Yes. I am not sure exactly how the 9000 compares with the 8500, and I think there might be multiple versions of the 9000 (for PCs at least), but the 8500 is still faster. The 9000 is at best just as fast as the 8500, but no better. Most versions are slower.
It's funny, the PC market is so much more cluttered. A friend of mine was telling me about it... he said there's a Radeon 8500, an 8500LE that is slightly slower, a rebadged 8500 called the 9100 which costs less, at least two versions of the 9000, as well as a couple versions of a 9500 and a couple versions of a 9700. He did tell me that almost all variants of the 9000 are slower than almost all variants of the 8500. So I definitely think you should get the 8500, especially if it's cheaper.
<strong>Yes. I am not sure exactly how the 9000 compares with the 8500, and I think there might be multiple versions of the 9000 (for PCs at least), but the 8500 is still faster. The 9000 is at best just as fast as the 8500, but no better. Most versions are slower.
It's funny, the PC market is so much more cluttered. A friend of mine was telling me about it... he said there's a Radeon 8500, an 8500LE that is slightly slower, a rebadged 8500 called the 9100 which costs less, at least two versions of the 9000, as well as a couple versions of a 9500 and a couple versions of a 9700. He did tell me that almost all variants of the 9000 are slower than almost all variants of the 8500. So I definitely think you should get the 8500, especially if it's cheaper.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Are you sure the 8500 is faster.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I was under the impression the 9000 has a higher core clock speed but the 8500 produces higher frame rates in games due to the number of pixel/vertex shaders and/or rendering pipelines. On balance I think the 8500, which was a high end card in its day, is still better than the newer mainstream 9000. The only thing that puts me off the 8500 retail version is the lack of a ADC, I think it's DVI and VGA.
I bought a 9000 about a week ago, and it is a good card. I can't compare it to an 8500, however there is an important thing to know about the 9000:
It has two outputs, one DVI, one ADC.
If you have an older G4 (like me: G4 450/AGP), the ADC port will not work. The ADC port on the 9000 requires an AGP slot with an extra socket to provide power to the LCD panel. Any Mac that shipped with an ADC card installed will be able to use both ports. Any mac that shipped prior to ADC being introduced will only be able to use the DVI port.
Still a nice card, but beware if you are planning to drive two monitors simultaneously (and have an older G4 tower)!
I don't know much about these cards, but I am also in the market for one of them. The one thing that I did notice is that the Radeon 9000 Pro has MUCH better refresh rates at higher resolution.
Comments
<strong>The 8500 is quite a bit faster. However, I think the 9000 is less expensive.</strong><hr></blockquote>
In all the quotes I see, the 9000 costs more.
Are you sure the 8500 is faster.
It's funny, the PC market is so much more cluttered. A friend of mine was telling me about it... he said there's a Radeon 8500, an 8500LE that is slightly slower, a rebadged 8500 called the 9100 which costs less, at least two versions of the 9000, as well as a couple versions of a 9500 and a couple versions of a 9700. He did tell me that almost all variants of the 9000 are slower than almost all variants of the 8500. So I definitely think you should get the 8500, especially if it's cheaper.
<strong>Yes. I am not sure exactly how the 9000 compares with the 8500, and I think there might be multiple versions of the 9000 (for PCs at least), but the 8500 is still faster. The 9000 is at best just as fast as the 8500, but no better. Most versions are slower.
It's funny, the PC market is so much more cluttered. A friend of mine was telling me about it... he said there's a Radeon 8500, an 8500LE that is slightly slower, a rebadged 8500 called the 9100 which costs less, at least two versions of the 9000, as well as a couple versions of a 9500 and a couple versions of a 9700. He did tell me that almost all variants of the 9000 are slower than almost all variants of the 8500. So I definitely think you should get the 8500, especially if it's cheaper.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Thanks so much. Will buy the 8500 right away!!!!
<strong>
In all the quotes I see, the 9000 costs more.
Are you sure the 8500 is faster.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I was under the impression the 9000 has a higher core clock speed but the 8500 produces higher frame rates in games due to the number of pixel/vertex shaders and/or rendering pipelines. On balance I think the 8500, which was a high end card in its day, is still better than the newer mainstream 9000. The only thing that puts me off the 8500 retail version is the lack of a ADC, I think it's DVI and VGA.
It has two outputs, one DVI, one ADC.
If you have an older G4 (like me: G4 450/AGP), the ADC port will not work. The ADC port on the 9000 requires an AGP slot with an extra socket to provide power to the LCD panel. Any Mac that shipped with an ADC card installed will be able to use both ports. Any mac that shipped prior to ADC being introduced will only be able to use the DVI port.
Still a nice card, but beware if you are planning to drive two monitors simultaneously (and have an older G4 tower)!
[ 02-13-2003: Message edited by: hot cha ]
[ 02-13-2003: Message edited by: hot cha ]</p>
It sounds like either card should work fine for you though.
Does anyone know why this is the case?