Upgrading with older/discontinued graphics card (Radeon 8500)

[supdog]

Compaq Presario 5WV270
320mb RAM
750 mhz AMD Duron
VIA mb (I think... how do you find out exact make/model if you did not build comp yourself?)
20gig HD
Current graphics card: 8MB nVidia TNT 2 AGP
Yeah I know it sucks stop laughing.

I posted a few days ago with problems installing a GF FX 5200 128mb card in my Compaq 5WV270. I am starting to think that the issue is some mysterious compatibility problem, although I seem to meet the system requirements. I am willing to try another "budget" product and I was looking at the 128mb ATI Radeon 8500. Most of the consumer reviews said the card was good performance wise, although I am not sure how dated the reviews are. I will want to play games such as GTA Vice City and Call of Duty, but I would be willing sacrifice ultra-high graphics settings for performance and compatibility. My major question is, will the card's performance be adaquate for the games that I mentioned and similar, and will this card work in my elderly system?

Thanks,
MG

P.S.
Performance vs. price wise, would I be better off with the LE version or the regular version?

 

[paparazi]

supdog
Well this might come as a bit of a suprise but the ATI8500 is probably 50% faster than the much newer FX5200.
You are comparing what was ATI's "TOP DOG" a couple of years ago admitadley with the newer but "ENTRY LEVEL" FX card.
You are forgiven for making these assumptions, many do, but older cards can be had a bargain prices because users are just on that new technology bandwagon and carried away with the big business advertising machine.
Putting technicalities aside (directX9 compliance etc) there are many anomolies like this, eg:
Geforce4 4200Ti is faster than both the Radeon 9600 and it's replacement the FX5600.
And the even older Geforce3 Ti500 is a much quicker card than the FX5200, or 9200 Radeon.
Just try and make sure the Radeon 8500 isn't the cut down SE version.
Martin


Replying helps further our knowledge, without comment leaves us wondering.

 

[marcdoyle]

i'm just wondering if your AGP slot is 1x/2x only because those new cards (i think) need a minimum of AGP 4x to work. If that's the case, try and get hold of a Geforce 3 Ti 500 on ebay as this card can still play all new games with high details setting and high resolution as long as your PC can and runs on 2x AGP.

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There are 10 kinds of people in the world; those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

[norty303]

I've got a Sapphire 9100 vivo which is a rebadged 8500 and I've been playing Halo and Freelancer loads recently with full effects and it's been fine bar a little slow down in very busy sections but nothing i can't live with. The performance gain for spending another £100 just isn't worth it in my opinion.