Radeon 8500 = good stuff???

[JackBurton]

Hey, has ATI taken care of the 3D refresh rate issue on 2000/XP? Does it still drop to 60Hz when playing games? If they haven't, is there third party software to fix it?

When I had a Radeon 8500, the only good fix was to manually go into the registry and fix the refresh rate at whatever you wanted. The only problem with that is it wasn't resolution specific. For instance, if you set it to 85Hz, it would be 85Hz from 640x480 to 1600x1200. The problem with this is that if your monitor can't take 1600x1200 @ 85Hz, that setting will force it to, which is bad.

I'm looking for something like "refresh rate fix" for nVidia cards for the 8500. Is there anything like it? Something easy to use that will fix refresh rates when playing games. If so, I might try an 8500 again. 🙂

 

[zsouthboy]

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Hey, has ATI taken care of the 3D refresh rate issue on 2000/XP? Does it still drop to 60Hz when playing games? If they haven't, is there third party software to fix it?

When I had a Radeon 8500, the only good fix was to manually go into the registry and fix the refresh rate at whatever you wanted. The only problem with that is it wasn't resolution specific. For instance, if you set it to 85Hz, it would be 85Hz from 640x480 to 1600x1200. The problem with this is that if your monitor can't take 1600x1200 @ 85Hz, that setting will force it to, which is bad.

I'm looking for something like "refresh rate fix" for nVidia cards for the 8500. Is there anything like it? Something easy to use that will fix refresh rates when playing games. If so, I might try an 8500 again. 🙂

Donwload the Omega Drivers(if their website is back up).... you can install a version that makes your minimum refresh 85 hertz when you use one of the tools that come with the drivers....

zs

 

[JackBurton]

Yes, I can do that through the registry. What I would like to do is set the refresh rate for each resolution. For instance, 85Hz for 1024 - 1280 but 75Hz for 1600x1200. Is there anything that will do that?

 

[Darien]

ATI RADEON 8500 64MB DDR AGP Retail Box for 153.00
ATI RADEON 8500LE 128MB DDR AGP Retail Box for 165.00

which is better? the 64mb 8500 or the 128mb 8500LE????

and, do LEs offer DVI?

 

[elkinm]

Radeonator can set a minimum refresh rate for every resolution, so you can set it to the max your monitor can handle at any resolution.

Also, anybody know which Best Buys carry the 64MB 8500 for $75. This would make an amazing deal if I could get it.

Thanks

 

[BFG10K]

Hey, has ATI taken care of the 3D refresh rate issue on 2000/XP? Does it still drop to 60Hz when playing games?

That problem has nothing to do with ATi but rather with the rules Microsoft sets for drivers running on Windows 2000/XP.

To fix it use a utility like the ATi refresh rate fix.

 

[zsouthboy]

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Yes, I can do that through the registry. What I would like to do is set the refresh rate for each resolution. For instance, 85Hz for 1024 - 1280 but 75Hz for 1600x1200. Is there anything that will do that?

Yeah, the ATI refresh fixer utility is installed with the drivers, if you want, PM me and I'll zip it and send it to you.... it allows you to change the refresh rate for every resolution, and up to the refresh rate that your particular monitor supports for each resolution...

zs

 

[Jolt2]

I picked up the retail 8500 from Best Buy for $76.50 last Friday. I found out that only two of the Best Buy stores in my area were selling the 8500 for that price. The stores are St. Cloud and Roseville, Minnesota Best Buy stores. All other Best Buy stores were more money and the price varied from store to store (low price $76.50 to $149.50). This is within a 50 mile radius. So Best Buy has no corparate price on thier close out items and this is a close out item for Best Buy. Best Buy now only has the 8500 128mb cards.

I believe I got the last one in the area as it had to sent in from another store. On the inventory screen at Best Buy, when I ordered the card, it was the only one left out of something like ten stores in the area. When I picked it up, it was a sealed box but was an open item. Everything was there and for $76.50 I think it was a good buy. Another thing is Best Buy does not price match other Best Buy stores and it was up to the manager to give it to me at that price after I told him to ship it to Roseville and I would go there and pick it up if he did not want to sell it to me for that price.