Best $100 Vid Card w/ 128 MB RAM?

[SkyDiver]

Hi,
I'm looking for the best video card under $100 w/ 128 Meg RAM for my kid's system.

Based on the limited research I've done, it looks like the Radeon 9100 may be the best. Does anyone have any thoughts on the topic? I heard that some of their lower-end products were real stinkers (8500?). I'm really happy w/ my 9700 Pro. What do you all know?

 

[Rogozhin]

I ran a 8500LE @ 300/300 after a volt mod and bios flash, you can find these for about $75 and they are basically the same card as a 9100.

Personally i would go the 9100 route since it's a refresh of an older design.

I too love my 9700

rogo

 

[Subh2o]

the 8500 rocks, is much better than the 9000 or 9100.

If you look around you may be able to get a gf4 ti4200 for right around 100 bucks that will rock for a little while in your kids system

 

[Subh2o]

the 8500 not 8500le

 

[movinslow]

for that price range, can't go wrong with an 8500.
for a little more, you could go with Geforce4 4200, give you a little higher fps. though, some say image quality is better on 8500...I don't know, but I have an 8500 myself and I like it.

 

[SkyDiver]

OK. Two votes for 8500. If 9100 is a "refresh" of 8500, wouldn't it be better?

 

[Rogozhin]

That's what I thought

The 9000 not as good as a 8500 but i thought a 9100 was just a good or better.

Gotta go look at specs

rogo

 

[firemoth12]

9100=8500

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Rogozhin
That's what I thought

The 9000 not as good as a 8500 but i thought a 9100 was just a good or better.

Gotta go look at specs

rogo

It all depends on the core/memory clocks. The 9100 cards I've seen are clocked at 250/230, which is below average. 250/250 and above is what you should look for. Be careful as many cards come clocked at 200/200 and even :Q 166/166 :Q

 

[KillaBong]

ti4200! unless you absolutely cant find one for under 100, then get a 128mb retail 8500

Its $109 right now refurbished at newegg.

 

[Johnbear007]

Get an 8500 128 MB LE... But here is the trick... get one with the newer BGA memory... You can tell it's BGA because it is a rectangle rather than square. These are built by ATI......... Mine runs at 300/300 stable. I flashed it with non-le BIOS.. NO voltage adjustements. NO extra cooling


dont get a 9100, they use crappier ram.