Difference between MSI's TD and VTD

[zennehoy]

Hey!
I was all set to buy myself a new MSI FX5700-VTD128 video card, when I noticed that it is cheaper than the FX5700-TD128 version...
Does anybody know how this could be since MSI lists the VTD version as having video input, whereas the TD does not. Are there any other differences I should be aware of that make the VTD less desireable?
Thanks for the help!
Zen

 

[Vimp]

The VTD card is as you said only different then the TD in that it has video-in. So natrually the VTD should be the more expensive one. Theres a couple possibilities as to why the TD is listed as more expensive then the VTD. One, it could be that the TD is retail (containing the box and all the software and accessories that come in it) while the VTD card is just OEM (No box and nothing but the needed drivers). Two, it may be a misprint. Many of the sites I look at have misprints quite frequently so its very possible. Or three, it could be that they accidentally got the prices for the two cards mismatched. Or four, it could be that they got way to much stock of the more expensive one so they wanna get rid of alot of them by reducing the price for a while.

Just to share my opinion though, assuming your thinking of buying this card, I hope you realize that even a 5600 Ultra is faster then a 5700 non-Ultra. And since where I am the 5700 non-Ultra is only minorly cheaper then the 5700 Ultra, it would be much better value to get the 5700 Ultra or even the 5600 Ultra instead of the 5700 non-Ultra.

<font color=blue>_____________________________________</font color=blue>
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Asus A7N8X-X, Athelon XP 2500+ Barton,
Samsung 512mb DDR400, Creative Geforce2 GTS,
SoundBlaster Live! Value.

 

[zennehoy]

Well,
MSI (R) MS8948-FX5700-VTD128 FX5700 DVI/TV....155.49 EUR
MSI(R) MS8948-FX5700-TD128 GF FX5700 DVI/TV-Out....159.99 EUR
MSI (R) MS8938-FX5700Ultra-TD128 DVI/TV-Out....189.99 EUR
MSI(R) MS8912-FX5600-VTDR128 GF FX5600 DVI/VIV....167.99 EUR
all retail by kme's website.
I was looking to spend in the 100 to 150 eur range, and the ultra is a good deal more expensive than the non and a bit more than I am willing to spend. Reading some of the recent reviews (ie using the newer benchmarks) I prefer going with a 5700... unless you can really recommend the 5600u over the 5700 non-u.
Thanks for the help!
Zen

 

[Vimp]

Well I havn't seen any reviews between a 5600 Ultra and a 5700 non-Ultra so I don't know the exact difference. However spec wise the 5700 is significantly slower then the 5600 Ultra. But either way, though, that 5700 VTD looks like a nice deal.

<font color=blue>_____________________________________</font color=blue>
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Asus A7N8X-X, Athelon XP 2500+ Barton,
Samsung 512mb DDR400, Creative Geforce2 GTS,
SoundBlaster Live! Value.

 

[zennehoy]

I took a look at the VGA Charts here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/index.html
and it seems that performance-wise the 5700 does slightly better than the 5600U on most benchmarks. I think I'll stick to my original plan then and get the 5700 plain.
Thanks for the input!
Zen