ATI Fire GL Z1 "Knock Off"

[gtcable]

Just today I purchased a ATI Fire GL Z1 card through hypermicro.com. The price with shipping is $155. Now compared to NewEgg.com's $355 that's a $200 savings!

I checked all the specs. Identical product at first glance. BUT, notice the picture. I found a blow up of the product through Overstock.com. It is NOT an ATI card. It is a third party card.

Okay, I'm still saving $200!!!! That makes it worth it if it performs the same to me.

There are only two differences I can tell. The knock off has added a TV-Out port and the pin structure looks different.

Adding a TV-Out feature can only be a plus. It does take up another slot space on the back of the PC. But, the pin structure makes me pause. They both say they are for AGP standard 8x.

Can anyone give me advice here?
Have I found a great deal, or am I being taken???

[idagrove]

I can't vouch for the particular card you're looking at, but ATI and NVIDIA both sell their graphics chips to OEMs that build their own cards. In fact, NVIDIA does not make consumer cards at all. Generally speaking, the OEMs offer good products that often exceed the performance and/or features spec'd by ATI or NVIDIA. I would simply recommend consulting ATI's site to see how its Fire GL Z1 card is spec'd and then look at the other card to see if it's at least equal in terms of clock speed, RAM speed/size, and cooling. And you can also check into the company's support offering.

[nuabudikae]

Also keep in mind that ATI doesn't actually make its own cards. They have 3rd party Sapphire make and brand them for them. Both ATI and nVidia both have small fabs to make limited quantity sample type cards as well as chips for testing purposes but that is about it.

[rustomji]

http://www.highend2d.com/boards/showflat.php?Cat=1http://www.highend2d.com/boards/showflat.php?Cat=1,6,7,8,9&Board=hardware&Number=181808&page=3&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=

Its a Made for HP by ATI board according to the #'s on the one I have ..

[gtcable]

I think the major difference is in the type of AGP connection. This card is an AGP Pro card. The standard ATI Fire card is a standard AGP card. The Pro card has many more pins that require a Pro slot to fit into.

[rustomji]

yes its pro slotted

[ryanduff]

Same thing happened to me. I hope they'll take back this card, I don't have an AGP Pro slot. Thanks for the post, I thought I was retarded for a second.

[gtcable]

UPDATE!

It has been a year since I purchased this card.
It has caused me nothing but trouble!!!

I've now determined that the reason my computer has been crashing is due to this poor quality card. It has never worked up to snuff. The refresh in Maya is horrible.

At random times while working the computer will instantly power off or the screen will freeze. No way out of this freeze except to hold the power key in.

I've RMAd my motherboard and power supply thinking it was them. My motherboard actually died at one point!!!!

I do not recommend this knock off card.
I wish I had spent my money on a more reputable deal. It didn't end up saving me any money. Because now I'm going to have to buy another card.