Deciding on an upgrade.

[ViX44]

Currently, I'm doing all my capturing on a PCI Radeon AIW. (Original, ~7200 equivalent) However, it doesn't give me the performance I'm looking for in games.

I had considered going 9800 AIW, but that's a healthy chunk of change, especially since they will probably drop somewhat in a few months when another generation of cards come out.

Are the capturing features on the 9800 significantly improved that would make it worth the dough, or should I get a regular 9800; and in that case, can I run the 9800 in AGP and the 7200 in PCI, and switch between them when I am an am not capturing?

...or should I get the 9600AIW for capture, be happy with the frames it gives me, and wait a generation and a half before getting a gaming video card upgrade?

All input is appreciated.

[Arachnotron]

I don't own an ATI, but it is my impression ATI cards use a separate chip, the Theather, for the capture part. If so, I would not expect any improvements unless a different version of the Theather chip was used.

the 9800 AIW seems to use the Theather 200; which one is on your old card?

[ViX44]

It's the first AIW Radeon, so I think it's the Rage Theater chip...not sure, that's just what Google coughed up.

[rfmmars]

There was a chip change when they went form the 8500DV to the 9000 series The 7500 PCI unit is suppose to have the new chip.

I have 4 ATI AIW card work stations. My advice is NOT to run a dual ATI card system. On the other hand I believe you just can't beat the video quality, and with the "VDF 2 WDM Wrapper" I can capture in any format.

richard
photorecall.net

[ViX44]

So I'm basically looking at 9600, 9700, and 9800; AIW.

I've heard a lot of rumors about the 9700 having the capibility of running like an 9800. I've also heared that's bunk and it's just a better 9600. Anyone with 96/97/9800 knowledge on which one I should go for? (I am trying to balance quality/budget, but it's not like one has an option to be cheap on video cards. : J)