8500LE (128Mb) VS 9000 PRO

[ddasilva]

I emailed ATI and they told me that they are phasing out the Radeon 8500LE 128MB version and not the 64Mb version...

Any reason why they would discontinue a card with more memory apposed to the one with less memory?

Im still waiting for ATI to respond to that question!!
Derek

 

[chuck232]

Cause they don't want the R8500LE 128MB (which is cheap) to get in the way of R9000 PRO 128MB sales, which sucks compared to the 128MB R8500LE.

...And all the King's horses and all the King's men couldn't put my computer back together again...

 

[ddasilva]

Yeah I saw the benchmarks...not worth spending the extra $$$ eight? No real gains...

What does everyone else think?

 

[chuck232]

Ummm... the R9000 Pro is much worse than a R8500LE. don't get the R9000 Pro if you can get a R8500LE for near the same price.

...And all the King's horses and all the King's men couldn't put my computer back together again...

 

[ddasilva]

http://www6.tomshardware.com/graphic/02q3/0207181/radeon9000-09.html

Check that out...the 9000 smokes the 8500...how come?

 

[ddasilva]

is the 8500LE DirectX 8 fully supported...or partial...

 

[Makaveli]

LOL why don't u read the rest of the benchmarks. The 8500 wins the majority of them. Who are you trying to fool by just looking at one test. LMAO everyone knows the 8500 is faster than the 9000.

 

[ddasilva]

No no you are not getting me...I wanted to know why that particular benchmark shows favourable results for the 9000 instead of the 8500LE...

 

[AMD_Man]

...because there was a bug in that particular driver on the R8500 that was fixed later.

Intelligence is not merely the wealth of knowledge but the sum of perception, wisdom, and knowledge.

 

[HolyShiznit]

The 8500 LE is a hell of a card for the price. I'm impressed.

 

[Crashman]

I'd get the full version Radeon 8500 64MB. Go to newegg.com and read the USER REVIEWS on these cards, it turns out that a lot of 128MB cards are comming with INFERIOR 5.5ns RAM which only supports clock speeds of 200MHz, while the full version comes clocked at 275MHz! And they cost the same price! And the full version comes with a $30 DVI to VGA adapter that won't even work on the 128MB LE card! And the extra memory is probably usesless to you anyway!

<font color=blue>You're posting in a forum with class. It may be third class, but it's still class!</font color=blue>

 

[Crashman]

The 128MB LE card looks like crap compared to the 64MB full version (same price). Did you read the reviews at newegg?

<font color=blue>You're posting in a forum with class. It may be third class, but it's still class!</font color=blue>

 

[Spitfire_x86]

is the 8500LE DirectX 8 fully supported...or partial...

Both Radeon 8500 and 8500 LE fully supports DitectX 8.1. Radeon 8500 LE has slower clock speed and slower memory comared to full 8500.



Let us know <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/community/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=25703#25703" target="_new"> What File compression format you use? </A>

 

[Spitfire_x86]

is the 8500LE DirectX 8 fully supported...or partial...

Both Radeon 8500 and 8500 LE fully supports DitectX 8.1. Radeon 8500 LE has slower clock speed and slower memory comared to full 8500.

Let us know <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/community/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=25703#25703" target="_new"> What File compression format you use? </A>

 

[chuck232]

Ummm... over here in Canada, just a week ago (IIRC) a R8500LE 128MB BBA was $150CDN. That's like $90USD or so. A pretty wicked price if you ask me.

...And all the King's horses and all the King's men couldn't put my computer back together again...

 

[Crashman]

Yes, and about the same price as the full version 64MB card from Saphire, with 3 things that 128MB card doesn't have:
1.) Faster memory capable of running at very high speed for adequate performance (the 128MB LE being inadequate IMO).
2.) A DVI to VGA adapter
3.) The second RAMDAC needed to make DVI to VGA adapters work.

<font color=blue>You're posting in a forum with class. It may be third class, but it's still class!</font color=blue>

 

[chuck232]

Hmmm... very true Crash, but games like UT2003 use more than 64MB of VRAM at settings such as 1280x1024 and mid to high details (at least this is what I've heard). So the 128MB would be a wise investment.

Hmmmm.. just looking over that R8500 64MB, it doesn't look bad. The only problem is it's BULK and therefore, you won't necessarily get a 275/275 clocked card right? Still, if it were between a 64MB 275/275 and a 128MB 250/250 card, within the same price range, it'd be tough for me to choose.

...And all the King's horses and all the King's men couldn't put my computer back together again...

 

[markgun]

It would be a tough choice for me too, but with some of the 8500LE cards it's like a lottery with what speed you get. Too many of the 128MB 8500LE cards (at newegg at least) are coming clocked at 230/200 and 250/200. I'd rather go for a 64MB card that's guaranteed to be 275/275 & supports the DVI to VGA adapter. Just my opinion..

 

[Makaveli]

Crash only The non BBA 8500LE come with crap 5.5ns ram.
I own a BBA 8500LE and it came with 3.6ns infineon BGA memory. And some others come with 3.3ns memory.

But a good warning for all you guys buying non built by Ati cards check the memory before you pay for it!

And I flashed my bios to retail 275/275 and it runs great.
I can do 300/300 and still have it stable I think I owe that to BGA memory not running as hot.

 

[Crashman]

People are reporting the bulk card is 275/275, while the 128MB LE is 250/<b>200</b> with <b>5.5ns</b> memory (which is only rated for 200MHz)! Read the user reviews for both cards at Newegg.

<font color=blue>You're posting in a forum with class. It may be third class, but it's still class!</font color=blue>

 

[chuck232]

Yeah yeah, I know, just pointing out that fact that unless you get a retail BBA, you won't really know what speed it is for sure.

...And all the King's horses and all the King's men couldn't put my computer back together again...