ATI: "Main difference between 8500 & 8500LE is DVI OUT"!!

[jfunk]

Q18: What are the differences between a RADEON? 8500 128MB DDR and a RADEON? 8500LE 128MB DDR?

A18:
The main differences between the RADEON? 8500 128MB DDR and the RADEON? 8500LE 128MB DDR are as follow:
RADEON? 8500LE : VGA and TV Out Suggested Retail Price - $199.00 U.S.D.
RADEON? 8500: VGA, DVI-I and TV Out Suggested Retail Price - $299.00 U.S.D.


Oh, man. I like ATI and all, but isn't this bordering on illegal?


j

 

[rbV5]

<< Oh, man. I like ATI and all, but isn't this bordering on illegal? >>



What? Why? Read carefully and you'll see the 8500le is not dual head like the 8500, dual display only, meaning 1 CRT and/or 1 TV(vcr). No DFP support at all. I'd say those features may be worth 100 bones to some folks.

One interesting note though, "you will be able to purchase an upgrade package with VGA to YPrPb dongle from ATI shortly after spring" So does that mean they dropped the DVI>component dongle, or they will be making both a VGA>component dongle, and a DVI>component Dongle? I certainly hope they mean both, I certainly don't like the idea of using the DVI>VGA dongle AND a VGA>Component video dongle together for my AIW.

 

[jfunk]

Well, I would feel the major difference would be the clock speed. I don't see a DVI out connector being a 100.00 feature.


j

 

[rbV5]

<< Well, I would feel the major difference would be the clock speed. I don't see a DVI out connector being a 100.00 feature >>



Well you would if you wanted dual monitor or DFP support.

I haven't seen anything on the relative clockspeed of the 128MB boards, but assuming the same 250/250 Le vs 275/275 retail clockspeed. IMHO, the difference in the stock clockspeed between the Le and retail versions can really only seen with benchmarks and actually equalled with overclocking and the difference betweeen a dual head card with DFP and VGA support for multimonitors and a single head solution is a HUGE difference IMHO, its real hard to solder another connector onto your board.

I think people get so wrapped up in clockspeed and benchmarks, they tend to overlook the benefits of usefull features. What does the GF4 feature over the GF3? basically dual head and higher clockspeed(I'm being VERY general here), but at what price? Illegal, puleeeese, worth it, damn strait if your wanting to use dual DVI flat panels, for most of us though...Hardly, that goes for the 128MB 8500 as well IMHO.

 

[jfunk]

Well, I guess I'm not sure about these new 128MB cards, but the regular 64MB 8500 was 275mhz, whereas the LE was only 230mhz.

That was the only difference between the two. The LE's even had DVI out. I guess I was just assuming the 128MB versions would be the same thing.



j

 

[Rand]

<< Well, I guess I'm not sure about these new 128MB cards, but the regular 64MB 8500 was 275mhz, whereas the LE was only 230mhz.
>>



The LE was 250, the Retail was 275. The "LE" was just a different name for the OEM R8500's, one of many press releases confirming as much.
The 230/230 R8500's were producted by only two third party manufacturers, and their typically referred to as R8500LELE.