Memory timing of 8500 and 8500LE

[Oracle]

Hi fellas,
I'm looking into buying a 8500 or 8500LE but here's my concern. The 8500 has 128Mb just as the 8500LE. I understand the 8500 is probably clocked higher than the 8500LE (don't know if it's the same chip). Do you guys know if the RAM of the 8500 usually has better timing than the 8500LE. The reason I ask is because the 8500 cost 270$CDN and the 8500LE is 200$CDN. Is the 8500 worth the extra 70$CDN (45$US)?


<font color=red>A platform is not an oil rig.</font color=red>

 

[phsstpok]

Tough question to answer.

For the BBAs, meaning Built By ATI

Retail 8500 - 275 mhz GPU/275 mhz memory both 64MB (discontinued) and 128 MB versions
OEM 8500 - 250/275 64MB, 250/230? 128 MB
Retail 8500LE - 250/250 64MB, unknown for 128 MB version
OEM 8500LE - 250?/230

For Ati partner cards, clock speeds could be anything. I've seen 250/200 for Sapphire 8500LE's and 250/166 for Crucial 8500LE.

In general, within the same brand the memory of the 8500LEs are clocked a lower than the memory of the 8500s.

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[Oracle]

Sorry, forgot to mention it: The price I mentioned are for Retail BBA (built by ATI) cards.
I'm not looking for any other type of cards, whether OEM or PBA (powered by ATI).


<font color=red>A platform is not an oil rig.</font color=red>

 

[phsstpok]

Re-read your original post. Now I see you want the DRAM speeds.

I believe the 128mb 8500 retail has 3.3ns BGA memory and the 128mb 8500LE retail has 3.6ns BGA memory.

<b>I have so many cookies I now have a FAT problem!</b>

 

[funkdog]

My retail BBA 8500LE has 3.6ns BGA, some were rumored to have 3.3ns BGA. I can overclock mine to 300/300.

<b>"These are my thoughts, your mileage may vary."

 

[phsstpok]

That's what I said, 3.6 ns BGA for the 128 MB 8500LE BBA.

All of the 64MB BBA's 8500 and 8500LE have TSOP memory not BGA.

<b>I have so many cookies I now have a FAT problem!</b>

 

[funkdog]

I wasn't necessarily posting in reply to you, just the last person in the thread, I was just posting my timing.

At default my retail was 250/250, I currently run at 275/275, so I don't have to have fan cooling on my card, less noise. With a big enough sink, It just takes passive air to cool my card now.

If I wanna run at 300/300 I have to plug in my fan, using an old pentium cooler, adhered with Artic Alumina.

<b>"These are my thoughts, your mileage may vary."

 

[chuck232]

Some of the R8500 128MB also have 3.6ns BGA too. It really just depends on what batch you get. If those are the prices, I'd probably get the R8500LE, but that's totally looking at price/performance.

<i>Past mistakes may make you look stupid, but avoiding future ones will make you look smart!</i>

 

[Oracle]

What's the difference between the LE and the non-LE GPUs anyways?
I can't believe it's only clock speed, it must have something to do with features, right?
Is it that 8500 is DX8.1 and LE is not, or does it have something to do with the shaders?


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[phsstpok]

The 8500LE and 8500 have the same GPU but I have heard that the 8500 supplies a slightly higher voltage to the GPU which allows it to clock slightly higher. There are several voltage mod guides available around the internet.

<b>I have so many cookies I now have a FAT problem!</b>

 

[Oracle]

Thanks for the info.
Although, my manual skills prevent me from even thinking about starting to think about undertaking a tune up project on any electronic devices by myself. Not that I wouldn't know where I'm going, but chances are I'll end up doing something stupid and scrap a 200$CDN piece of hardware which is only going to be installed on my wife's computer anyways.


<font color=red>If you feel like going to work today, just lie down and it'll go away.</font color=red>

 

[phsstpok]

I hear you. Although one of the voltage mods is another one of those "pencil tricks". You draw a line with a graphite pencil. If you get a 8500LE BBA, (Built By ATI), you will hardly notice the difference vs an 8500.

Only performance fanatics and tinkerers mod their video cards anyway.

<b>I have so many cookies I now have a FAT problem!</b>

 

[Oracle]

Based on this thread, your comments and the price/performance ratio, I'll aim for the 8500LE BBA (and I will not mess around with it).
I use my wife's computer when some friends come over and we have a LAN playing session. My wife would be pissed if I busted a graphics card on her PC and she couldn't use it to work for a while. So, I won't tinker with it (as I'd also be pissed if I scrap it).
Thanks again!


<font color=red>If you feel like going to work today, just lie down and it'll go away.</font color=red>

 

[chuck232]

Yeah, the R8500LE BBA is a great buy, and seems like it can do higher clock/RAM speeds, but if it's just for your wife, then there's no point in getting say, typed words to show up faster... :tongue:

<i>Past mistakes may make you look stupid, but avoiding future ones will make you look smart!</i>