looking to upgrade videocard. Would like opinions on

[Grail]

Ati Radeon 7500 OEM ($268 Cdn) and Hercules 4500 Retail ($149). I can get both from work(a fair bit cheaper mind you. I like having connections) and am having a hard time deciding which to get. I do not really like spending over 200 bucks on a video card right now, but if it is really worth it, I will go for the more expensive card.
My system specs are below and I don't believe my system can handle Gefart cards(I have one of the older BX boards that don't properly support them. Plus, I hate the display quality of them).

P.S. I currently play CS, Max Payne, Deus Ex, Quake 3, and watch a lot of DVDs and VCDs. I am currently running a final copy of WinXP. Willing to go back down to Win2k tho...

[Grail]

I nearly forgot,

The resolutions I run windows in is normally 1152x864(sometimes 1280x1024 and occasionally 1024x768). Should I take my chances and go 7500 or play it safe and go 4500 and wait until the big M comes out with something good? Anyone know how good Hercules/Ati drivers are in WinXP? Win2K for that matter?

[Kosh Naranek]

Well .... i'm going fot the 8500 ... no doubt about that !

I would go for he 7500, if I were you.

Sadly I don't think big M will come out with anything this year !

[rugger]

Hercules for my vote

I would go with the Hercules, simply because it has better win2000 support.

Also, you might be able to use a geforce 2 card in your computer. (either a MX or a GTS), because the geforce 2 uses less power than the Geforce 1 and 3. (I have had the problem with my geforce 1, with my old LX board)

[Grail]

I just looked at my toy budget and

the 7500 isn't an option for me. I might as well add the Hercules 3D Prophet II MX-400($109) as an alternative. Keep in mind I like my MAX, but I am having too many problems with it right now and for some reason, I haven't been able to get it working right after 2 1/2 years of faithful service. I am also tired of only 800x600 in most modern games... I like a minimum of 1024x768 with all the goodies turned on.
Keep in mind I have an SMP machine and have only 2x 550. I don't think the Kryo2 has good multi-threaded support in active mode... Which would be better for me now? MX or K2?

[dsp]

Grail,

I faced a similar situation as you recently, with almost the exact same cards. The only reason I choose the Prophet II was because Future Shop gave me a longer warrenty, it had TV-OUT, and it was $70. I would have gone for the 4500 if the MX had been either a higher price and/or it didn't have the warrenty.

From what I've seen the 4500 is alot better, in fact its closer to the GeForce 2 than the MX (and has better Win2k drivers)

Just my opinion

dsp

[Bohrn]

Hello Grail, great to see another west coaster,now we have 3 I think

I am waiting for the 8500 if I can afford it and the 7500 if I cant. Soon tho And I have had a couple of Gfart cards in my system, worked fine, cept for the quality and had some dual head issues even tho I only have one monitor LOL! And I have a BX board too


good luck in choosing