Radeon VE advice?

[Krugger]

I'm building a kinda cheap system, duron 950, K7s5a, SB Live mp3+, and i need an AGP vid card. I'm on an .edu, so i watch lotsa video files. I want my card to have very good tv out, since my monitor is 15, 13.8 viewable, where as my TV is 27. So i thought this might be the card for me. Money is very much an issue, and i can get a slightly used retail set for under $50. I rarely play games these days, the occasional Q3A, AOEII, Icewind Dale. But i'm used to a Voodoo 3 3000 PCI, so i'm not expecting superb gameplay. Would the VE give me about the same gaming quality while delivering the tv out that i need, all for under 50 bucks? Or is there a better solution? I've read all the reviews, and i know the specs of the VE, and i know in the comparison with the GeForce 2 MX, the VE falls way behind, but again, i just spent $200, and i need to find a cheap solution. Maybe in the future i can find a good deal on an upgrade, but for now, i need something to complete this system.
Thanks for the help,
-----Krugger

 

[brianp34]

I used a 64meg ddr VE for awhile, and other than the driver problems I had I was pleased with it. I replaced an original geforce 256 32 meg, and the gameplay was atleast as good and in some cases better; it played ut and cs a bit better than the gf, maybe it was just the improved image quality. For good tv out, 2D, and DVD I would definately recommend it for the price. For those things, don't let anybody talk you into a geforce mx, all the ones I've had experience with have sub par 2d and pretty crappy tv out. The VE is dual head too, so you can drive your monitor and tv at the same time.

brian

 

[Krugger]

no one else has this card? just got my case in and i'm about to start buildin
-----Krugger

 

[Supradude]

i've had pretty much the same experience as described above... i think the VE is a much better choice than the G2MX's and the quality shows. 2d definitely much crisper with the radeon and gameplay is just as good if not better than the 2 MX's i've tried before (Guiellmot and Elsa), and the dual head is a definite plus, works very well and gives decent clarity at TV resolutions. hope this lil tidbit helps you on your way

 

[Krugger]

overall, with a slightly higher value places on tv-out, is the ati 32 mb ddr for 45 better or the VE 32 mb ddr for 49? i do a bit of gaming, only occaisionally and remember i currently use a voodoo 3000 so im not spoiled.
thanks for ANY advice. thanks,
-----Krugger

 

[adlep]

Look at my post
My vote for Radeon DDR not VE....

 

[Superwormy]

I found the Radeon VE drivers to be absolutely horrible, but aside from horendous drivers, teh card seemed pretty nice, really good TV-out.

Can't speak for the drivers now, but like the first 5 revisions sucked royally.