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| Date Reviewed: 07/28/2002 |
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Strengths: Supports the pan and scan virtual desktop in Windows XP
Very fast and clear display
Weaknesses: So-so installation manual. Excessively large box (industry-wide problem)
Summary: My quest is over! I've delayed updating the Windows XP because I needed a video card that could give me the true virtual desktop (where the desktop is about 4 times larger than your monitor -- also called pan and scan) that greatly enhances productivity (you can open a desktop publishing document or word processing document full size and never resort to using scroll bars -- move your cursor and the screen moves). NVDIA-bsaed cards were hit or miss. But the Radeon 8500 and 7500 worked like a charm, even though ATI tech support said they did not support a virtual desktop in Windows XP, but did in Windows 98. Tech Support was wrong. These cards easily give you a virtual desktop in Windows XP, but do not in Windows 98SE. In fact, with two monitors you can have your virtual desktop on monitor #1 and extend your screen to monitor #2 (but no virtual desktop on #2) -- something tech support says is impossible to do. To get the virtual desktop on a single monitor, simply go into Desktop Properties, Settings, Advanced (for monitor #1), and select the Display tab. Uncheck use DDC whatever... and set the resoluation at 800 x 600. Work your way back to Settings and set the resolution of monitor #1 to, say, 1600 x 1200 -- click Okay and boom, you've got a virtual desktop. This is an undocumented feature, but it works and works well. Beyond that, this card works very nicely in Windows XP. In Windows 98SE, it works well on one monitor, but extending to a second monitor was a disaster.
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| Date Reviewed: 07/22/2002 |
- SONY
from NY
- Member Since:
Jul 2002
View Member's:
Reviews
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Strengths: One of THE BEST VGA's out there, Rodeon 128 MB! 275Mhz Core and 550Mhz memory!!,
Weaknesses: None
Summary: I have to tell you, for a VGA, I can only say. This great VGA is powered by ATI’s latest and most powerful RADEON™ 8500 GPU, capable of 128MB DDR memory. With this much memory, it provides you with lightning-fast 3D graphics. A few of the GREAT features are, TRUFORM technology: makes characters and objects more rounded and natural. HYPER Z II technology conserves memory bandwidth for improved performance in demanding applications. SMOOTHVISION, ATI’s most advanced anti-aliasing, eliminates distracting visuals for smoother looking images at high resolutions around 2048x1536 with no loss of performance. the SMARTSHADER technology takes advantage of DirectX 8.1 features to enable more better looking lighting effects. CHARISMA ENGINE II supports Transformation, Clipping and Lighting(texture and lighting) at high peak processing. In other words, this is one great VGA that is a good choice for those who don't want to spend a ton like you would if you were to buy the GeForce4 Ti series. A few benches are available on the web, an I found this one to be a good one. sharkyextreme.com/hard... Sorry that it isn't the 128 but, you will get the idea of how great this card is, seeing it is sooooo close to the Geforce3 Ti 500! Enjoy, and good luck with your decission. (by the way, this VGA ALSO OVERCLOCKS VERY WELL!)
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| Date Reviewed: 07/11/2002 |
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Strengths: To many to mention but #1. graphics have never looked this good or run this smooth.
Weaknesses: I'm sure if my electricity spikes heavy I'll find one but for now..NONE
Summary: I think I've owned or installed every name brand accellerator card there is, S3 savage2000-64, 3dfx VooDoo3-32,NVidia GF-3-64 etc. But None have performed anywhere near this well and weren't as easy to install drivers for and work right off the bat like this does. 1024 x 768 at 32-bit and not so much as a flicker could I get. SOF II Double Helix looks awesome. Even the vegetation on the colombia map looks real. And old games look better then ever. This is my first ATI card but It definatly won't be my last. and it is one card I will recommend whole heartedly to all my customers, I also build computers as a side line. The Nvidia Ti has yet to perform like this for me and the drivers leave alot to be desired. But thats just my opinion. Well Done ATI I Look forward to the next gen. card.
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| Date Reviewed: 06/29/2002 |
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Strengths: it flies
Weaknesses: havent found any yet
Summary: first let me tell you i've owned lots video cards and accelerator cards but nothing so far as the 128 8500. I have 5 machines some with 3dfx 1 with a geforce 2 but pride and joy is the PUNISHER with p4t533-c with 512 megs rambus also 15krpm cheetah from seagate now I know the cheetah may be a little exspensive for most people but I also used a 7200 rpm ide drive too ($120)also I have a dualboot config. but all games were played on win2k, medal of honor, quake III, serious sam, sub command, real war, silent hunter II, half life, unreal tourney, max payne, and so on this card has yet to skip a frame on me and let me tell you I have added as many bots as possible to quake III so there would be mass confusion and lots of work for the card,it never hesitated and I play for hours on end even on line no skipping frames causing you to be killed. I know nothing about the g4 except it's around 400 bucks but i can tell you this if you have a halfway decent rig dont blow 400 bucks when 129 will do the job trust me you will be pissed when in 6 months that card is 200 bucks or less and you wont be the king of the mountain any more. just make sure your rig is running right and you cant miss with this card.
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| Date Reviewed: 06/23/2002 |
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Strengths: Everything
Weaknesses: So powerful, you probably should have an AMD XP chip, and lots of RAM to open it up.
Summary: I've owned about 5 cards now: Banshee, Voodoo, ATI, and NVidia. My two best cards ended up being the NVidia GE Force 2, Pro, but this is a distant second to my 8500 by ATI. I was so impressed with the 8500 I had with 64 MB, I ended up replacing my NVidia for another, this time with 128 MBs. Both run exceptionally. I still get a slight bit of stutter in my high setting graphic games, except when for my computer having the Athlon XP 1700, and lots of RAM on the side. Its the perfect system. Buy the ATI because ATI makes their cards core speeds faster. Look for 275 MHZ, not the 250 MHZ. I understand other manufacturers are starting to make them faster too. In any case, you can't beat this price for the performance anywhere. I'm sold (twice).
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| Date Reviewed: 04/08/2002 |
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Strengths: 32 bit colors at 1024 and higher resolutions look great and have a high frame rate.
Weaknesses: none
Summary: I play 'shooter' type games (Operation Flashpoint, Serious Sam,Medal of Honor-Allied Assault), this card really lets me enjoy them more. I can run at high resolutions with all the "eye candy" turned on. The games all run smooth. I have even noticed that Civ III also looks better then before when I was using a competitors 32 meg card.
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