TNT2 Ultra or GeForce256 / GeForce MX

[mlk18]

I am looking to upgrade from my Diamond V770 (non-ultra) card to something newer without breaking the bank. I want improved performance for light-moderate gaming in the $50-70 range. My system includes a DFI/VIA mobo and an Athlon K7-1000mhz CPU. I see alot of GeForce256 boards for really good prices, Ultra's are supposedly super fast on AMD platforms and of GeForce MX and MX400 get's alot of nods on here. And of course I am open to other suggestions.

[eagle1]

You can look for the Radeon LE version. The Radeon has great visual quality, great dvd playback and good performance at 32bits color.! It beats a TNT Ultra or GeForce mx at high resolutions everyday.!

The LE card is a washed out version (a couple of things are disabled) so you don't get alot of performance but there are some "hacks" that enable the cards features.!

If you are opting for a GeForce MX, get the mx400 version.!

[mlk18]

I looked at the ATI website and they do not list a Radeon LE. In the 32mb configuration they have a Radeon 32mb DDR, Radeon 32mb SDR and a Radeon VE. Which of those is the LE model?

[Hellmund]

It's not made by ATI give me a sec to find the link where I explained everything about the LE.

[Hellmund]

Here we go, I'll just quote myself http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
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The LE has T&L disabled but it's still on-board. HyperZ is there as well but it's diabled in Direct3D however it is enabled in OpenGL. It's stock speed is also dropped to 143/143 from 166/166. NOW, the card is essentially a 32bm DDR Radeon. The Radeon LE isn't actually made by ATI, ATI sold there sub-standard Radeon cores to a third party manufacturer on the basis that they dropped the speed and disabled these key features. The BIOS update merely tell the card it's a normal DDR card and defaults the T&L and HyperZ back on. There is one catch though, the cores are sub-standard and as such some won't take to the 166/166 or 183/183 some people get. It is easily solved however by using a Radeon Tweaker and lowering the core/mem. I think the core/mem on radeons are syncronous, which is a shame as the memory probaly still has a way to go. Hopefully this will explain things a little clearer for ya


Just noticed one mistake I made, the LE is clocked at 148/148.

[This message has been edited by Hellmund (edited 07-28-2001).]

[Hellmund]

Sorry one more thing I'd like to add, you can get software patches to enable the T&L and HyperZ in direct3d but you can simply and permanently just flash the BIOS on the card with the 32mb DDR RADEon.

[deadkenny]

I think maybe the LE is OEM only. Maybe that's why you don't see it there. It is an ATI card.

[eagle1]

If you use low resolutions (like 800x600) a GeForce MX400 will kick the Radeon's *** but if you like high res. and high details with great image quality, go with the Radeon.!

[Hellmund]

The core may be ATI but they just sold their sub-standard cores to a third party board maker, can't remember their name though, ATI only makes the cores, not the PCB and RAM on a LE. That's why they don't support it.