Best Image quality video card at around $60-$80

[lchen66666]

Hi all,

I am looking for a video card at around $60-$80. Most of my usage will be just browsering internet,
occassionaly playing some 3D games. I prefer video card has better image quality than pure performance.

I checked at this price range on pricewatch.com, and found the follwing fews

ATI 8500LE
ATI 9000
ATI 9000 Pro
Geforce4 MX440
Geforce3 TI200

Please give me your advices on which brand has the best image quality, espeically there are
so many different brands using GeoForce chip. Just don't know which one to pick.

Thanks

 

[kurt454]

Of that group, I would just go for the ATI Radeon 9000(non pro). Have you considered a Matrox card? They are considered by many to be top of the line in 2d image quality.

 

[Walleye]

the way i hear it, the 9000 is an overpriced version of the 8500, and of that group, the 8500 is really the best option. I hear that the changes from the 8500 to the 9000 are detrimental, in that it loses a couple of features. otherwise, they're the same card. course, i could be mistaken, and often am.

 

[Tired of the Bull]

Matrox, ATI, Everyone else. That's the order for 2d quality IMHO.

 

[xSauronx]

if i remember reading right, the 9000 lacks a couple features that the 8500 has
makes sense, seeing that the 8500 was supposed to be the high end at one time, and the 9000 isnt
i have the 8500le 64mb and i think its really very good for the price

check hot deals tho, seems like a gf3 was going just under 60 in there the other day....love my 8500 tho, looks good, performs very well in games too

 

[lchen66666]

Is it necessary to get 128MB ?
What's the chance that in the next few years that some games require
128MB video ram ?

 

[rogue1979]

The Radeon 8500 is faster than the 9000. The 9000 has a few improvements even though the core is slightly stripped down. The 9000 has slightly better 2D than an 8500, I had both

 

[mrman3k]

Any of the ATI cards in that price range would have better image quality.

 

[SladeZero]

Hey there,

I heard that ATI was renaming the 8500 the 9100 since it's better then the 9000 .
Go fig, release a later card that can't out do what you already have. No logic there.

Sladezero

 

[aircooled]

I have the 8500LE. The image quality is superb!