Help me with an upgrade...

[Kurylo]

I'm replacing my GF2MX400 64MB SDR with a new card. Here are 2 choices:

1) ATI Radeon 7500 64 SDR + TV-OUT = $68
2) ATI Radeon 7500 64 DDR + TV0OUT = $89

Which card do you recommend? Is a DDR RAM worth additional $20?

[Jimstep]

That looks like a lateral move to me. But I don't have actual experience on either card.

[Kurylo]

It's a pity...

[NDD]

Yes. DDR will be almost twice faster. And you can really feel it.
As for performance, I had GF2Pro o/ced to GF2Ti lelels, which is about the performance of Radeon 7500 DDR ... could push almost any game @1024x768x32 bit smooth enought ... and Radeon 7500 should be even better in 32bit color.
But as I said here (http://www.sysopt.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=627839#post627839) - wait :)

[deadkenny]

I believe the 7500 comes only with DDR. The 7200 is the model with 64MB of SDR. The 7500 should be a significant upgrade from the GeForce2MX, but the 7200 would not.

[Kurylo]

Thank you, ND and deadkenny for explanation, but I think that I will buy an ATI Radeon 7500 64MB DDR, without waiting for GF3 series to become cheaper.
Why?
1. I need a 2D quality NOW, and that is the main factor;
2. I don't think I will need a GPU based on GF3 series, because:
a) I have a P3@1.0GHz, which, I think, will be a bottlenech for such GPU - the only vote for GF3 is more 3D-effects, but not speed;
b) I think that there will not be any game slowing down in 1024x768x32 - the main resolution I play at currently.
Anyways, thank you for explanation. It was very helpful. :)

[NDD]

I think that there will not be any game slowing down in 1024x768x32 - the main resolution I play at currently.
Funny, coz that what I was thinking back in the days when I had GeForce2 Pro paired with my 1GHz T-Bird ...
I have GeForce3 Ti200 now and still not all games smooth @1024x768x32 :(
Besides, getting a DX7 card today, when DX8 became a standard (except the GF4MX mutation :( ) is kinda waste of money, IMHO ...

[Kurylo]

But Radeon 7500 is a DX8 card!!!

Here are the features:
Powered by the RADEON™ 7500 graphics processing unit (GPU)
High performance 3D graphics featuring ATI’s CHARISMA ENGINE™, PIXEL TAPESTRY™ and HYPER Z™ technologies
RADEON™ 7500 display engine enables many combinations of CRT (VGA), digital flat panel (DVI), and TV displays.
Hydravision™ Multiple Monitor Management Software provides a flexible, user-friendly interface for multiple display settings
Supports DirectX 8.0® and OpenGL®
Features DVI interface with integrated 165MHz TMDS transmitter for resolutions up to 1600 x 1200
Industry-leading DVD video playback
Supports 3D resolutions (32-bit color) up to 2048x1536
AGP universal bus (for AGP 2X/4X systems).

[NDD]

But Radeon 7500 is a DX8 card!!!
Spit in the eye of one who said you this, even if it's ATI ads (that's only shows how good ATI are, fooling ppl around :( ).
First DX8 card was GeForce3. Then Radeon 8500 (supports DX8.1).
Now it's also Matrox Parhelia (which even has some DX9 features).
Trident Blade XP4 and new Xabre from SiS are also DX8/8.1 cards.
DX8 compiance is achieved by (mainly) supporting pixel shaders, which Radeon 7500 doesn't support, not even in software emulation mode.

Radeon 7500 IS NOT a DX8 card :(

Kurylo ... if I install DirectX 9 with my GeForce3 - does it make it a DX9 card ?

[deadkenny]

Excellent point Mongolian, I think there's a lot of unscrupulous marketing going on that delibrately tries to avoid making that distinction.

[NDD]

And who exactly did you call "Mongolian" ?! ;)
Wanna die once again, kenny ?! http://www.amdnow.ru/ubb/maniac.gif

"Inner Mongolia" is a State of Mind.

[deadkenny]

Oh, I'm sorry. Should I have said Mongoloid instead?:D

[smelanson]

OH MY GOD THEY KILLED KENNY, YOU (this is a forum so I can't say it)

[Kurylo]

OK, one more question: what are the features of DX8 comparing to DX7?

[smelanson]

if you think about it it shouldn't really matter what it is compatable with as far as DX8 and DX7. The card will run fine in either and will run great on all games, the preformance increase will be very slight, DX8 and 7 don't differe by alot.

[NDD]

DirectX 8 was quite a step over DirectX 7. Here're few articles on the subject :
1 (http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/articles/meltdown_directx8/)
2 (http://www.digit-life.com/articles/dx8faq/)
3 (http://pcbuyersguide.com/software/system/DirectX8.html)
Have a nice reading :t

[Kurylo]

Thanks :). And, by the way, why there are no any OpenGL7 or OpenGL8? Only OpenGL1.2, as I remembe... :confused:

[NDD]

why there are no any OpenGL7 or OpenGL8
Coz it's ain't invented yet :)
I know the latest version for OpenGL to be is 1.3.1 (came with DetXP v22.xx if I remember correctly).