Installed the $99 8500 last night

[dunkster]

I replaced my GF2GTS with the 8500LE 64 ($99 @ NewEgg) last night.

The only problems I encountered were with running Detonator Destroyer after the Add/Remove of the Nvidia drivers. That problem may have been aggravated by my impatience in making the switch at 147MHz FSB and maxed dram timings instead of reverting to stock speed. I had a number of HD problems, which Norton NDD fixed, and I had to rewrite my Explorer password file.

Installing the ATI 9031 driver (for 98Se) and r3dtweak was a snap.

I found I had to retard FSB from 147MHz to 145MHz to complete 3DMark2001.

GF2GTS 3DMark2001 score @ 220/350 @ 147MHz FSB: 4330
Initial 8500LE 3DMark2001 score @ 250/275 @ 145MHz FSB: 8480

Using r3dtweak, I ran the core slider right up to 275 for 275/275 core/mem and score jumped to: 8650

So far my $100 doubled my 3DMark2001 score. Ordered the ATI8500 cooling kit from 2CoolTek ($33.25 shipped). With the kit and a pencil I think I have a shot at a 3DMark score of 10000 or better.

So far, it's money well spent.

 

[ProviaFan]

That thing whips the posterior of my Radeon VE, with it's 3dmark 2k1 SE score of 1314. :Q

 

[Killrose]

We never think of all the top of the line video cards becoming "budget" cards but eventually they all do.
The good thing is that the performance bar is so high now that low teir ain't really that low anymore.