Arrrrghh...still can't decide on a video card

[perlmonger]

Please help me before I lose my sanity.
I've been trying to pick a video card for several weeks, but the more I research the issue, the more confused I get.
So could you guys dispense with a little of your wisdom and help me pick from the list below?
I am not a big gamer but would like to have that option, and I do some video editing. (home movies, digital camcorder)
So here is the list:
$39 ATI Radeon VE 32mb
$59 ATI Radeon LE 32mb DDR
$47 ATI Radeon 7000 32mb DDR
$62 Kyro II 64mb
$50 GeForce 2 MX400 64mb
$57 GeForce 2 GTS 32mb

All are in my price range with the Kyro II near the upper limit. (Prices provided by Pricewatch)
I know you get these questions all the time...but who better to ask eh?
Thanks all.

ECSK7S5A
xp1600+
512mb Crucial PC2100
40GB Quantum 7.2K rpm
Lite On 24x10x40 cdr/w
Lite On 16x DVD

 

[jlee]

I would go for the Kyro II. 2D is quite nice on my NEC Fe950+, and the 3D is quite good for the price as well. Look at this Anandtech review.

 

[BFG10K]

I'd go with the GF2 GTS.

 

[perlmonger]

^
thanks cadetlee

 

[Menacer]

If the KyroII is your highest price, and you got those prices from pricewatch, you've got more to worry about then which card to get.. Those prices are all really low compared to what normal prices are..

Anyway, if you can get a GTS for $57, I'd most certainly go with that. I'd normally say Radeon LE (and NEVER Radeon VE..) but the GTS stomps it heartily. Add in the fact that nVidia drivers will continue to improve while I haven't seen much out of the Kyro II's lately, and you've got a definate winner.
These video cards will still be the bottleneck in a PC of your calibre, however..

 

[crash2much]

Geoforce gts all the way. Even though it's a generation or two back, it's still more future proof then the other.
Kyro? Isn't that still having major driver issue(and getting worse with each update)?

 

[Brian48]

I'd go for the GTS 2, but the Kyro II is not a bad choice either. Pretty much a toss up.

I'd completely forget about the ATI VE as well as any GeForce MX card. The other ATI's aren't too bad though. Better picture than the GeForce, but not as fast.

 

[merlocka]

Considering that those are all pricewatch prices (and the shipping can be quite high on the low priced items to compensate) you can also consider the Visiontek Geforce2 GTS-V from newegg for $70 shipped.

 

[AznBruin03]

newegg has the ATI Radeon 32mb DDR for $59. So you might as well get that over the LE if they're the same price.

 

[perlmonger]

Been gone all day...just got back.
Thanks for all the input guys. It looks like the GeForce 2 GTS is the winner.
merlocka mentioned the GTS 2-V from newegg, whats the -V mean?
I realize the shipping on these cards are weighted to sort to the top @ pricewatch but I think I will go with the GTS anyway.
Of course if I had the $$ I would go for the Radeon 8500.
Now all I have to do is find a new case for this rig and I can quit buying stuff....maybe.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[Menacer]

The GTS-V is an underclocked version of the GTS. It's kinda like the Radeon LE of the GeForce world. I've heard it can be overclocked easily to GTS levels.

 

[zod]

See.

Now I am confused

I understand Nvid's product line from worst to best...GF2MX200, MX, MX400, 2 GTS, 2 Pro, 2 Ti200, 2 Ultra, 3 Ti200, 3 , 3 Ti500

Right?

Ok.
ATI. From what I understand, the contenders are...

Radeon VE (sucks?)
Radeon SDR
Radeon LE
Radeon DDR 32mb
Radeon DDR 64mb
Radeon 7000
Radeon 7200
Radeon 7500
Radeon 8500

plus you've got the expensive DDR VIVO, the lower clocked OEM and retail versions, and the 3rd party cards.

Do all have TV-out?
Which cores are inside all of those?
Anyone have a handy matrix for reference?

I'd make it easy on myself and go nVidia, but I really do want a good quality TV-out and I understand that no nVidia cards really offer that.

Found some stuff --

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=31&threadid=631660&highlight_key=y&keyword1=7200
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=1544

 

[CStroman]

I have a GTS-V. When I play games, I open NVMax and overclock to 200/333 without problems.

 

[HeatMizer]

Ya Know, I used to get all confused also. Being a huge GeForce Nvidia fan I found that it was time for a change.
My latest card is a ATI Radeon 8500 and it works very well. Even the drivers work as well.
Water really looks like water now!
Here's my setup

P3 1.0 GHZ
ASUS CUSL2
1 STICK 256 MUSHKIN HIGH PERFORMANCE REV 3+

Good Luck!

Heat

 

[zod]

Yeah
I think I may just go with the 8500.

All I really wanted was a good TV-out since i am not playing as many games as i used to, but the inner-geek in me just won't allow me to buy a lesser card!

And from what I understand, the ATI order is . . .

Radeon VE
Radeon 7000
Radeon SDR
Radeon 7200
Radeon LE
Radeon DDR 32mb, then 64mb
Radeon 7500
Radeon 8500

From worst to best of course. I'm pretty sure I've got it now

Kinda sad that two of the "new" cards are so low on the ATI totem pole. I would have saved some $$ if the Radeon 7200 had just included DDR memory. I mean, what would have been the cost? An extra $5 at most? Doesn't make sense to me. Ah well, now to decide between the different flavors of 8500 , Retail is looking good... time to scour the hot deals forum.

 

[The_Lurker]

I'd get the Radeon LE, being a proud owner. Loved that card. Still runs all games great.

 

[Powervr]

I think that owning a kyro is a privilege...

 

[Sunner]

If those prices are real, I'd go for the GTS.