should I sell my gf3 ti200 and get a r8500 OEM?

[UncleWai]

should i sell the gf3 ti200 chaep on ebay and buy a radeon 8500oem?
i really hate the gf3 ti200's tvout.
any comment?

 

[jamesbond007]

What in particular don't you like about the Ti-200's video out?

Is this the sole reason for you wanting to upgrade?

 

[UncleWai]

yes...... the tv-out for my gf3 ti200 sucks major crap.
also, i want the capability of hydravision.
Right now with my gf3ti200, i can only use the monitor or the tv-out as display.
i agree the Gf3 ti200 is a great card for gaming though.....
so right now it's very conflicting for me....

 

[DKNG]

If your not really in need of the dual display right away. Keep the GF3 TI200 then upgrade
to a GF4 or R300 with dual when it comes out in february.

 

[Demonic]

<< the tv-out for my gf3 ti200 sucks major crap. >>



I just got one but don't have the connector. Could you give a little more detail then that?

 

[UncleWai]

the only way to get the screen working properly, you have to get a program called
tvtool. it flickers like crazy, and if i use tvtool to configure it, the picture becomes very strange (can't explain)
it just can't compare to the radeon TV-out.
also, being able to only see screen from one monitor will drive anyone crazy.

 

[Menacer]

It really depends on what you think you need (also on what operating system you're running).

If you're mainly a gamer, I wouldn't move from a Ti200 to an 8500OEM (retail, yes, OEM, no).. at least not yet.

As for the TV Out on the 8500, it's good, that's for sure.. but you're going to have to buy your own cables. OEM doesn't include S-video, I don't believe, and it's what you'll probably want to be using (but hey, S-Video and composite cables are both cheap).

If you're using Windows 2000, think twice before using the 8500 for dual monitors. 2000 has problems with running two monitors on one card (Problems that were SUPPOSED to be fixed in a service pack. Instead, they're now "feature fixes" in XP) Matrox gets around these by tricking 2k into thinking there's two cards.. ATi doesn't. As such, the only way you can run two monitors is either stretched down or right (as in, main monitor on top, or main monitor on right. Me, I like to run mine main on the right and left monitor as an "extra" for storing things that I need but don't want in my way) XP runs it beautifully, but 2k has problems.

If you don't like the Ti200's TV-Out, by all means switch to a Radeon. The output on the 8500 is VERY nice, but still kinda buggy (my friend has trouble switching from TV-Out back to his dual monitor setup in XP..)

If you mainly want to work with TV-Out, feel free to switch.. but remember, you will be dealing with ATi products.. whatever that means for you.

 

[UncleWai]

exactly my dilemma...... i had a radeon le and the tv-out was ultra sweet.
and yes, i am using win2k (since xp sucked so bad).
in your case, so you can't do a full screen mpeg player on the tv and go to internet on the monitor simultaneously?
I actually want the tv-out to play old console emulator, i missed the good old NES action.

 

[Menacer]

If you mean, can I run one monitor as my main monitor, and the TV be its own full screen monitor.. I'm not entirely sure. When my friend did it, he had to set the TV as primary (so the overlay controls for the DVD player would work.. the overlay only appears on the primary monitor) and his monitor as a mirror.

I'll be over at his house on Sunday, and I'll see what I can find out.

Either that or, hey, I'll post a reply in a few minutes.. I'm going to try to run my TV-Out into my TV Wonder card (recursion! ) and try out some settings.. brb.

 

[Menacer]

Okay, here's the skinny:

Yes, it's quite possible to set your TV as your secondary monitor, run a DVD or game or anything else on it, and keep your primary monitor as your normal computer thing. At least in Windows XP.. I really have no idea about Windows 2000.. that WILL have to wait till Sunday because my friend is dual booting XP and 2K..

However, if you're running two monitors, when you switch on your TV-Out, your secondary monitor WILL shut off. There can only be two "Monitors" on at once..

When you switch off your TV-Out and go back to your dual-monitor setup, your secondary monitor is going to be screwed up (way too read, and it's going to have very visible lines going through it.. It's hardware because a screencap won't capture them) and you're going to have to restart to get it back to normal.

If you normally run one monitor and will just be using the 8500 for TV-Out, you should have absolutely no problems at all.

At least in XP.. I don't know about 2000 or 98..

 

[UncleWai]

thanks a lot, that clears a lot of the confusion.
I guess radeon 8500 is my choice.
now i have to sell my gf3ti200.
then try to scour a r8500@250

 

[RobsTV]

You make a great reason why you should NOT get a card with TV out,
and instead make a one time investment in a scan convertor.

You want to use your monitor and TV at same time?
With any built-in TV-out, you have a lot of limitations.
With an external scan convertor, you do not.
How does gaming at 1600x1200@100hz on your monitor and TV at same time sound?
You CAN do that with a scan convertor priced at about $100.
No software, IRQ's, slots, or resourses used. True plug in and play.
Think of the savings you'll have in the future, as new cards will not need TV-out.
Also, you get the best TV out possible when getting a good scan convertor.
It is not an afterthought or an addon, but instead is the whole purpose of why it exists.
To display your PC on a TV.
They include so many more features and options that ATI even drools.

BTW, all of my video cards have TV out, and TV's are what I do for a living.
Scan convertor I use is Focus TView Gold, priced around $100, but all work well.
(I may sound like a salesmen of these, but am not. Just another who has fought
with video cards TV-out for years, and when I finally found this, WOW, all problems
solved).

 

[UncleWai]

thanks, it looks like a very useful tool.
is that the PCI card one you are talking about or the hardware?