Should i get an ATi AIW-7500?

[Lithium381]

I'm wondering how much of an upgrade boost i'd get from having this card, and what features it has. I've looked around a bit, and i'm still a bit confused on the VIVO features, i think it has composite in/out and then svhs out, but i can't be sure, someone set me straight on what it has in that arena. Also, how are it's gaming skillz? I looked at THG and they seem to hold their own quite well....would i see a big improvement over my current card? - an Ati Rage Fury Pro(32mb VIVO) based on the Rage 128 chipset. Any advice/info is appreciated. Thanks

 

[Lithium381]

Please advise me here, or at least set my facts strait

 

[rbV5]

Gaming performance is about GF2 ULTRA performance (about 5400 3dMark 2001SE on my rig with the latest drivers)

The "VI" has a breakout box with s-video and composite audio and video connections, and a coax connector for the tuner.
The "VO" has a multi-gang adapter with audio (mini plug), digital audio, s-video and composite video outputs.

would i see a big improvement over my current card?

Oh my yes....big improvement.

 

[Mavrick007]

It really depends on what you want to do with your video card. You are generally paying a premium with the "AIW" cards and then when you are done with it in your next upgrade it will be useless to you(at least in that machine). Do you use the tuner? Do you use VIVO? Do you use TV-out mainly?

You can get an even better card for less money but maybe less features and it will last you longer in terms of game performance. It just depends on what is more important to you. I personally would get a good capture card and a good video card if they are both important or go with one of the new vivo cards and hook up a vcr or something for the tuner. You can get a Radeon 8500 with tv-out and a capture card if you wanted or one of the new GF4 cards like the Ti4200/4400 with VIVO and it will have better 3d acceleration as well.

 

[PCHPlayer]

I own a AIW 7500. It is a very good video card. It has both S-video and composite video in/out along with audio in for video capture. I have done video capture from a camcorder, Tivo-like stuff with the TV tuner and TV out of videos. All of these work well. As far as gaming is concerned I played RTCW with full detail at 1024x768 and get anywhere from 60 to 100 fps.
I highly recommend this card with two exceptions:
1. If you like to replace your video card often then the tuner/capture capabilties are extra baggage to replace all the time. A separate capture/tuner card would be better.
2. If you always play the most recent games. I refuse to pay any more than $20 for a game, so I am always a year behind (except when I get free games from my friend at Activision ). I think some of the newer games due out this year will definitely put a strain on this card.

 

[Lithium381]

1. If you like to replace your video card often then the tuner/capture capabilties are extra baggage to replace all the time. A separate capture/tuner card would be better.
2. If you always play the most recent games. I refuse to pay any more than $20 for a game, so I am always a year behind (except when I get free games from my friend at Activision ). I think some of the newer games due out this year will definitely put a strain on this card.

Well, this is the first time i will have ever replaced the video card. The system has been upgraded, and i've been using my old video card for around two years now, i dont' upgrade that often. Yeah, i don't play the latest games either, so i don't need THAT great of preformance, but it'll be an upgrade to my current card, with the VIVO options. I use them off and on, it's very convenient. Okay, thanks for your input, this sounds like a very solid card

I'll probably have it for another two years, i don't upgrade that often...