Radeon 8500 series

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Just curious, have you tried flashing the card's BIOS (i know ati doesn't "allow" it for warranty purposes)?

Are you out of warranty? The card is barely 3 years old . . . . have you had it that long? . .. .if so, i'd RMA it before i tried anything else.

No I never tried messing around with the BIOS at all. It's still under warranty I believe since I got it in December of 2002. If I RMA it, will they send me 8500 in return or give me the option to upgrade to a newer card?

I am gonna try it in my friend's computer this weekend to see if his gives me problems as well.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

Originally posted by: apoppin

Just curious, have you tried flashing the card's BIOS (i know ati doesn't "allow" it for warranty purposes)?

Are you out of warranty? The card is barely 3 years old . . . . have you had it that long? . .. .if so, i'd RMA it before i tried anything else.

No I never tried messing around with the BIOS at all. It's still under warranty I believe since I got it in December of 2002. If I RMA it, will they send me 8500 in return or give me the option to upgrade to a newer card?

I am gonna try it in my friend's computer this weekend to see if his gives me problems as well.

i guess we are online at different times.


ATI will send you a new or refurbished 8500 if you RMA. No upgrade option (their "trade-up" program is suck).

HOWEVER, it is worth ~$40-50 to you if you sell it on FS/T forum (i got $45 for mine two months back - a nice downpayment on a modern card).
:thumbsup:

And it will give you a chance to see what a decent-running 8500 is like. IF it also has problems in your friend's comp - it IS the 8500's HW problem.

Expect a ten day turn-around time (since it goes across international borders) - you send it to ATI's NY address and it only costs you shipping (there). Hopefully you have another PCI or stand-in videocard to tide-you-over while you wait.

I certainly wouldn't fool with flashing IF i was going to RMA . . . . but, "just in case":
Video BIOS Flashing Guide!

Good Luck!

 

[ScrewFace]

I bought a Made by ATI 128MB Radeon 8500 (275/275). When I got it I went 'WoW' when I compared it to my previous card, a 64MB Radeon 7500. I was finally able to play GLQuake, Quake2 and Quake3-Arena at 1600x1200 and RTCW at 1280x1024 smooth as butter. I sold it to a bud and got a GeForce4-Ti4400 128MB AGP 4x but I still like the Radeon 8500 better (better image quality).

 

[Brian48]

Well, I just bought my fourth 128mb R8500 (275/275) this week. Got it brand new off eBay at a fairly decent price. It's going be used in new PC I'm piecing together. It's going to be used for watching movies and moderate gaming. I really like this card.

 

[rogue1979]

I still have a 128MB @ 300/300 kicking around in one of my back up rigs. Omega CAT 3.10's, it still makes a fine Unreal 2003 online gaming machine.

 

[jrphoenix]

I used an 8500 for years and loved it (see my post earlier).... I am now using it again in my primary rig. I stepped up my 6800 GT to a 6800 Ultra and am waiting for EVGA to mail the card! Ughh.... My love for my old 8500 has turned to pain (stepping back 2 generations). My older games still run great but, I now have to take a break from Doom 3 / Rome Total War / Far Cry

 

[alm4rr]

Originally posted by: fanboi
Anybody still using these? I gave my old 8500LE 128MB to my friend

Yup, still using my LE @ 250/250 !
This is my 2nd graphix card in eight years

The one b4 this one was Matrox 4meg PCI card (but that sucker ran CS !)
I figure I have a year or 2 left on this card

 

[Tiamat]

Yup! Have an OEM Radeon 8500 64MB. Replacing it today with a 9800Pro 256MB from microcenter. Oddly enough, its 30$ cheaper than the 128MB version so my choice is clear. 230$ and its 256bit. It has the "L" shaped heat-sink.