8500, 9000, 9100, 9200, ARG!!

[Badger86]

I am trying to find a suitable middle of the pack graphics card for cheap but still performs decently with games like BF1942 and SWG. I am having a hell of a problem finding a review that covers all the past and present middle of the road ATI cards, and if I have i have long since mixed up which is best. So If anyone could be so kind to rank performance of these, and then based on price make the best selection. Also I have thrown in some Nvidia in case people like those too:

Sapphire 8500LE 128MB $155
Sapphire 9000Pro 128MB $159
Radeon 9100 128MB $110
Radeon 9200 128Mb (OEM) $110
MSI Ti4200 AGP8x $179
Asus Ti4200 AGP8x $189
Epox 8RGA+ Integrated Graphics XXX

I put in the Epox because if I dont get a VC i will use the integrated in the Epox board. Now I realise they are probably rated in performance as indicated by price but money is important so the best price/performance is key. Any info would be great thanks.

BTW All prices in CDN.

 

[GeneticWeapon]

The Ti4200's you have listed will <b>spank</b> the rest of those cards. Buy one of them.

 

[sirak]

Definitely go for a GF4Ti4200. I'd go for the MSI Ti4200.

 

[Crashman]

To begin with, the 8500LE and 9100 are the same card. And the 128MB versions are slower than the 64MB versions because they use slower RAM. That's how they kept the price down on the 128MB versions.

The Ti4200 would be the fastest, but cost you the most. Next down would be a Radeon 8500LE/9100 with 64MB RAM.

<font color=blue>Watts mean squat if you don't have quality!</font color=blue>

 

[GeneticWeapon]

Crash, I just bought a Ti4200 at Fry's for $80 bucks.
Radeon 9100's were selling for $120 bucks in the same store.
Prices always vary, but Ti4200's are really cheap now.

 

[Badger86]

From the prices I was quoting the Ti4200 is the most expensive so Crash was correct in his statement. I appreciate the tip about the 64 vs 128MB RAM. The Sapphire 9100 64MB is a very reasonable $99CDN and probably the card I will chose. This is unless of course someone thinks the integrated graphics of the Epox 8RGA+ are decent enough that the extra for the 9100 is not cost effective.

 

[selfbuilt]

I agree, get the 9100 64MB for $99. It's not worth almost twice the price for the Ti4200, IMHO (even though it is a better card - it's not twice as good!). For some reason, the prices of Ti4200s have not dropped in Canada the way they have in the US.

I'm not sure what the integrated solution is on the 8RGA+, but it's unlikely to outperform a low-to-mid range GF4MX chipset (which is likely almost half the performance of the 8500LE/9100). Your call.



Where does good judgement come from? Experience. Where does experience come from? Bad judgement.

 

[shadus]

Integrated eats physical memory from the computer usually and reeks to boot... get a graphics card.

Shadus

 

[addiarmadar]

The 8500-9200 are the same thing. The 4200 puts out a little more quality. You do not neccessarily need the 8x 4200 for you wont notice much difference. The 64mb version is pretty darn good and can be OCed descently to the 4600. Try looking on pricewatch.com or ebay, but most on ebay wont have warranty.

 

[JustPlainJef]

I bought a MSI Ti4200 4x AGP, and it came with the overclocking utility, so it is done in the software, and it will test your card to see how fast the GPU can run. Then you bump up your memory. I don't remember exact numbers, but I gained I believe like 3000-4000 points on 3DMark2001. What about buying from Newegg or somewhere similar and having it shipped to you?

MSITi4200-TD8X64 (8894-080) GF4 8x AGP TI4200 64MB 128bit TV-OUT DVI VGA Card Retail Currently $120 but out of stock.

What's a signature? Oh, those words that show up after all my comments? I don't need one of those!

 

[cleeve]

Watch out with the 9100's, I've heard that some are being built cripled with a 64 bit memory bus. A few cheapo Sapphires, I think.

------------------
Radeon 9500 w/256 bit memory bus @ 367/310
AMD AthlonXP 2000+
3dMark03: 3439

 

[Crashman]

I think that's just a rumor, unless they have a 9100VE or something.

<font color=blue>Watts mean squat if you don't have quality!</font color=blue>

 

[Badger86]

US websites are not an option because 1) stores like newegg dont ship up here 2) if they did it always costs a bundle.

My Vancouver options are atic.ca, ncix.com and anitec.ca... unless anyone knows of any others. If I were to get a ti4200 (which is unlikely) is the MSI the top of the heap? On one computer we have a Ti4400 from MSI which has been fine so I have no problems going back to them.

One last thing, are there any good comparissons of the 9100 64mb vs. a Ti4200... how much am I losing and for how long could a 9100 last before being obselete?

 

[Maverick494]

I am not sure why everyone has discounted the 9200 Radeon. I will let you know how it Does in Delta Force Black Hawk Down tomorrow when I get it. If it does okay, that is the way I would go.

Just a computer junky