Best Vid card for 100-150$, no more!

[The Doors]

I need to upgrade from an Asus V3800 TNT2 32Mb Pure, and
I'm thinking to an ATI RADEON 32MB DDR TV-OUT RAM DAC 350MHz, what do ya think about, it's the best way to go for the $?

Thanks for your support :)

[RedDeathDrinker]

I think you wouldn't go wrong with a GeF 2 Ti (They're £115 over here, so must be a lot cheaper over there.)

$150 - must be close to Radeon 8500 territory though (Just over £200 here, so I reckon about $160-170? in the states)


*update*

$179 on Pricewatch.com for the 8500

$164 for the Radeon 64Meg DDR

$149 for a GeF 2 Ultra 64Meg DDR

[The Doors]

Well, onestly the right target is around 100$, so a GF2 TITANIUM would be fine, but it's better than a RADEON 32MB DDR?

[RedDeathDrinker]

Definately better that a 32 Meg Radeon.

Depends if you're an nVidiot or a lunATic........:)

[The Doors]

Thanks reddeathdrinker for your suggestion,
I'm an nVidiot, even if it doesn't sound very good!!! :D

This vid card is for my Dad box, the Tb listed in my sig, that will be very soon upgradated with an XP 1700+ and later with the new Abit KT266A DDR Mobo, he's not very interested about 3D performance but upgrading from a TNT2 it must go above, not back :)

[The Doors]

I made a mistake, coz the GF2 TITANIUM costs the same $ of a Radeon 7500, so which one is better and without probs with Via chipset? I know, this is the Million dollar question! :D

[Cisco Kid]

The 7500 is okay it is not as fast as a Ti200, Ti200 would be better. But from what it sounds like the card will not be used for alot of 3D Gaming.

A really good choice would even be a Radeon 64 DDR vivo SE card. You can find em for $125-$145 online.

The big difference between the nvidia card and ATI is 2 D quality. The ATI is simply flat out better not giving you any tye of fuzzy 2D detail. You also get the best dvd playback available, TV out and video in and video out.

The card is very overclockable and it will play all current games well not a prob. Check out my sig, see what I have mine overclocked to 234/468 but it will do 250/500 once I get my lapped blue orb and sinks on her I am sure of that.

I am very happy with this card, have not experienced any driver issues and will buy the 8500 Radeon when price drops. Either way a Ti200 is great card as well but the ATI Radeon 64 DDR vivo is a better card all round. May not be as fast but has way more to offer in features and 2D quality.

My 2 cents worth check the link see my score in 3D mark2001, will give you a comparison cause the processor you plan to use is faster than mine

http://gamershq.madonion.com/compare2k1.shtml?2008137

Cisco Kid:beer:

[The Doors]

Thank you very much for your suggestion Cisco Kid, and especially for the link, very usefull ;)

[Cisco Kid]

Radeon 64 DDR vivo SE model no probs with my via based board.
I also had the MSI 6337 i815E Lite mobo but went via and love it.

Cisco Kid:)

[eh?]

you can get a Gforce 3 ti for 160.....

[Dunga Bee]

If I'm building a machine for my Dad, I'm getting the Radeon 32 DDR.

It will play today's games just fine, has the ATI 2D quality and is around $70 US. That's a great deal and you can put that saved money to good use on some other component of the system.

[Cisco Kid]

Good idea , the 32 DDR Radeon will do fine just make sure you do not buy the VE version, get the Radeon 32 DDR , or the LE versiobn which can be converted to a regular radeon 32 DDR with a minro hack.

The radeon will more than uffice and for the price you can not do any better. You can find the LE for as low as $51 US then it just nereds a mnor hack to enable Hyper Z, ask Zuck:)Gou about how to do it, it is easy from what I have read.


Cisco Kid:)

[The Doors]

Originally posted by Cisco Kid
Radeon 64 DDR vivo SE model no probs with my via based board.
I also had the MSI 6337 i815E Lite mobo but went via and love it.

Cisco Kid:)
Thanks Cisco, but is this one the 7500? coz seems to be out of my budget, at least in Italy.

[The Doors]

Originally posted by drdingo21
you can get a Gforce 3 ti for 160.....
This is really a great price, but only for you guys, not for me, I must consider tax and shipping costs :(

[The Doors]

If I'm building a machine for my Dad, I'm getting the Radeon 32 DDR.
It will play today's games just fine, has the ATI 2D quality and is around $70 US. That's a great deal and you can put that saved money to good use on some other component of the system.

Good idea , the 32 DDR Radeon will do fine just make sure you do not buy the VE version, get the Radeon 32 DDR , or the LE versiobn which can be converted to a regular radeon 32 DDR with a minro hack.
This is what I was thinking for, but I've found only the VE version (what's the prob with this one?) and another one not specified very well, is called ATI RADEON 32MB DDR TV-OUT RAM DAC 350MHz???

[Maximus Nickus]

Personally I would save up for a while and get a 8500, it would be worth it in the long run. Thats just my opinion though!:cool:

[The Doors]

You are right, but I sell the oldie Asus V3800 to a friend during this or max the next week, so I must go now, but I've appreciated your suggestion, thanks :)

[Cisco Kid]

here is some info

hyper Z - (increases memory efficiency resulting in a 20-30% increase in frame rates.) I think the VE version has a slower mem/clk speed

Here is a review of the VE model

http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/01q1/010316/index.html

Here is the link to the specs on the VE, ATI does not show the LE model which is basically a 32 DDR Radeon but without hyperz which through a small hack can be enabled

http://www.ati.com/na/pages/products/pc/radeon_ve/index.html


Here is the link to the regular 32 Radeon DDR which is faster and has no TV out or dual monitor support

http://www.ati.com/na/pages/products/pc/radeon32_ddr/index.html

Here is a comparison of features the Radeon products

http://www.ati.com/na/pages/faq/radeon_compare.html

I know those that have the VE version were t happy with due it offering dual monitor and TV out which is a big bonus, but the 3D gaming is not as fast as a regular Radeon 32 DDR or the LE model with the hack performed on it.

I think the one you found is a VE version cause the LE if I am correct does not have TV out (it may though but it does not have dual monitor support)

Here is an article on the LE Radeon

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1473

Hope this helps you w decision.


Cisco Kid

:cool: :cool:

[The Doors]

Thanks, thanks, and still many thanks Cisco for all your great support :eek: and also to all the other guys & gals.
At the beginning of this thread I thinked to go with a NVidia, but now I'm sure that I will go with an ATI! :D

[Zuck Gou :)]

The Radeon 32mb DDR you suggested is your best bet for Price/ Performance.

The 7500 is a really good card, better than the Radeon 32mb DDR, but the price difference is probably huge, especially in Italy.