View Full Version : Buying Advice
WyrmMaster
10-21-01, 04:31 PM
Im thinking about finally upgrading my video card. Got tired o the ol geforce256. I think i am going to go with a radeon this time, either 32mb or 64mb. My question is, is it worth it to get the 64mb version for $120 when i can get the 32b for less than $60. The 64 has the higer clock and ram speeds,correct? and of couse more ram, but its twice as many $$.
I dont get it, im really cheap when it comes to video cards.
as long as you buy retail, yes youll get higher clock speeds with the 64mb. i think most 64mb cards on the market are SE versions, so youll get a 198/198 clock and higher overclocking abilities. honestly the extra 32mbs ram wont do much yet, there arent any games out that really benefit from it.
id say if you want ViVo(video in/video out)....like i did, then get the 64mb version. if you dont need that, then get the 32mb version and save some $$.
funnyperson1
10-21-01, 04:55 PM
if i were you id spend a little more money so itll last you longer if you get a 64mbDDR Vivo youll be wanting a new card in a year or two as new games come out, but if you spend 150-200 dollars on a Radeon7500 or a Gf2Ultra or a Gf3Ti200, or for a little more than that get a Radeon8500 itll last you at least 2-3 years.......
Violator
10-21-01, 05:00 PM
Originally posted by funnyperson1
if i were you id spend a little more money so itll last you longer if you get a 64mbDDR Vivo youll be wanting a new card in a year or two as new games come out, but if you spend 150-200 dollars on a Radeon7500 or a Gf2Ultra or a Gf3Ti200, or for a little more than that get a Radeon8500 itll last you at least 2-3 years.......
Okay funnyperson1 please don't take this the wrong way, but you really think that the 8500 (or any card available at the mo') is seriously gonna last you 2-3 years? maybe if all you use is Word or something. A better estimate would be 18 months absolute tops. Let's face it, how many people bought a Radeon, or a Ge2 Ultra last year and are now upgrading, quite a few, how many are going to buy a Ti500 or 8500 now and probably upgrade in the next year to 18 months? quite a few. Technology simply moves too fast in this market to really give any product that sort of life expectancy.
Cisco Kid
10-21-01, 05:08 PM
Originally posted by Violator
Okay funnyperson1 please don't take this the wrong way, but you really think that the 8500 (or any card available at the mo') is seriously gonna last you 2-3 years? maybe if all you use is Word or something. A better estimate would be 18 months absolute tops. Let's face it, how many people bought a Radeon, or a Ge2 Ultra last year and are now upgrading, quite a few, how many are going to buy a Ti500 or 8500 now and probably upgrade in the next year to 18 months? quite a few. Technology simply moves too fast in this market to really give any product that sort of life expectancy.
It is a toss up. The Radeon 8500 or even any of the other cards like G2 Ultra's or G2 GTS Pro or even my Radeon 64 DDR vivo will easily last a couple of years with the new games coming out.
These cards play the games well now, all you may notice in the future games is a loss of a few frames, but the features on many of the current cards are not even fully utilized. By upgrading we get the newest technology I agree but is it a real day to day benefit?? I doubt it for the average gamer. maybe the hard core gamer needs it but I can say that my Radeon 64 DDR vivo will easily last me 18 months, but I will probably upgrade cause I can afford it and I always want the newer technology, but am I really using the card to its full potential?? Probvably not, and the same is probably true for the majority....
cisco Kid
:cool:
Violator
10-21-01, 05:11 PM
Originally posted by Cisco Kid
It is a toss up. The Radeon 8500 or even any of the other cards like G2 Ultra's or G2 GTS Pro or even my Radeon 64 DDR vivo will easily last a couple of years with the new games coming out.
These cards play the games well now, all you may notice in the future games is a loss of a few frames, but the features on many of the current cards are not even fully utilized. By upgrading we get the newest technology I agree but is it a real day to day benefit?? I doubt it for the average gamer. maybe the hard core gamer needs it but I can say that my Radeon 64 DDR vivo will easily last me 18 months, but I will probably upgrade cause I can afford it and I always want the newer technology, but am I really using the card to its full potential?? Probvably not, and the same is probably true for the majority....
cisco Kid
:cool:
My point was whether you actually will be able to 'play' the games 18 months from now, with a reasonable FPS. You really think you'll still be able to do that with your Radeon in that time period? I seriously doubt it.
funnyperson1
10-21-01, 05:53 PM
i was still able to play max payne at medium quality settings with my rage fury pro.....and this is a card that ive had for 2 years and it wasnt even top of the line when it came out......i plan to keep my geforce2 for almost as long.......
i tend to agree with funnyperson and cisco on this one. unless your a real hardcore gamer you can make a video card last about 2 years.
ive only owned 4 3d video cards now. my first was a voodoo3 2000, bought that right when it came out and i was the envy of all my friends:) but that died, ended up replacing that with a tnt2 m64(which gave me a bad impression of nvidia, but then again it was a budget card). got tired of it and got an AIW 128 pro(rage 128) and i used that for about a year and a half. all those cards are around the same 3d performance levels, rage might even be a little lower.....but all were easily able to play all the latest games. maybe not with all the goodies turned on, but i know less than a month ago i was playing max payne at 800x600 with that AIW with no problems.
i fully expect this radeon 64mb ddr to last a while(and its suppose to be a generation behind these days).
Zuck Gou :)
10-21-01, 06:36 PM
All of these cards will last all of the games till Doom 3. Doom 3 is going to change everything we think about 3D engines. The very top of the line card (Geforce 3) will get 30 FPS in Doom 3. Supposedly the 8500 will still be ok by the time Doom 3 comes out, but I doubt it.
I guarantee you my card will last me till Doom 3. If I change, I give you guys the permission to kick my @ss :)
Zuck Gou :)
10-21-01, 06:37 PM
Originally posted by WyrmMaster
Im thinking about finally upgrading my video card. Got tired o the ol geforce256. I think i am going to go with a radeon this time, either 32mb or 64mb. My question is, is it worth it to get the 64mb version for $120 when i can get the 32b for less than $60. The 64 has the higer clock and ram speeds,correct? and of couse more ram, but its twice as many $$.
I dont get it, im really cheap when it comes to video cards.
Oh ya sorry man forgot about your question :)
If you don't want VIVO, then the 10 FPS increase isn't really worth double the cost. Plus a good overclock will pull you even in most games.
WyrmMaster
10-21-01, 06:40 PM
Well, my Geforce 256 SDR is still playing games fine, and its 3rd generation now, and i have had it for about 8 months now, but then it was old when i got it.
I think il go for the 32mb DDR Radeon, overclock it to hell and back, and go with that for a year or so.
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