Which of these ATI cards to get...?

[Justin]

Hey all..  I am searching for a nice ATI card for S-Video out (I hear these provide the best s-video out for TVs).

I want the cheapest possible card, that will provide hardware stretching and S-Video.  Hell, what else do I need?!  

I'm leaning towards a Readeon 7000 32 MB AGP for about $30 online.  Not bad.  But before I purchase, can someone tell me which of these you would buy?  I don't need all the extra 3D oomph... this is for MAME *only*

http://castle.pricewatch.com/search/searchmc.idq?cr=%20ati%20S-video&qc=%22ATI%22*+AND+%22S%22*+AND+%22VIDEO%22*+AND+%40totalcost%3E0+AND+%40ctd+37&i=37&ct=Computer&c=Video+Cards&mi=N&m=N&ne=10068&l=10022

[Justin]

Ok, I've narrowd it down to two ATI cards:

ATI Radeon     7000 32MB DDR AGP TV/Out
ATI Radeon VE 7000 64MB SDR AGP TV/Out

Should I get the card with *more* Memory (64MB) , or the one with *faster* memory (DDR)?

Both cards are priced similarly.  I jus don't know if MAME would benefit of more RAM vs DDR memory.
Dilemma!  I hope some of the more technical oriented folks can tell me what is better.

Thanks.
-J

[JD]

I got sick of trying to get a decent size/quality picture with a normal vga graphics card so am ordering a arcade vga. Why do the hard work
when some else has done it for you


JD

[rampy]

I got sick of trying to get a decent size/quality picture with a normal vga graphics card so am ordering a arcade vga. Why do the hard work
when some else has done it for you


JD

If you are planning on using Andy's card for TV out, your wasting your money, as there won't be any benefit (over a traditional TV out ATI type card)  although it is a godsend if you are interfacing with a low res arcade monitor.

YMMV, but I assume we were talking about TV out s-video quality.


*shrug*

Rampy

[JD]

Never thought he may be using a t.v

I am using a hantarex arcade monitor


JD

[rampy]

Never thought he may be using a t.v

I am using a hantarex arcade monitor


JD

lucky bahstahd... =) Enjoy

rampy

[Justin]

I read somewhere i this forum that the best outpust was given by ATI cards, *as long* as it was an ATI branded card.    So, does this means it cannot be a Saphire card?  That would save me $35 no less....   But would rather get the ATI retail card if it is going to give me superior quality.

[cdbrown]

Many people say to stick with BUILT BY ATI but I couldn't and went for POWERED BY ATI.  Couldn't find a built one for a reasonable price in Oz.  I did read somewhere that the Sapphire and Hercules still use the ATI s-video chips and connectors.  You could also get the Sapphire Radeon 7000 with 64MB DDR if you were worried about having lower memory.  Model number 1024-1141-01-SA  for NTSC, 64MB, 183/183, TVO.  

Cheers
-cdbrown

[Justin]

Saphire's seem to be the most common 'powered by ATI' cards ut there.  Can anyone confirm that these indeed have the same S-Video connector and chipset as the retail ATI cards?

[Donor]

Their is a big difference between a card that is built by ati and one that is powered by ati. I bought a few that were powered by ati and the s-video sucked. Stick with the real deal and you'll have a much better result!

[Justin]

OK,  end of story.  Paid $70 for a retail boxed ATI Radeon 7000 64 MB DDR AGP S-Video out.

Thanks to everyone who helped me out deciding!