Some opinions please...

[nitan]

hi guys, i was looking around on the net and came across THIS (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=29875)

as u can see it is a Radeon 8500 but one which is not manufactured by ATI. wot do u guys think of it??? and given the pending release of the 'next' gen cards is it worth purchasing?...or wud it be better for me to just stick it out and get a gf4 / r300 based card? also wot is the 'LE' about?

nitan :)

[Berkswolf]

Hi Nitan. In the same way that Nvidia sell their chips to 3rd party munufactures (such as Gainward, Creative, etc) and they then make their own cards, ATI are now doing the same thing. Nvidia have a poor reputation for meeting demand for their chips and as a direct result of uncertain and late supply, Gigabyte for one have ditched Nvidia entirely in favour of ATI chips. Expect to see more and more 3rd party producers of Radeon cards as time goes on. As with all other things, some will be better than others, or may offer more in the way of free software etc.

LE signifies what was the old OEM version of the card whereby it is clocked lower and may have lower grade Ram fitted. Often they can be upgraded to full retail spec with a bios flash though. You pays yer money and you takes yer chances. :)

To wait or not? Well thats the age old dillema with all computer parts really. Do I buy now or wait for the next good thing? If your current Graphics card does all you ask of it, and plays all your current games, then wait. If its showing its age with stutters and slowdowns, or just if you fell you want the current latest and gratest, then buy now :)

[JMke]

all the 3rd party Radeon's 8500 are clocked 250/250 (instead of ATI's own 275/275).. so unless it is really CHEAP, I wouldn't buy one

[nitan]

hmmm, well to say the least i am suprised to see a 3rd party ATI. Also the pending release of the gf4 and r300 has taken me a little by suprise considering that the gf3 and radeon 8500 have really only just come out...leadtek have just release a 128Mb gf2 Ti200 also Gigabyte may b releasing a version of the radeon 8500 soon which is clocked differently (faster) to the ATI cards....well it is goin to be an interesting start to the year as far as gfx card technology goes...lets see how much of a run for their money ATI can give Nvidia....;) ...shud result in faster and perhaps cheaper gfx cards...also lets not write off Kyro based cards...they may take a market share yet....as for me...my GF2 GTS is starting to show its age but i think it can survive a little longer...i think i will skip the gf3/radeon 8500 generation and get one from the next lot...

nitan :)

[Berkswolf]

I have to say I think you are making the wise decision. I personaly prefer to skip a generation whenever I can with all things computer, and two or three with soundcards! If it hadn't been for Mrs Berkswolf treating me I would still be using my original Radeon.

[Randell]

I have that videocard :)

I had one form the first batch when they were only £164. Although sold as a third party retail board clocked at 250/250, it was actually made by ATI. ATI name silkscreened on the PCB, ATI stckers on the fan etc.

Its worked fine for me and I can clock it to 275/265 without trying any of the voltage mods etc.