should i just get an 8500LE?

[EdipisReks]

i've been waiting for a the 9500 Pro to come out, but i'm starting to think that i don't really want to spend $200. i've still been looking at the 8500LE 128 Mb that can be bought for less than $100 shipped from Newegg (i would spend the difference between the 8500LE and the 9500 Pro on a pair of Grado headphones). i'm not looking for super high framerates or FSAA. is the 8500LE still sufficient for new games? is UT2K3 pretty decent on it? thanks.

 

[kylebisme]

yep, best choice around at under 100$.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: EdipisReks
i've been waiting for a the 9500 Pro to come out, but i'm starting to think that i don't really want to spend $200. i've still been looking at the 8500LE 128 Mb that can be bought for less than $100 shipped from Newegg (i would spend the difference between the 8500LE and the 9500 Pro on a pair of Grado headphones). i'm not looking for super high framerates or FSAA. is the 8500LE still sufficient for new games? is UT2K3 pretty decent on it? thanks.

Depends on what you expect. UT2k3 seems to run nice and smooth on my 8500LE(250/200), but I haven't been playing it too much, so there might be some performance issues here and there.

 

[Topshelf]

Hey man, just so you know, the 8500LE 128MB from Newegg is made by Saphire. It only runs at 240/200. For the same money you can get the 8500LE 64MB that runs at 275/275 and get way better performance. I did alot of research before I bought mine 2 weeks ago, and the extra 64MB with the MUCH lower core/memory speeds are not even close in performace. Get the 64MB version that runs at 275/275 and enjoy the hell out of that card. It's a great card that will run UT2K3 with no problems.

 

[EdipisReks]

the specifications of that card at Newegg says that the Ram is running at 250, and that is what the Sapphiretech web sites says too. i will contact Newegg to make sure, however.

 

[Topshelf]

If you click on the Chipset Info, it says 250/230. Trust me, I just returned one, it runs at 250/200. For $92 you can get this one Model#: Radeon 8500 64 (275) when you click on that one, it says 275/275 and trust me, that what it's running at. I am using it right now. Check it out, but I went through this myself over the last 2 weeks.

 

[tapir]

8500 series are great cards but do make sure you get the ones with the higher clock, not the 128MB versions.. the extra memory makes nil difference in games like Ut2003. In a lot of 64 v 128mb tests on different cards (8500, ti 4200 etc) the 64mb versions actually win in benchmarks.

 

[merlocka]

Originally posted by: Topshelf
If you click on the Chipset Info, it says 250/230. Trust me, I just returned one, it runs at 250/200. For $92 you can get this one Model#: Radeon 8500 64 (275) when you click on that one, it says 275/275 and trust me, that what it's running at. I am using it right now. Check it out, but I went through this myself over the last 2 weeks.

I just ordered a 128MB LE refurbed for $70... wouldn't it be funny if I got the one you returned

Hey, not a bad idea... let's all order a ton of R9700's, return them, and then order them back again for less $$$ when they hit the refurbs

 

[Topshelf]

LOL, that would be funny if you got mine. Hey, I was bored before I returned mine, so I stuck a fork through it. So let me know if yours has 4 holes in it.

And let me know when you return the 9700 so I can get a good deal on it. Hmmm, can you make it the AIW version too?