ATI - AIW Upgrade...what to buy??

[icjogger]

I am currently using an AIW 128 Pro (32mg memory). Am thinking of upgrading if the price is right. Am looking at the AIW 7500 or 8500 versions. I have seen the 7500 for around $125. But does the 8500 offer any better features that would make it a better deal??

Any thoughts....thanks!!

 

[S13SilviaK]

The 8500 is gonna have better graphics and the remote is RF so you can use it to control the computer from another room. I doubt the actual video package is all that different but try going to ATI they should still have both card on there and specs and features for both.

 

[rbV5]

If gaming performance is important, the 8500 offers quite a bit more, especially the 128 MB model. The 8500dv also has firewire if you are doing DV capture. All 3 (AIW 7500, 8500DV and AIW 8500 128) have the remote and other than DV capture, the same multimedia features. The DV model also uses a different breakout box (both video in/out on the same box) and a silcon tuner chip vs the analog phillips tuner of all the other models.

7500 = DX7 hardware support
8500 cards = DX8.1 hardware support

 

[hcarlson]

the only reason to get the 8500dv is for the firewire ports and digital tuner. People have seen marginal differences between analog and digital tuners. I own the 8500dv and my tuner gets very warm. So warm I am going to put a heatsink on it soon.

I'd say if you don't game at all and don't need firewire, go with the 7500.

 

[S13SilviaK]

Did the digital tuner take a performance hit over analog? I thought I read that somewhere, but I could be mistaken.

 

[icjogger]

Thanks for the help guys. I don't do a lot of gaming. Just like to record some TV shows. For my needs the 7500 is probably the best bang for the buck !!

 

[S13SilviaK]

Newegg also sells a PCI card called the tv2000xp or something along those lines, although not as easy to use as the AIW it does the same job for about $30 that might put you in a better position to upgrade your video card if you feel you need to.