Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Skuzzy on May 21, 2003, 04:23:08 PM

Title: ATI Performance Order
Post by: Skuzzy on May 21, 2003, 04:23:08 PM

I have been getting a number of phone calls and emails about the various levels of performance of the ATI cards.  With all the new products they have released in the last 6 months it can be confusing.
Here is a list of thier products from slowest to fastest by product number.

7000
7200
7500
9000
9000 Pro
9200
8500 (non-LE)
9200 Pro
9600
9500
9600 Pro
9500 Pro
9700
9700 Pro
9800 Pro

As you can see, a higher number does not neccessarily indicate better performance.

Hope that helps.

Title: ATI Performance Order
Post by: lord dolf vader on May 22, 2003, 03:40:26 AM

great list

where does the 8500 le fall in the bunch?

Title: ATI Performance Order
Post by: Skuzzy on May 22, 2003, 06:55:36 AM

Still trying to get some numbers on that.  I believe it is going to fall inbetween the 9000 and 9000Pro.

Title: ATI Performance Order
Post by: Ghosth on May 22, 2003, 07:58:03 AM

That sounds about right on the 8500 le from what I've heard.

Dunno about anyone else but for a cool 100$ I'm loving my 9000 pro 128.

Title: ATI Performance Order
Post by: ALF on May 22, 2003, 07:18:59 PM

Right now is a great time for cheap video cards if you dont care about the fastest ever made....you can get a $100-$125 card that simply plays AH terrific........now about my 9800pro.......its just a tad overkill in AH....just a smidgen:D

Title: ATI Performance Order
Post by: snafu on May 23, 2003, 08:50:52 AM

Great list Skuzzy, thanks

Quick question.

I assume the list is for the 128mb cards. Does 128mb make that much difference over the 64mb versions? Where would a 64mb 9500 fall for example. Some of the 64mb versions are upto 35% cheaper in the UK. Is the cost saving worth it? Or would they just become another bottleneck in say a XP2600 with a 333fsb?

Thanks in advance

TTFN
snafu

Title: ATI Performance Order
Post by: bfreek on May 23, 2003, 08:10:31 PM

8500LE is a stinker, slower than a voodoo5

Title: ATI Performance Order
Post by: Skuzzy on May 23, 2003, 08:13:18 PM

The amount of video ram is somewhat irrelvant, except where faster ram is used on the video card.

Only one game currently can make use of 256MB of video ram, and that is UT2003, but it takes modding some special flags to get there.  In that mod, UT2003 will use up to 160MB of video ram.

Title: ATI Performance Order
Post by: Max on May 25, 2003, 07:54:46 AM

Roy ~  and players too....

What would be your choice based on dollars?

under $100 ---
$100 - $150 ---
$150 - $200 ---
$200 - $250 ---
$250 - $300 ---
$350 +

This need not be limited to ATI cards

DmdMax

Title: ATI Performance Order
Post by: Ghosth on May 25, 2003, 11:33:06 AM

Low end
ATI RADEON 9000 PRO 128MB AGP DDR
 96$ and scores almost as high as the $$$ boys.  Definately best bang for the buck that I've seen.

Midrange
ATI ALL-IN-WONDER 9700 PRO 128MB AGP (Retail) 191.70

High end
ATI ALL-IN-WONDER 9700 PRO 128MB AGP (Retail) 336.50$
Would be my choice if I had money to burn

All prices mwave.com

Title: ATI Performance Order
Post by: MANDOBLE on May 25, 2003, 01:20:51 PM

Sadly, the ATI latest models do not have W98/W98SE drivers.

Title: ATI Performance Order
Post by: Skuzzy on May 25, 2003, 02:34:00 PM

Yes they do Mandoble.  They do not have any WHQL drivers for WIN98,..no one else does either as Microsoft has dropped WHQL for W98.

All ATI products, even the 9800Pro, has W98 drivers.

Title: ATI Performance Order
Post by: Skuzzy on May 25, 2003, 02:38:42 PM

I do not know Max.  When I buy, I always buy the top card.  I never really considered the lower end models.

Right now I would get the 9800Pro.  The 5900Ultra from NVidia looks like it might be a good card, but it is hard to say right now due to some issues with the drivers.

I am still trying to figure out the NVidia line.  The new 5200 appears to be slower than a 440 MX card, but the Ultra version of the same card is supposedly as fast as a Ti4200.  Go figure.

Title: ATI Performance Order
Post by: Reschke on May 25, 2003, 05:20:51 PM

It may be great but OUCH that hurts my wallet just thinking about it.

ATI 9800 PRO 256MB from Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?catalog=48&DEPA=1&submit=property&mfrcode=0&propertycode=&propertycodevalue=4632,3671)

Title: ATI Performance Order
Post by: Skuzzy on May 25, 2003, 07:56:58 PM

It also comes in a 128MB version which is a $100 cheaper.