Best Video Card - Under $200.00
Hey everyone!
Well, with 10.2 coming out and everything...I figure it's about time to upgrade my video card. I have a Power Mac G4 400MHz. It has the stock AGP 2X Rage 128 Pro. Obviously, this thing just won't cut it with Quartz Extreme.
I was wondering if anyone had an opinion as to what video card would be the "best buy", so to speak, for the money.
I've checked out the new Radeon 8500, and the GeForce4. To put it simply, however, I just can't afford those.
A few of the other options I've checked out are the Radeon 7500, the GeForce3, and the GeForce2. However, I can't find any of those for sale anywhere for the Mac. So I guess my second question would be, "Where is the best place to purchase a video card for Macs.
Killer, thanks ahead of time for any help!
Well, with 10.2 coming out and everything...I figure it's about time to upgrade my video card. I have a Power Mac G4 400MHz. It has the stock AGP 2X Rage 128 Pro. Obviously, this thing just won't cut it with Quartz Extreme.
I was wondering if anyone had an opinion as to what video card would be the "best buy", so to speak, for the money.
I've checked out the new Radeon 8500, and the GeForce4. To put it simply, however, I just can't afford those.
A few of the other options I've checked out are the Radeon 7500, the GeForce3, and the GeForce2. However, I can't find any of those for sale anywhere for the Mac. So I guess my second question would be, "Where is the best place to purchase a video card for Macs.
Killer, thanks ahead of time for any help!
Comments
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You can just get the Radeon 9000 Pro Mac Edition for $150.
Oh yeah, and where can I get one?
[ 08-05-2002: Message edited by: SurfRat ]</p>
There is a slight architechtural difference that results in them being slower than the 8500 in a few certain areas but by and large they are an excellent card at an affordable price.
Now, is there a specific date this things are gonna be in stores? Or is it just, "Sometime soon."
Thanks for all your responses, this Radeon 9000 seems like a great card. I can't believe the price either!
<a href="http://www.pricewatch.com/"; target="_blank">best place to look up hardware prices</a> (don't be fooled by the first couple of ones that say $38, they are just some glasses thing that is compatible with the Ti4600 ... some companies put things in the wrong places so that people will see them. I hate that.) ... btw, pricewatch is only a site that lists prices. You have to decide for yourself if the company is legit. It isn't like bizrate.
Or a trade-up program for an ADC card <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
<strong>You can get a GeForce4 Ti4400 for about $200.
<a href="http://www.pricewatch.com/"; target="_blank">best place to look up hardware prices</a> (don't be fooled by the first couple of ones that say $38, they are just some glasses thing that is compatible with the Ti4600 ... some companies put things in the wrong places so that people will see them. I hate that.) ... btw, pricewatch is only a site that lists prices. You have to decide for yourself if the company is legit. It isn't like bizrate.</strong><hr></blockquote>
That is an interesting site, are any of those cards Mac compatible? Prices seem preet good if they are...There was a GeForce3 Ti 500 for $100! Highly doubtful that's a Mac card though.
<strong>Awesome!
Now, is there a specific date this things are gonna be in stores? Or is it just, "Sometime soon."
Thanks for all your responses, this Radeon 9000 seems like a great card. I can't believe the price either!
Late August is all that is being said. ATI has repeatedly mentioned this card at least is running to schedule so just be patient.
<strong>
Late August is all that is being said. ATI has repeatedly mentioned this card at least is running to schedule so just be patient.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Sweet! Thanks a bunch. This thing is gonna make my Power Mac rip! I can't wait.
I recently got a Radeon 8500LE 64MB DDR (Which easily overclocks to 300/300) for $87 off newegg. You will have to flash it to work in a Mac though.
<strong>Stryper? Are you for real man? "Yellow and black attack!"</strong><hr></blockquote>
<img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" /> To Hell with the Devil. <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
<strong>The Radeon 9000, and 9000 Pro are not as good as a Radeon 8500.
I recently got a Radeon 8500LE 64MB DDR (Which easily overclocks to 300/300) for $87 off newegg. You will have to flash it to work in a Mac though.</strong><hr></blockquote>Not everybody wants to go down the route of flashing and overclocking video cards.
The Radeon 9000 is also not as expensive as the 8500. At least in the mac market.
Thanks again everyone!
<a href="http://www.computers4sure.com/Product.ASP?ProductID=472703&Affid=6637&adid=6637"; target="_blank">Radeon 8500 Mac Edition @ Computers4SURE</a>
I was pretty set on that Radeon 9000, can someone please tell me the exact differences (Good & Bad) between the two video cards? Thanks a bunch!
I just got skimming through an article at Tom's Hardware with benchmarks... and for the most part the 8500 and 9000 Pro scored similar fps in their various game tests. Though it's a PC hardware site, the article should give you some good ideas on how it performs compared to other mainstream cards. Based on the review, I'd probably say the 8500 is a faster card (though not by much), and perhaps with more refined drivers the 9000 Pro would have just about equal performance. If you want the card now, go ahead and get the 8500 (Computers 4 Sure is a pretty big internet seller), or wait a couple weeks and pick up the 9000 Pro.
The review is here:
<a href="http://www17.tomshardware.com/graphic/02q3/0207181/index.html"; target="_blank">Tom's Hardware - Radeon 9000 Series</a>