Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: deadmoney5 on September 21, 2004, 07:15:09 pm
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Is it really THAT big of a difference between having an actual ATI S-video out card vs. a cheaper version?
I plan on using a tv for a monitor and using it ONLY for MAME...
Ive gone WAY over budget and if I can save anything, it would be great. However, I dont want to skimp on the visual quality too much :P
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I just bought one from tigerdirect.com for $40.00
and it works just fine for me 2 pc monitors and svid out.
ati 7000
I just found out it will also flip the screen for vertical games
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The main area where the clone-makers skimp is on memory speed grade, and consequently they tend to slow the clocks down by 10% or so to improve their yields. This is irrelevant to MAME, which has very low video card demands in the first place. The one other notable place where I have seen 2nd tier vendors skimp, however, is in the quality of the TV-output chip. This has been a problem with the Nvidia-based cards, but I can't speak for recent ATI-based cards.
Sapphire supposedly follows the ATI reference designs very closely, so they are generally okay, but I would be leary of the others without detailed research on a specific card.
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The Hercules Radeon 8500LE card I have has the same tv-out chips and plugs as the "Built by ATI" cards. Just try and pick the type of radeon you would like based on price and specs from ati, then search around and look at the full specifications from the "powered by" manufacturers. As long as the tv out chip is the same the quality will be there.
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I've had both "official" ATI (7200) and now I have a Sapphire 9600XT.
It's been awesome, no trouble at all! Runs MAME like a dream and state of the art 3D games are no sweat.
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Sapphire physically builds all ATI boards. It doesn't mean that the Sapphire brand ATI boards have all the same parts as the built by ATI (just because they are built on the same line doesn't mean the same parts) but mine did (9500 sapphire).
I would trust them as a company.
I also have a color something powered by ati. And it sucks. Works fine for my kids computer, but the tv out sucks.