ATI All in Wonder 128 Pro video card advice

[darbykidd]

I'm thinking about buying the ATI All in Wonder 128 pro 32meg agp video card. Just wondering if any of you have any personal experience with it and/or if you would recommend something different. I'm pretty much just going to be using it for gaming and for watching tv from my cable connection. Is there anything else out there that can do that with just one card? I know I could do a combination with a regular card and then a separate tv tuner card but I figured that would be more complicated and cost more and I might run into conflicts. Am I right or not? Thanks for the help. Oh here are some of my system specs if you need that: AMD k6-III+ 450 Epox mvp3g5 384meg ram Windows 98se

Thanks for the help.

[iisbob]

My o My! what a loaded question! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

As far as being a respectable card; yes-but you can get a modern Geforce2 mx for dual monitor/ TV out support-or an ATI Raedon with similar features for less than $100.

Unless you just have some particular affinity for the 128 pro, take the time to peruse some postings at Guru3d (http://www.guru3d.com), in their forums; you'll find some interesting comments and speculations. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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iisbob
"640K ought to be enough for anybody. - Bill Gates, 1981"
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." --Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

[This message has been edited by iisbob (edited 09-09-2001).]

[Whyzman]

I have one running on my ASUS A7V133 it is doing well, but there are some difficulties with DVD use. When I discussed my problems with ASUS tec-support and got an earful. I was looking for a card so I could change my monitor into a TV cause the family was monopolizing all the TVs. And, like you, was looking for a single card to do multifunctions. The price came down to where I was interested and was assembling a new computer.

The tech-support individual pointed out that the ATI Pro AGP was 2 years old in it's technology. And, like most devices 2 years ago was built around Intel's chipset architecture. Since I was using it on a VIA chipset MB this could account for the difficulties I was experiencing. He strongly recommended the ATI new Radeon All in Wonder that addressed the VIA chipsets. They are around $200 of the Internet and I suspect they will come down because the latest generation is hitting the market the 8500 coming in around $400. I don't know if the Radeon or the 8500 support multiple monitors.

Iisbob makes a good point regarding multiple monitors with the Geforce.

Depending on what you are planning on doing, this could be a great feature. When I first found myself having to get intimate with computers I met with a graphic artist/programmer who was running multiple 17" monitors (4) on both a PC and a Mac. His desktop was on one, he was using FreeHand which he had placed all the tool boxes on another, and was drawing on a full blank 17" monitor...uncluttered. As we do graphics work, some programs reduce your drawing area to where you have to use nav bars and it is most inconvenient.

I'm still having difficulties with the DVD and the ATI, I've just been too preoccupied to pursue a fix.

So, my suggestion would be to pop the extra $70 for the Radeon if you are sold on the ATI.

May all your dealings in life be win/win!

Whyzman

By the way Iisbob, should you happen to check back on this post, thanks for staying on board your insights would have been sorely missed!