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"Does have video out, but no video in. (video in cards are cheap as hell anyways, 50$ CDN)"
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CNET editors' buying advice
We have not reviewed this product but here is CNET's buying advice on Graphics Cards. This content was chosen based on the features included with this model of graphics card.
Media Center Graphics Card
One of the popular attempted 'convergence devices' of recent years is the media center PC. This can range from a computer with a normal monitor that can receive TV signals, to a central media server that can send movies to the main TV itself. A media center graphics card needs to be capable of outputting signals in a form with which TVs are likely to be compatible.
VGA Explanation
VGA cables (and CRT monitors) use an analog signal. Both video cards and modern LCD monitors internally use digital signals. This means that when using a VGA cable with an LCD monitor, the signal is being converted from digital to analog and back again. Currently, converters are good enough that it isn't a real issue, but technically the signal is being degraded every time it is converted. So if you are using an LCD monitor that supports DVI, it is best to get a graphics card that does the same and to use a DVI cable.
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CNET product brief
Description: The ATI Radeon 9550 is a 256 MB, mainstream 3D card.Compared to other mainstream 3D display cards on the market, it is very inexpensive at around $55.
Pros: None noted, given available product data.
Cons: Has only an ATI Radeon 9550 chipset, which is less advanced than some similarly priced display cards.For example, the PNY Verto GeForce 8400 GS, a 256 MB graphics card at around $55, is built around a nVidia GeForce 8400 GS chipset.Also, this graphics card only has an AGP 8x interface, which is slower than some similarly priced display cards.
Suitability: A mainstream 3D graphics card, suited for the casual gamer, and those who do not need the latest 3D card on the market.This card supports DirectX 9 technology, which is still the standard for those who want to play games with advanced 3D-rendering techniques, but it does not support Vista's DirectX 10 standard.
Value: In general, this graphics card's features are as expected for this price.
Suggestions: (1) Since this card is DVI-capable, you might want a DVI-enabled monitor or a flat-panel display to connect with it -- this will pass the digital video signal directly without converting it to analog, making for better performance.(2) CNET's graphics and sound content can help you decide if this card is the right purchase to make.
CNET's Product Briefs are generated by a software tool that combines product specifications with knowledge of our editorial experts. They do not reflect hands-on assessment or labs testing. For more information about how we create Product Briefs, contact us.
Where to buy
ATI Radeon 9550 (AGP 8x, 256MB):
$199.99
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