ATI vs ATI AIW

[doanster]

In terms of performance (i.e. overclocking ability and heat generation) which is better, a BBATi 9800PRO or a BBATi 9800PRO AIW??
(both 128MB version)

 

[2Xtreme21]

It's exactly the same card just with extra features.

 

[Busithoth]

Yup. Same performance, which isn't bad. AIW is okay, but complicates things if you want to run dual displays. I had a 9700Pro AIW and it ran full speed with 9700Pro.

 

[jasonja]

Get the X800 AIW and you can still do dual display. I waited forever to get an AIW because I have dual LCDs and have been dual monitor dependent since 2000.

 

[Busithoth]

absolutely, I've got the x800XT AIW now and it runs Dual Monitors fine, games like nothing else I've had.
Just saying the advantages to each model. as far as overclockability goes, I'd say it's luck as to which might perform better.
just attach a better cooler and see what works...

 

[IeraseU]

The AIW does dual display, but not dual DVI, which is somewhat of a dissapointment fo rme personally.

 

[doanster]

So it can at least still do dual analog or one analog+one DVI rite??
Just not dual DVI rite?
(i m talkin bout the AIW 9800PRO here)

 

[IeraseU]

No, the only AIW that has dual head support is the X800 version. That gives you one vga + one dvi. All the other AIW versions do not support dual head.

 

[doanster]

OH
thats bad... I have been using two monitors for a while now and I am thinking of getting the AIW9800 cuz its a good deal.. only $200CAD = $160USD at Best Buy Canada!!!!

 

[Busithoth]

That's not the card for you, then.
go non-AIW.

 

[doanster]

But I want PVR and remote control...
w/e i could alwayz sell it here on the FS/FT forum

 

[Traire]

Originally posted by: doanster
But I want PVR and remote control...

Get the Regular 9800pro and THIS

 

[moretoys]

For PVR you could also look at This from Futureshop, but it is 3/4 the cost of the AIW your looking at. And NCIX has This, but their site is damn slow tonight. Same card that Traire linked to (ATI hardware mpeg2 encoding) just different reseller. Note these do not work with ATI Multimedia Center that the AIW uses, but do work with bundled software and other 3rd party PVR software better than the AIW.
Another option, depending on what you use the second monitor for, is a PCI video card like an original radeon, which you should be able to get for next to nothing., with the AIW. There may be limits on if you can only extend your desktop to the second, I can't recall. I do know you can't put the TV on the second this way, or I couldn't (or games). May have been a directx thing though. Works ok for browsing, docs, music, etc... I'd borrow an old pci card first and try it though but find one that is at least a Radeon or above.

 

[RollWave]

wee AIW is nice! Buy one and get Beyond TV!