsubstantiaed 2 cents infinion had trouble with the stuff they gave to matrox badged 3.3 not actually delivering its stated speed so they started badging it 3.6 in later bulk cards. it is a guess based on the evidence of just 2 boeards though! both were bulk by the way.

[gangster]

I wonder if it was a voltage issue. All those ATI 9500/9700 series cards with Infineon were supposedly poor oc'ers beause the voltage was to low. Maybe this was a design screw-up by Infineon, not ATI afterall.