Originally posted by: Pete
Sorry, guys, but Buy.com's pic appears to show a 64-bit 5700LE (note only half the visible memory banks are filled, and there's no explicit mention of 128-bit memory).
NewEgg's picture shows half the slots filled.
TigerDirect's, however, shows all visible banks filled and explicitly lists the bandwidth as 6.4GB/s (meaning 128-bit).
Mwave's pic is justs
XFX's, which is so tiny that I can't make out how many banks are filled. Oddly, this pic also shows a passive HSF, not the active HSF on every other site. All are labelled the PVT36LRA, so the question is, do you trust TigerDirect's labelling or NewEgg's pics? I trust NewEgg's pics and my deduction, but if TigerDirect sends you a 64-bit card, you have legimate grounds to ask for a total refund. (Whether you'll get it or not is another question, depending on whether TD's customer service matches their reputation for their rebate redemption.
😉)
If this is 64-bit, I'd probably pass on this for gaming, unless you're a fan of 640x480 or 800x600 at 16-bit. For a non- or very light-gaming card, though, this should be very nice. I believe it'll be enough for Longhorn's 3D desktop, and I also believe it uses very little power.
If it's 128-bit, it should be a decent card.
So, IMO:
$20 AR? Yes, for office use/DVD watching, and *very* light gaming.
$50AR? No. A GF3 will probably be faster, except maybe in Doom 3. Otherwise, for a gamer, I'd suggest a used GF4Ti, or maybe a new Rosewill/Jetway 128-bit 9600 for $76 @ NewEgg, or--better yet--a used 9600P/9500P (if you can find one for <$90).
Thanks for the heads up, Silvestry. Hope you don't take my post as unkind, but rather a word of warning.
🙂 Enjoy your holidays, and don't worry, there's always another deal around the corner.
Edit: What the ... the OP was made last month? Nice bump.
😀