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In the market for a graphics card

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  • Graphics Cards
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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February 23, 2002 5:44:05 AM

I'm looking to upgrade my graphics card, and would like some opinions from you knowledgeable people.
I'm currently using NForce integrated graphics (dual channel RAM), so anything better than that is a good start.
I'd like to get a card with DirextX 8 or 8.1 support.
I don't need the fastest of these cards, so I was thinking of getting one of the lower priced DirectX 8(.1) cards. Besides, funds are limited.
So that cuts my options down to:
GeForce3 Ti200.
GeForce4 Ti4200.
Radeon 8500.
Radeon 8500LE.
(Is there an 8500LELE or something?)

I'd like to get the 4200, but it'll probably be out of my price range so I might pass that one over.
I’m interested in these 8500LE cards, but I'm a little confused about what they are exactly. Are these just under-clocked 8500's (and if so what are the clock speeds)? Or do they lack certain features?
If it’s just an under-clocked 8500 it might be the ideal choice for me. I’ve looked at some benchmarks, and it performs well enough (by my standards) in the games I play now (i.e. Return to Castle Wolfenstein) and games I’m likely to play in the future (i.e. Unreal 2).

I’m going to have to look around and see what prices I can get on these cards in Australia.

"Ignorance is bliss, but I tend to get screwed over."

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February 23, 2002 5:58:38 AM

id say get the R8500...it has the best bang for the buck right now...the only reason i say the R8500 is because its freaken cheap right now....under $200 for a retail one...(at <A HREF="http://www.compuplus.com" target="_new">http://www.compuplus.com&lt;/A>).
performance that is on par with the geforce3 ti500...for the same price as the ti200....with the added ability of Truform.

the geforce 4 ti's wont be out until a couple of more weeks...and i wouldnt advise getting any of the gf4 mx cuz they're just plain old slow...

as for the R8500LE...the only difference i've notice is that its clocked slower than the retail (275/275 for retail....250/250 for the LE).
in addition...the LE version does not come with any software bundles (ie games) except for the driver. other than that...it has the same technology (eg. Truform, hyperz2, hydravision...etc) as the retail version.

<A HREF="http://gamershq.madonion.com/compare2k1.shtml?2649487" target="_new">P4 NW + DDR</A> = <font color=blue>Not Bad</font color=blue>
February 23, 2002 6:04:35 AM

I'll cast another vote for the Radeon8500. 168$ retail right now. And from what I hear, great performance.

<i><font color=blue>If wishes were fishes we'd all cast nets.</font color=blue></i>
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February 23, 2002 6:17:36 AM

So the 8500LE is just the OEM 8500 is it?

"Ignorance is bliss, but I tend to get screwed over."
February 23, 2002 6:30:27 AM

yes and no...
the R8500LE is sometimes called R8500 OEM....which, as i mentioned before, is an underclocked retail....
and sometimes...the oem refers to the R8500 LELE (double LE)...which is clocked even slower (230/230).
so if you're getting an oem...just know that they're both slower than the retail R8500 and make sure you know if you getting the LE or the LELE...
to make it easy for you....just get the retail version...it comes with a nice warranty and all...
i wonder where AMD_Man is...he usually answers all these R8500 questions....ah well...ill cover him for tonight...

<A HREF="http://gamershq.madonion.com/compare2k1.shtml?2649487" target="_new">P4 NW + DDR</A> = <font color=blue>Not Bad</font color=blue>
February 23, 2002 6:52:37 AM

Ah, I see. That's good to know. Don't worry about AMD_Man, you're doing very well. :smile:
It will probably come down to a matter of price, I'm in Australia, and prices here aren't always comparable to those in the USA. I guess it's time to start shopping around.

"Ignorance is bliss, but I tend to get screwed over."
February 23, 2002 11:42:48 AM

Don't worry, you're right. For your information, I was asleep...it was 3:30AM where I am when you posted.

AMD technology + Intel technology = Intel/AMD Pentathlon IV; the <b>ULTIMATE</b> PC processor
February 23, 2002 5:02:36 PM

Very good, pr497.

THGC, saving 1 pc user from buying a GeForce4 MX at a time.
February 23, 2002 5:09:44 PM

As a little side note, the GF4 still can't do all the DX8.1 functions through hardware, while the R8500 can. In future games, the Radeon 8500 might really start to shine.

AMD technology + Intel technology = Intel/AMD Pentathlon IV; the <b>ULTIMATE</b> PC processor
February 23, 2002 6:40:51 PM

He he, I seem to have attracted the whole ATI fan club. :wink:
Do any of you guys play multiplayer first person shooters with your 8500's? If so, what features have you found to be most useful?
I imagine that trueform and AA look great, but aren't necessarily the best things to be using in the middle of a fast paced game. On the other hand, Anisotropic Filtering (which seems to be the forte of the 8500) might be quite useful. Any thoughts?

"Ignorance is bliss, but I tend to get screwed over."
February 23, 2002 6:46:38 PM

Quote:
I imagine that trueform and AA look great, but aren't necessarily the best things to be using in the middle of a fast paced game. On the other hand, Anisotropic Filtering (which seems to be the forte of the 8500) might be quite useful. Any thoughts?

SmoothVision sucks in performance right now because ATI designed it as a programmable FSAA based on super-sampling. Unless game makers start designing their games for Smoothvision, Smoothvision will always suck performance-wise compared to the GF3 and GF4 with games being specifically designed for it.

Truform, on the other hand, is a great looking feature. So is Anisotropic Filtering, where it rules even the GF4 Ti4600. ATI conserves bandwidth with doing Anisotropic filtering dynamically based on the textures.

AMD technology + Intel technology = Intel/AMD Pentathlon IV; the <b>ULTIMATE</b> PC processor
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