ATI All-in-Wonder Radeon 8500 Review

[Jimstep]

I like this card. There is a lot of feature and function for a pretty reasonable price. The only thing that concerns me is having all these functions in one card. If I want to up grade to the latest gaming card in a year, then my choice becomes a little tougher.

[Cobus]

Your correct, but thats the think you have to deal with when you buy a all-in one type of card, but I prefer it to having 6 or seven different pci card just so taht I can have everythingf and be upgradeble.

[rraehal]

I agree with Cobus. Seperate cards for each function. With IRQ steering abilities it works better. As the article implies a single function video card is still better than the multiple ability cards.:)

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Yeah and if your video card goes bust then you loose the tv in and everything else on that all in one deal. No I rate them with those scanner/printer/fax combo machines! To many things lost if one part of the unit dies.:(

[J.A.D]

I see your point about different cards for differnet function, but you do have a limited number of slots? I don't want the inside of my computer to start lookig like a many tentacled (carded?) horror....

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Yes but in this case with the ATI vs. others you only need to add the Tv card in most systems, thats if the card has tv out and most do. Tv cards are only $30 or so. I jsut dont use the whole all-in-one as a basis on my buying choice.:)