Topic: Why is this video card so cheap? (Read 7343 times)

Iceman · « **on:** April 02, 2004, 02:59:03 pm »

As the title says, what's wrong with this video card?

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=14-131-236&DEPA=0

Is it so cheap because it's only 128mb?

ActiveX · « **Reply #1 on:** April 02, 2004, 03:01:58 pm »

It's an SE, it is cheap not only in price...

It's the 'valuecard'...

E_Look · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2004, 03:05:03 pm »

Ah, it's an ATI xxxx-SE model card. All of ATI's "SE" versions are "crippled" or "slowed" versions of the ones without the "SE" suffix. I think they also have a few "LE" versions with a similar design philosophy.

I'd just NOT get their "SE" or "LE" versions of their 9200, 9600, and 9800 lines. Otherwise, they are fine video cards... and more expensive than the "S/L E"s.

Iceman · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2004, 03:19:52 pm »

I see. I was unaware of the new designations. I'm assuming XT is the faster models then? There's one for like $800 or so....yeah right

E_Look · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2004, 04:20:03 pm »

The way I think ATI names them, it goes (L)SE, no suffix, Pro, XT in order of cost (and of course, one would have to assume, chip speed, RAM size, pixel pipes, etc.).

ActiveX · « **Reply #5 on:** April 02, 2004, 04:31:44 pm »

I would personally get a Pro over an XT, cause the difference is only maybe 1 or 2 fps...and several dollars...

E_Look · « **Reply #6 on:** April 02, 2004, 04:41:05 pm »

Yeah, I'd agree with that...

... especially since I was able to pick up many months ago, an "old" Radeon 9700 Pro for $161 USD at MicroCenter, though there was no such thing as "XT" in that series, which compares favorably (the same few fps) against the newer 9800 XT.

I don't think most of us really can make use of that small difference, anyway.

Iceman · « **Reply #7 on:** April 02, 2004, 05:09:57 pm »

the pro series can be flashed to XT, actually. Neat huh?

TheBigCheese · « **Reply #8 on:** April 03, 2004, 04:34:02 am »

I got the XT as it is better with shadows

The_Joker · « **Reply #9 on:** April 03, 2004, 09:07:02 am »

Funny thing is, Nvidia is backward from that. XT means piece O' Junk on an Nvidia.

Iceman · « **Reply #10 on:** April 03, 2004, 10:03:05 am »

So what's 'good' for NVidia? I"m so confused.

Also, BigCheese, are you a Homeworld 2 player by any chance?

TOCXOBearslayer · « **Reply #11 on:** April 03, 2004, 06:17:33 pm »

Quote:

As the title says, what's wrong with this video card?

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=14-131-236&DEPA=0

Is it so cheap because it's only 128mb?

Here... you can find the 9600XT with 128 MB of RAM for $3 cheaper than NewEgg.

Sapphire ATI RADEON 9600XT 128MB DDR 9600 xt VGA/DVI/TV-out 8X AGP

Or for about $20 more... you can get the 256MB version of the 9600XT:

Sapphire RADEON 9600 XT 256MB DDR AGP8X TVO/DVI (OEM)

Got the links from here:

http://www.pricewatch.com/

IMO, the best place to find computer parts.

ActiveX · « **Reply #12 on:** April 03, 2004, 06:26:39 pm »

Might as well get the 9800 though, the 9600 is gimped...

Elvis · « **Reply #13 on:** April 03, 2004, 07:16:28 pm »

If this discussion is an actual buying consideration, you should wait. The next chipsets should be out shortly, and then there should be a price drop on the 9800Pro and XT.

Iceman · « **Reply #15 on:** April 03, 2004, 07:48:54 pm »

Yeah, well I have all summer. I just picked up Win XP Pro, a new case and floppy for $200. Pretty slick, considering XP Pro is $200 alone at Best Buy. And yeah, I'll probably wait until the 9800XT's drop in price to pick one up.

ActiveX · « **Reply #16 on:** April 03, 2004, 08:37:51 pm »

256Mb 9800 Pro is $295
256Mb 9800 XT is $407
256Mb 9600 Pro is $139
256Mb 9600 XT is $172

Anything more than 128Mb is overkill right now...

128Mb 9600 Pro - $129
128Mb 9600 XT - $153
128Mb 9800 Pro - $210 (X Pix)
128Mb 9800 XT - N/A

Maybe it wont be long before having 128Mb or more video ram is necessary, but the day isnt here yet...

Iceman · « **Reply #18 on:** April 04, 2004, 09:09:22 am »

Thought you might be. Using the shadows feature with an ATi card causes big problems in that game.

TheBigCheese · « **Reply #19 on:** April 04, 2004, 04:03:39 pm »

did'nt notice, it worked fine when I borrowed it.
Only game I've had problems with is SWG and that is crap for most vid cards.

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Iceman

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ActiveX

Elvis

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ActiveX

TheBigCheese

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TheBigCheese

Topic: Why is this video card so cheap? (Read 7343 times)