AIW 7500 vs. 8500DV

[The Dancing Peacock]

So I'm going to need a new vid card soon. I'm going to try and wait for the release of the new cards supposedly at CeBit or soon after so that the older models dip a little in price, but I'm getting antsy.

I'm looking at either the 7500AIW or the 8500DV? So I'm doing my research, and beyond obvious speed differences (which don't seem that big according to the site below) , I don't really understand what pixel shaders, vertex shaders and Truform are and what they do aside from what I gather, current games don't utilize these yet, but may in the near future? The 8500 does support DirectX 8 compared to 7 for the 7500. It only has 2 render piplines compared to 3. Which I know is better to have a higher version and more pipelines, but what are the benefits to having them?

I don't upgrade often, so I want what I buy to be able to last for a while. I'm currently running a V3 3000 and it's run it's course. I don't game alot, that's why I want to go for the ATI. Mostly movies and some 2d. However, if I do play a game, I want to be able to play it, and not have the same problem I do now with the V3 being slow and the added bonus of it being unsupported.

 

[jfunk]

Those extra features basically are what makes it DX8 compatable vs DX7. If you don't upgrade often and want something to last a while, deffinately get the 8500. That DX8 support will come in handy this spring and beyond.


j

 

[rbV5]

I went with the AIW 7500 myself. Maybe after the 8800dv is introduced, the 8500dv will drop in price. I don't use the firewire yet, and gaming is a secondary function on my rig, so I felt the 8500dv was a bit high on the pricepoint for me, especially considering its cousin the 8500 is half its price as well. This AIW 7500 is no slouch gamer either, 5205 isn't to shabby. You could always get the 7500 now and sell it when the 8500 comes down a bit. AIW cards hold there value pretty well, and there always seems to be pretty good demand for them in FS/T.

Both cards offer significant value, both good choices.