If you had a choice, which would you choose and why?
http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=58&card2=43#
With the ATI trade-up-program, the AIW is $10 cheaper than the 850, but I lose my old 9600 pro.
The 850, with a bios upgrade, can potentially become an 850XT or XT PE (but the bios upgrade doesn't seem to universally apply, depending on how the card is locked). Also, the 850 has the newer chip and the added, second slot cooling design (nice in that it dumps the heat out the rear of the case, but is potentially noiser).
The AIW has the obvious advantage of a TV and FM radio tuner. But, I have a big screen TV in a separate room and all the radio stations I listen to are streamed.
Given all this, how would you choose and why?
thanks,
John
http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=58&card2=43#
With the ATI trade-up-program, the AIW is $10 cheaper than the 850, but I lose my old 9600 pro.
The 850, with a bios upgrade, can potentially become an 850XT or XT PE (but the bios upgrade doesn't seem to universally apply, depending on how the card is locked). Also, the 850 has the newer chip and the added, second slot cooling design (nice in that it dumps the heat out the rear of the case, but is potentially noiser).
The AIW has the obvious advantage of a TV and FM radio tuner. But, I have a big screen TV in a separate room and all the radio stations I listen to are streamed.
Given all this, how would you choose and why?
thanks,
John