Hercules to ditch NVIDIA ? in bed with ATI ?

GreenBeret · 9th February 2002, 12:32 AM

http://www.theinquirer.net/08020211.htm

Quote:

HERCULES, AS EXPECTED will not supply the latest Geforce 4 boards and is now in bed with Nvidia rival ATI.
And if reports of Elsa being in financial trouble are as bad as the FT suggested yesterday, that leaves a gap in the European market for the supply of the whizz bang graphic products from Nvidia that may need to be filled quickly.

But disties and dealers needn't worry - because according to sources, VisionTek is currently setting up a European office, while the oddly named PNY will be here to supply product too.

Gainward, of course, seems the immediate beneficiary of the sudden changes in European supply. It has a range of cards called "Golden Sample" but as far as we are aware, at the professional end of the market, its offerings are not quite so comprehensive.

It's too early to rule Elsa out of the picture yet - there's speculation of "white knight" activity that will save the day for the firm, but we expect distributors and system integrators are wondering just how everything will pan out.

Let us never forget our friends at Asus and Creative Labs, also vying for supremacy on these products in Europe.

Given the pre-launch hype which has generated huge demand for Geforce 4 products both in the USA and in Western Europe, we're not entirely sure how this particular square will be circled at press time. µ

Mothug · 9th February 2002, 12:36 AM

Hercules stopped making quality cards since the gf2 gts's and pro's

so I am not too sad about their departure

Acid · 9th February 2002, 12:37 AM

At least there is finally a bit of competition in the market. Maybe not the smartest move by Hercules but I admire them for doing so.

GreenBeret · 9th February 2002, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Hercules stopped making quality cards since the gf2 gts's and pro's

Wrong. Hercules TI500 is the best TI500. I know a guy @ MadOnion who has 4 Hercules TI500's and all of them can do at least 270/600 with stock cooling (much better than your Lemontek, Mothug

). Other Hercules TI500 owners have the same success. Chainbolt can also confirm this as he has a Hercules TI500 too. Oh, I nearly forget: I also know a guy @ Icrontic forum who can do 288/612 with his Hercules TI500 with stock cooling and aircon.

I agree with Acid. We need some big companies to concentrate on making ATI cards to maintain the competition

Acid · 9th February 2002, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GreenBeret

Wrong. Hercules TI500 is the best TI500. I know a guy @ MadOnion who has 4 Hercules TI500's and all of them can do at least 270/600 with stock cooling (much better than your Lemontek, Mothug ). Other Hercules TI500 owners have the same success. Chainbolt can also confirm this as he has a Hercules TI500 too. Oh, I nearly forget: I also know a guy @ Icrontic forum who can do 288/612 with his Hercules TI500 with stock cooling and aircon.

Yeh i've always liked Hercules cards. They cost a bit extra but you always know you're getting a quality product.

blimpyboy · 9th February 2002, 1:39 AM

I have a Hercules Ti500 and am very happy with it.

But in opinion, but the hercules and leadtek are great ti500 cards. You can't put one above the other.

GreenBeret · 9th February 2002, 1:51 AM

If everyone is happy with their purchase, that's cool

But some are happier than others

I know that Mothug is not very happy with his Leadtek TI500, which can only do 258/590

(sorry Mothug !

)

Mothug · 9th February 2002, 2:41 AM

I am not unhappy its just that 'upgrading' from a Geforce 3 to a ti500 was quite stupid, and I was unhappy that I made such an unwise decision, next time I will have to think through rather than let blood rush to my head hehe

IPfreely · 9th February 2002, 11:19 AM

I think its a good move by Guillemot. ATI need a big third party name to stand behind the R8500. All these Radeon cards from Powercolor and the like dont exactly inspire consumer confidence... although I hear some of these no name brands are infact subsidiaries of Asus, MSI and the like who don't want to jeopardize their relationship with Nvidia by putting their brand on the cards.

phanoongy · 10th February 2002, 1:51 PM

i bet most cheep brands come out from the same factory as the big brands like most everything elce in the world

Creative · 10th February 2002, 3:17 PM

Hercules GF2 Pro was an awesome card for me and served me for 8 months before I moved to the GF3. Good overclocking with a blue orb and default ram sinks.

It will be interesting to see how they go with ATI cards....

EnIgMa2 · 11th February 2002, 8:15 PM

The radeon 8500 is a great card and I was really happy when I tried it out for the first time.Finaly ATI are getting their drivers into gear and things are looking good.Hercules and Gigabyte(i think?) should do well because the 8500 and 8500DV are mad cards,and things will only get better.

Chuppa · 12th February 2002, 2:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by phanoongy
i bet most cheep brands come out from the same factory as the big brands like most everything elce in the world

if that was the case, fdont you think we would have all worked it out by now?
With most of us benchmarking and overclocking out cards to see what they are capable of?

The cheap cards are cheap because they use cheap bits and pieces and cheap memory, resulting in lower overclockability and often a worse image <in general>

phanoongy · 12th February 2002, 4:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chuppa

if that was the case, fdont you think we would have all worked it out by now?
With most of us benchmarking and overclocking out cards to see what they are capable of?

The cheap cards are cheap because they use cheap bits and pieces and cheap memory, resulting in lower overclockability and often a worse image <in general>

did i say made on the same line ?

DDsD · 12th February 2002, 10:31 PM

I for one would defiantly be happy buying a hercules baed ATi card, the only thing stoping me buying a normal ATi card is price, and im scared from buying the cheap powercolour cards due to them being cheap... this is a good middle ground id be happy to settle on..

9th February 2002, 1:39 AM	#6
blimpyboy Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: London, UK Posts: 643	I have a Hercules Ti500 and am very happy with it. But in opinion, but the hercules and leadtek are great ti500 cards. You can't put one above the other. __________________ Folding@Home 200 Club Member \| Folding@Home 3000 points Milestone Pimpsmack (Windows XP) : Intel Tualatin Celeron @ 1236Mhz \| Abit BX6 Rev 2 \| 512MB Memory @ 112Mhz/CAS2 Nvidia Geforce3 Ti 500 \| SoundBlaster Audigy \| IBM UltraStar 18ZX Hard Drive Plextor PX-40TS CD-ROM \| Plextor PX-R820T CD-R \| Pioneer DVD-103S DVD-ROM Foomanchu (Linux 2.4.20) : Intel Coppermine Celeron @ 1120Mhz \| Asus P2B-S \| 312MB Memory @ 112Mhz/CAS2 Nvidia Geforce2 MX 200 \| SoundBlaster AWE64 \| Seagate Barracuda ST39173L Hard Drive \| Plextor PX-32TS CD-ROM

9th February 2002, 1:51 AM	#7
GreenBeret Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 16,896	If everyone is happy with their purchase, that's cool But some are happier than others I know that Mothug is not very happy with his Leadtek TI500, which can only do 258/590 (sorry Mothug ! ) __________________ Doctore: Crixus! What is beneath your feet? Crixus: Sacred ground, Doctore. Watered with tears and blood.

10th February 2002, 1:51 PM	#10
phanoongy Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Wheelers Hill, Victoria Posts: 274	i bet most cheep brands come out from the same factory as the big brands like most everything elce in the world __________________ Some one once told me im psychic,. . o O (or was that psycho…..I get them mixed up all the time) Phanoongys photo album

10th February 2002, 3:17 PM	#11
Creative Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 7,865	Hercules GF2 Pro was an awesome card for me and served me for 8 months before I moved to the GF3. Good overclocking with a blue orb and default ram sinks. It will be interesting to see how they go with ATI cards.... __________________ Gigabyte P55-UD4P ¦ Intel i7 860 @ 3.90Ghz (Still testing) ¦ Noctua NH-U12P SE ¦ 2 x 2Gb G.Skill Trident DDR3-2000 ¦ Inno3D 896Mb GTX275 ¦ 1.5 TB of HDD ¦ Cheap DVD Drive ¦ Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum ¦ Thermaltake ToughPower 600w ¦ Logitech Z-5500 ¦ Samsung P2350 ¦ Asus VW222 ¦ Windows 7

9th February 2002, 12:36 AM	#2
Mothug Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 1,447	Hercules stopped making quality cards since the gf2 gts's and pro's so I am not too sad about their departure

9th February 2002, 12:37 AM	#3
Acid Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 4,850	At least there is finally a bit of competition in the market. Maybe not the smartest move by Hercules but I admire them for doing so.

9th February 2002, 2:41 AM	#8
Mothug Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 1,447	I am not unhappy its just that 'upgrading' from a Geforce 3 to a ti500 was quite stupid, and I was unhappy that I made such an unwise decision, next time I will have to think through rather than let blood rush to my head hehe

9th February 2002, 11:19 AM	#9
IPfreely Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,898	I think its a good move by Guillemot. ATI need a big third party name to stand behind the R8500. All these Radeon cards from Powercolor and the like dont exactly inspire consumer confidence... although I hear some of these no name brands are infact subsidiaries of Asus, MSI and the like who don't want to jeopardize their relationship with Nvidia by putting their brand on the cards.

11th February 2002, 8:15 PM	#12
EnIgMa2 Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 19	The radeon 8500 is a great card and I was really happy when I tried it out for the first time.Finaly ATI are getting their drivers into gear and things are looking good.Hercules and Gigabyte(i think?) should do well because the 8500 and 8500DV are mad cards,and things will only get better.