Which card? GF2 TI or Radeon 7500

[BMorg003]

I really want a GeForce 3 TI 200, but it's still outta my price range and I don't know when prices will fall; I've tried Ebay but the idiots there run up the bid higher than what you can buy it retail! So, I guess it's between a GeForce 2 TI or an ATI 7500. I currently own a Leadtek GeForce 256 DDR, and I have been very pleased with NVidia's drivers, support, and performance. I have owned an ATI (rage II) in the past and was unimpressed; I know that the radeon is much better, but I'm still a little concerned with their driver support ect. I'm looking for advice, experiences, and opinions. Should I wait on a GeForce 3 (I'm very tired of waiting though), or should I get a 7500 or GF 2TI? I could save some money and get the GF 2TI 32M for about $75, or the 64M 7500 and GF 2TI are about the same price. What do you guys think? Are there any features that really set them apart? I've seen benchmarks (tom's hardware) and their performance looks similar, so I'm depending on you. Thanks for the help, I'll probably be buying soon.

[funnyperson1]

from what ive heard the driver support for the original radeons (on which the 7500 is based) is very goodand i see no reason why i would get a Ti over it, in fact the 7500 is pretty close to the Ultra in performance...

[Coolio]

I have a 7500, I must say i am very pleased with its performance..
Heck its not even oced....

[Cisco Kid]

The 7500 is a very good choice, a better one than the G2 Ti200 or Ultra.

The cost of a 7500 is very good and based on performance there is nothing that can touch it for the cost.

Read the article via the link. You will see that the reviewer feels that the 7500 is better than an Ultra even though the Ultra posts a few extra fps, the image quality/detail can not match the 7500. He gives you comparisons to view. OOPS forgot link

http://www.sharkeyextreme.com/hardware/videocards/article.php/932821 and read the conclusion. I emailed the guy that did review and asked why he did not overclock the 7500, he said he plans to as he heard that newer shipped retail models may have 3.6 - 3.8 ddr ram, once he gets one then he may do another test on overclocking the 7500

These are my reasons to buy a retail 7500

1)cost low as $102 online for retail check Funnyperson1 buying guide with updated pricing but I do not think links
2)next card that would be worth buying would be a G3 Ti200 for on average $70US more for that extra cash start considering a OEM 8500. The Ultra is not worth the $40-50 US more than a 7500
3) Tv out at 1024 x 768 no other card does this except 8500DV
4) Dual monitor for what its worth , I will probably never use but who knows
5) not a single driver issue to worry about
price, price,price,price

Very overclockable , I have one and I love it playing UT at 'adept" level one on one with at 110% gameplay speed I averaged 102 fps, PLENTY

I would buy another one in a snap



Cisco Kid:cool:

[BMorg003]

Thanks Cisco Kid, I read the review (and many others). I found this review that really raised my eyebrows: http://www.overclockers.co.nz/ocnz/vga/ati7500vevsleadtekti200/1.shtml . The numbers on the GeForce 2 seem to be better on average, but I know that speed alone does not a good card make... Is the visual quality really any better with the Radeon? I know everyone says that the 2D is much better, but I really don't care that much about 2D. Another option I've been exploring is since the 7500 is pretty much just a die-shrink of the original radeon (likewise with the GF 2 TI), an All-in-wonder Radeon (32M) is close in price to these two, a tv tuner might be nice-especially at that price... What do you guys think, any other options at approx $100 that I should explore? Thanks for the help...I'd also appreciate suggestions on which card to get, I know the OEM 7500 "powered by ATI" is usually a lower clocked card by an ATI partner, and some GF 2 TI's are especially good at overclocking (I assume the same with ATI's) any help finding a quality low-priced card would be appreciated. :D

[funnyperson1]

Let me put it this way, the image qualtiy (3D adn 2D) on my RageFury Pro is noticeably better than my Geforce2....im putting my money on the 7500...

[mx]

My votes for the 7500.......I don't think you'll be disapointed.

:burn:

[Cisco Kid]

Originally posted by BMorg003
Thanks Cisco Kid, I read the review (and many others). I found this review that really raised my eyebrows: http://www.overclockers.co.nz/ocnz/vga/ati7500vevsleadtekti200/1.shtml . The numbers on the GeForce 2 seem to be better on average, but I know that speed alone does not a good card make... Is the visual quality really any better with the Radeon? I know everyone says that the 2D is much better, but I really don't care that much about 2D. Another option I've been exploring is since the 7500 is pretty much just a die-shrink of the original radeon (likewise with the GF 2 TI), an All-in-wonder Radeon (32M) is close in price to these two, a tv tuner might be nice-especially at that price... What do you guys think, any other options at approx $100 that I should explore? Thanks for the help...I'd also appreciate suggestions on which card to get, I know the OEM 7500 "powered by ATI" is usually a lower clocked card by an ATI partner, and some GF 2 TI's are especially good at overclocking (I assume the same with ATI's) any help finding a quality low-priced card would be appreciated. :D


IMHO the 7500 is the better card. I have owned Geforce 256 DDR Deluxe card and I have played with a Geoforce 2 GTS for a bit (bros card) Bottom line is the ATI cards ARE better in 2D Image quality.

Also the majority of the newer articles pitting the 7500 against the G2 Ti200 do say the 7500 is faster, Sharkeys link I posted above is an example since it is Dec 3/01 article. This article also gives nod to the 7500 over the Ultra even though the Ultra offers a few more fps the image/detail quality is nowhere near the 7500. Ask Funnyperson1 on his opinion on the fuzzy 2D nvidia has compared to ATI he owns both cards.

Also the 7500 offers superior DVD playback and it supports TV out at 1024x768. It would be a better choice than a ATI All In Wonder (although it is a good card) just add a hauppauge ot ATI Tv tuner card on and voila you have cable ready PC and capture card. I got my Win TV Go by Hauppauge model 191 for = of $33 US on boxing day.

Powermagic also sells a Reatail box 7500 that comes with ATI clk/mem speeds of 290/230 read this article, good overclocking

http://www.digit-life.com/articles/pmradeon2/

This would be the only card (above)I would buy if you go OEM it can be found through $132 US at pricewatch

Another link below if you are loking the OEM route

http://www.digit-life.com/articles/anyr2002/index3.html

http://www.jathardware.com/sekalaista/2000/16.html

You will be happy with a 7500 I know I am for $200 canadian it is a deal plus a cheap TV Tuner capturre card I am all set up

Cisco Kid
:D

[BMorg003]

Okay,okay...Thanks guys, I'm sold! Found one at cnetpc ( http://www.cnetpc.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi ) under multimedia/video cards for $98 OEM with DVI, TV out. Looks pretty good, but not much info on it, do you think I should get it or keep looking around? Again thanks for the help... and I might look up that tuner card thanks Cisco kid and funnyperson1.

Also found this one at Z-buy ( http://www.z-buy.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi )for $105, again not much info though...

It worried me a little when I read this review at Newegg about their Radeon 7500 for $101 " Callahan,12/28/2001 10:22:27 PM

Be aware that this card was not built by ATI, but by Sapphire
an ATI partner company. The memory is 5.5ns instead of 4ns and
182mhz instead of 230. The engine is still an ATI 7500 running
at 250Mhz. I've always had great success with Newegg but this
card should be in the ATI oem catagory instead of this one. Remember, if the description says powered by ATI.. then it wasen't built by ATI. I just learned that the hard way. "

[Cisco Kid]

I would buy the Powermagic 7500 or the Supergrace 7500 they will give you retail specs, well the Powermagic for sure, review the links I gave you in the above post.

But heck the one you found sounds good for the cost, add a cheap TV Tuner and away you go. Just ask what the clk/mem is, get as close to 290/230 as you can and ask what the ram is rated for. Most retail 7500's are 4ns.

Cisco Kid:)