question about 8500le

[Genjix]

I'm looking to buy a radeon 8500 LE and found a pretty good deal. I posted it in cyber deals cause I know another user was looking for this card. this site has it for $90
However, another user made me aware that it didnt have BGA memory. here is the link to the specs.
http://www.buyxtremegear.com/atiradeon8500.html

My question is how significant is BGA memory?
I never heard of it and would like to know if this is still considered a good deal. I need a card ASAP. thanks for any input.

 

[Wackygore]

Simply put BGA is a newer type of memory packaging that alows for higher clock rates. If it had BGA memory you "might" be able to overclock it higher. However BGA is still found mostly on higher end cards, though there are a few 8500 LE which use BGA.

I found the same card at newegg for $94 which is just about the same price. For the money I think its a good deal.

 

[Genjix]

thanks for the quick response.

So it is unlikely that I will find a 8500le for $90?
and even if i did, would I able to tell the difference? since I doubt I will attempt to overclock because I have a lot to learn.

 

[Wackygore]

$90 is about right for an 8500le, since thats the price Newegg is charging also. And no you wont be able to tell the difrence between a BGA and none-BGA card since your not going to overclock.

If it was me I would get it.

 

[Genjix]

thanks for the info.
I'm gonna buy the card.

 

[GWN]

What kind of 3dmark score could you expect with this card. I am looking for a new card as well and i thought i would just wait until the NV30 comes out with the new cards then I could scoop up a Ti4200 for cheap. However it seems that it will be February before that happens and the prices of the Ti4200's have not budged in over 3 months! So what could this card get in 3dmark2001?

 

[Quick_lude]

I just picked up the 8500LE 128mb ATI retail at BestBuy $148 Cnd. Bga memory. Scored 8100 with XP1700 Tbred, 256 pc2700ram, MSI KT4 Ultra mobo. Used default settings, the latest VIA and ATI catalyst drivers.

 

[IronLungsta]

Quick lude:

Have u tried to overclock that card yet? If so, how high have u gotten it? Cause i was lookin at that exact same card @ BestBuy.

 

[Quick_lude]

I haven't had a chance.. I have the rage3d utility but not sure at what increments should I raise the clocks.

 

[IronLungsta]

I would go in increments of 2-5 until u see some artifacts appearing on the screen.... Does the card come clocked @ 250/250?

 

[Fred Koser]

BEWARE - that card looks a LOT like the Saphire card with 5ns memory. It comes clocked at 250/200, I belive and you won't be able to push it much further than that. For about the same price (I just picked up a "built by ATI" card for $80 from NewEgg) you should be able to find a card clocked at 250/250 which will give you the performance of a normal 8500LE. Again - this is probably an okay card, but it won't perform as well with the slow, slow memory.

 

[Quick_lude]

Iron, yes it comes stock at 250/250.

 

[Fred Koser]

Yes - the "Built By ATI" card does come at 250/250, but if you check the user reviews on NewEgg for that Saphire card w/ the 5ns RAM, you'll see that the memory comes at 200 or 230 not 250. Check it out:

http://secure.newegg.com/app/CustratingReview.asp?item=14-102-213

If I'm wrong and that ISN'T a Saphire card, then no worries, but if I"m right and it IS a Saphire card, then you're paying the same price for a card with much slower RAM. Oh well. . .

 

[Quick_lude]

Yes we are talking here about two different cards. I just o/c my "real" 8500LE to 275/275.. ran three rounds of 3dmark2001se without any problems.. 8400 score.