Help me chose a video card

[DaLeroy]

Hi guys

I'm building a new rig, witha XP 1800+ with 256 MB DDR and need some recommendations on a video card. I'm in Australia so prices over here are a lot higher than US.

My options are:

Hercules AIW 7500 OEM for about $200 (US Dollars) - Very interested in this one, but a bit worried it will be too slow for games. Play a lot of CS, DOD, and FPS, Serious Sam 2 etc. Will this card be able to handle 1024x768 and above ok?

ATI 8500LE 64 MB DDR for about $200 US Dollars.

Or a Geforce 3 Ti200 for 128mb for about $150 US Dollars.

The features on the AIW are very attractive, but the reviews seems to point it to the same speed as a Geforce 4 MX (not super quick) and the AIW 8500 is WAAAY out of my price range. Also, being OEM, does it come with the software for the TV Tuner etc?

Thanks guys

 

[Willoughbyva]

Here is a review aiw 7500 review
That is not an OEM review so I'm not sure what the difference would be. Open gl did pretty good.

I have the regular retail "built by ati" 7500 aiw card and I played a demo of serious sam2 at 1024X768 and didn't have any problems. I guess the newest game I play on it is spiderman the movie and it runs pretty good with settings on high. I noticed today on one of the latter levels with a lot of rain in it that it had a second or two of choppyness. Just for a brief second, I wondered if I really saw it or not. That was playing at 1024X768 also.

I'm wasn't a big gammer so I really didn't want an expensive card. I will upgrade probably next spring sometime if life permits. If you can wait a couple months until the newer cards come out- these cards you mentioned will be even cheaper. I'll probably buy this falls card next spring if I can.


Good luck.


Will

P.S. I don't know if these cards will even play doom3 and other games yet to be released(probably not very good), that is why I figure I will upgrade next spring. I love the other features of the aiw7500 like tv and stuff.

 

[Willoughbyva]

BTW you might want to check out the for-sale / trade forum here. I don't use it, but I hear good things from others **most** of the time.

Will