newegg's ATI OEM vs. ATI Radeon 8500LE- what's the difference?

[duuuma]

Newegg has 2 types of ATI cards for sale, regular ATI and ATI OEM. I don't understand what the difference is B/C some of the regular ATI cards come in OEM/bulk/whitebox packages.

anyone care to explain?


I'm looking into buying a ATI RADEON 8500 LE 64MB DDR for $95 there too...any opinions?
I don't do much except play Jedi Outcast occasionally, but I like my 2D graphics to be smooth - i even consider my gf2 mx200 to be a pretty good card for regular usage.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

before ATI came out "built-by-ATI" and "powered-by-ATI" program,
there were
1. original ATI card in retail box
2. original ATI card in bulk pack (ATI don't make the card, they outsource to OEM, the bulk pack card looks exactly same as the retail card but with sometimes slower core, memory, we call this "ATI OEM")
3. 3rd party made card in bulk pack (we call this "ATI OEM" too)

now with the "built-by-ATI" and "powered-by-ATI" program,
there are
1. original ATI card in retail box
4. 3rd party made card in bulk pack (with "powered by ATI" word on the fan, you can call this "ATI OEM" or "powered by ATI" now)
5. 3rd party made card in their own retail box (you can also call this "ATI OEM" or "powered by ATI" now)

 

[duuuma]

wow...so confusing...

so should I get a ATI OEM powered by ATI R8500 or an ATI R8500 LE? I'd like to get the cheaper one, but I don't want to get shorted out of quality

 

[Kingofcomputer]

some 8500LE's DVI port doesn't support dvi to vga converter, if you want to get dual VGA, you should avoid this kind, like this one:
ATI RADEON 8500LE 64MB DDR CRT/DVI/TV ,Dual Monitor support DVIS+CRT only, BULKPowered by the revolutionary RADEON? 8500 world?s fastest and most advanced graphics processing unit (GPU)
Specifications:
Memory 64MB of double data rate memory
Resolutions: 640-480 to 2048x1536 at 85Hz
playback w/tv cable only - DVI to VGA Adapter will not work Model#: Radeon 8500LE 64M250 -OEM

You want this one:
ATI RADEON 8500 LE 64MB DDR - OEM/White Box Powered by the revolutionary RADEON? 8500 world?s fastest and most advanced graphics processing unit (GPU) Features ATI's TRUFORM. SMARTSHADER SMOOTHVISION?, and HYPER Z II technologies The only GPU to support DirectX® 8.1 Supports OpenGL® 1.3 features 64MB of (DDR) memory Dual monitor and Video output support Industry-leading DVD video playback w/tv cable only - 230/230Mhz, NO DVI to VGA Adaptor! Model#: RADEON 8500 LE -OEM

These are made by Sapphire:
ATI OEM RADEON 8500 LE 128MB DDR DVI/CRT/TV Features TRUFORM technology to make characters more life-like- High-resolution 32-bit 3D gaming up to 2048x1536- HYPER Z II technology conserves memory bandwidth for improved performance in demanding applications - SMOOTHVISION, ATI's most advanced anti-aliasing feature to date, eliminates distracting visual artifacts for smoother-looking images- AGP 2x Compliant BUS - AGP 2X/4X based systems Powered by ATI OEM,250MHz Model#: RADEON 8500 LE 128M -OEM

ATI OEM RADEON 8500 64MB DDR AGP BULK 275/275 ,POWER by ATI Powered by the revolutionary RADEON? 8500 world?s fastest and most advanced graphics processing unit (GPU)
Specifications:
Memory 64MB of double data rate memory
Resolutions: 640-480 to 2048x1536 at 85Hz
playback w/tv cable only - NO DVI to VGA Adaptor! Powered By ATI Model#: Radeon 8500 64 (275) -OEM


I'd prefer to original 8500 128MB retail from buy.com with free shipping + $15 off coupon or discover card 10% off.
http://www.buy.com/retail/computers/product.asp?sku=10320520&loc=1765

 

[hans007]

allright here it is.


there are 2 versions of built by ATI, white box units. There is the 64mb one without the second ramdac needed for dual analog monitors. it runs 250/275. there is a normal one with a working 2nd ramdac, so it can do dual analog, and its 250/250 or 230/230. (i've had a 250/250 white box with 2nd ramdac, so i know that exists)


there is also a retail 8500LE 128mb card, that doesnt have a dvi port at all. also runs 250/250.


there are full 8500 64mb and 128mb retail. they are 275/275. they dont make a 8500LE 64mb retail. so all 8500LE 64mb have DVI with the 250/275 not having the extra ramdac., some 128mb 8500LE white box have DVI, 8500LE 128mb retail box has no DVI,

 

[spanky]

get the ati radeon 8500le

 

[duuuma]

spanky007....which one? if you look on newegg, there're 3 that are designated radeon 8500LE

 

[SpHeRe31459]

Unless you need dual display, which as said above the 8500LE cards tend not to support, then get the genuine ATI OEM card which is the called "ATI RADEON 8500LE 64MB DDR CRT/DVI/TV ,Dual Monitor support DVIS+CRT only" model # Radeon 8500LE 64M250. This looks to be a real ATI made product not a 3rd party card, it is nearly full 8500 speed at 250/275 vs. 275/275 and all feedback at newegg says it can be clocked to 8500 non-LE specs.

If you need dual display then pickup the "ATI OEM RADEON 8500 64MB DDR AGP BULK 275/275 ,POWER by ATI " full 8500 card for $109, Model#: Radeon 8500 64 (275). But this one is made by Sapphire as Kingofcomputer pointed out. There should be nothing wrong with going with a 3rd party Radeon as we know this one really is a true 8500 not an LE mislabled as some OEM versions tend to be.

If you get the LE card make absolutely sure you are getting the right card, which should be clocked at 250/275 not the crappy 230/230 clocked card that costs nearly the same price at newegg.

 

[spanky]

Originally posted by: duuuma
spanky007....which one? if you look on newegg, there're 3 that are designated radeon 8500LE

the one that is $94

 

[duuuma]

I found a Retail FIC Radeon 8500LE 64mb at 250mhz that I will probably buy. I heard it's really made by ATI too. Thanks for the help!

One more thing...between a Abit GF4 MX440 retail and this FIC Radeon 8500 retail ...i should definitely get the Radeon right?

 

[spanky]

no doubt, radeon 8500.