Need some advice on Video Cards...

[el_novato]

I've decided to purchase the Radeon 9600XT. First, is this an adequate card for photo editing, dvd watching and burning, and light video editing that will get heavier? I hope it is... ;)

Second, Newegg has a refurbished Asus 9600XT for $136. Anyone ever bought refurbished from newegg? It comes barebone, so is the software worth the extra money to get a brand new card?

Also, what is the difference between OEM lite, OEM, and Bulk. Some of the Saphire cards indicate that they are Ultra Radeon, or Atlantis Radeon...what's the difference. Sorry I didn't post any links, I'm at work. :D If you don't mind, go to newegg and search for 9600XT and you'll get the results I'm referring to. Thanks!!

e.n.:)

[Iniamyen]

This is probably a fine card for your needs. For peace of mind, I would personally buy a new card, not a refurbished one. The difference is that it's been used, and not just that it comes with no software. And I don't trust others with my computer hardware :D

[kram 2.0]

The Radeon 9600XT is a fine card - the Asus one being the best of them, as function wise. You might want to consider getting the new version of the Asus 9600 XT, as it has VIVO, but remember that the card comes with many softwares with the retail. It has a movie editing stuff, video conferencing, Voice gaming, free HL2 voucher, etc. With all that considered, you might save money by going with retail. Toms hardware Guide has a nice run through of the Asus 9600 XT <a href="http://www.tomshardware.com/firstlook/20040119/index.html">here</a>, which you may want to look at. All that considered, the Radeon 9600 XT is a great performance card, which I will recommend highly, especially the Asus.

And the OEM stuff, OEM light and OEM I believe are analogous, with the hardware, and the bulk are similar, but they are not packed by the manufacturer - ie. they just the card. Sapphire OEM should work well, if that should be less expensive.

Hope that helps,
kram

[el_novato]

Thanks for the input fellas...I took the leap and ordered the one you recommended Kram...I read the reviews on newegg. That coupled with the article from tomshardware convinced me to hold off on the sound card and get the vid card for now. Thanks again!

e.n.:)

[Hi Ho]

That is a great card mut it may be a bit overkill if you aren't gaming. If you want to save some money you could go for a 9200.

[kram 2.0]

Originally posted by Hi Ho
That is a great card mut it may be a bit overkill if you aren't gaming. If you want to save some money you could go for a 9200. Purely considering so, a Radeon card is more than capable of handling movie editing. To tell you the truth, with the Radeon card, the Asus 9600 XT is probably the best for it, as it has some nice thing previously mentioned. If it was purely 2D, like Photoshop and MSIE, I would have recommended the Matrox G550 - but it seems that multimedia wise, the Radeons have it better.

EDIT: I did mean 2D - lol, would Matrox cards run pure 3D well :rolleyes:


Hope that helps,
kram

[jbbrown211]

I'm also thinking about getting the Asus 9600xt, I was looking for an All In Wonder card, but the VIVO function on the Asus card should work just as well.

[Hi Ho]

Purely considering so, a Radeon card is more than capable of handling movie editing.
The 9200 is a radeon. Come to think of it, an AIW Radeon 9000 is $146 at Newegg. It may be a good deal. Other than 2D performance the video card really has no effect on video editing performance as well as photos and DVD's.

[glc]

Heck, for all that with no gaming, a $36 Radeon 7000 does a fine job.