Help me ID this ATI graphics card

On Thu, 22 Apr 2004 18:36:37 +0100, Sal Amie <Sal_Amie.RemoveThis@eatm.com> wrote:

 >I have this old graphics card which I am trying to identify. It is
 >labelled Sept 1999.
 >
 >The circuit board has a logo on the circuit side which says
 >"graphics by ATI Rage 128"

So it's an ATI Rage 128 or 128 Pro.

 >
 >On the components side of the circuit board it says ""C in a
 >circle"" (copyright) 1999 ATI Technologies Inc.
 >
 >(1) Does this mean the board is actually made by ATI or is it
 >probbaly made by someone else using an ATI Rage chip? (I didn't
 >think grahhics chip companies like ATI made complete graphics
 >boards.)

Doesn't really matter who made it, the standard driver offered by ATI,
most current version, is typically the best to use regardless of who made
it.

 >(2) Also on the circuit board it says "N625". What does this
 >mean?

Don't know, don't think it matters.

 >(3) Another paper label (with a barcode) says R128 GL 32M" but I
 >can't find that on the Web.

32MB of memory, suggests it's the "Pro" version. Fortunately that means
it will work on modern boards, not only the 3.3V AGP1 boards.


 >(4) One of the chips has a paper label saying "R128 66501"

Sounds like it might be the bios EPROM, not necessary to consider.


 >
 >Can someone tell me what board this is and which of those bits of
 >info were ther key indentifiers.

Go here,
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.ati.com/support/driver.html" target="_blank">http://www.ati.com/support/driver.html</a>
select the OS, "graphics driver", and "Rage 128 Pro"

The next page would offer the driver and Tuner/Capture software. If this
isn't an All-In-Wonder, which it doesn't seem to be, you most likely do
not need the Tuner/Capture software. However if the card does have an
S-video input jack then that capture software could be needed.


 >Another question I would like to ask is .... is this graphics card
 >any better than the integrated video on modern boards using the
 >latest integrated graphics chips like the "NVIDIA nForce2 IGP"?
 >
 >(E.G. the Asus AV8NX-VM motherboard)

It should be similar or perhaps a little better at display crispness
(which can vary from card to card, you'll have to try that and see for
yourself).

The motherboard example you gave it wrong/mistyped or something.
Asus has an A7V8X-VM, Via chipset integrated video, or an A7N8X-VM,
nForce2 integrated video. Either of those OR the ATI 128 are plenty fast
enough for 2D usage, movie/DVD playback, etc.

The ATI 128 is, IIRC, just a little bit slower than the A7V8X-VM's video
in 3D gaming, but much, much slower than the A7N8X-VM's video, providing
you use 2 memory modules for dual channel mode. However for 3D gaming,
any modern mid to high-end video card would be faster than any of the
above.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Help me ID this ATI graphics card 

Sal Amie wrote:
 > I have this old graphics card which I am trying to identify. It is
 > labelled Sept 1999.
 >
 > The circuit board has a logo on the circuit side which says
 > "graphics by ATI Rage 128"
 >
 > On the components side of the circuit board it says ""C in a
 > circle"" (copyright) 1999 ATI Technologies Inc.
 >
 > (1) Does this mean the board is actually made by ATI or is it
 > probbaly made by someone else using an ATI Rage chip? (I didn't
 > think grahhics chip companies like ATI made complete graphics
 > boards.)

Well that's where you're wrong, you see. ATI make their own boards - Nvidia
never have. Just visit ATI's site.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Help me ID this ATI graphics card 

uh.....lessee.......
click RUN
type in "cmd" <enter>
type in "DEBUG" <enter>
type in "d c000:0010" <enter>
type in "d" <enter> a couple times for a couple more screens until you get
to the part of the Video BIOS that has the model # you want to see.
It should tell you what it is.

when you're done, type in "q" <enter> {for quit}
Of course <enter> is the enter key and the parts in "" are what you type (without
the "" quotes.

On Thu, 22 Apr 2004 18:36:37 +0100, Sal Amie <Sal_Amie.TakeThisOut@eatm.com> wrote:

 >I have this old graphics card which I am trying to identify. It is
 >labelled Sept 1999.
 >
 >The circuit board has a logo on the circuit side which says
 >"graphics by ATI Rage 128"
 >
 >On the components side of the circuit board it says ""C in a
 >circle"" (copyright) 1999 ATI Technologies Inc.
 >
 >(1) Does this mean the board is actually made by ATI or is it
 >probbaly made by someone else using an ATI Rage chip? (I didn't
 >think grahhics chip companies like ATI made complete graphics
 >boards.)
 >
 >(2) Also on the circuit board it says "N625". What does this
 >mean?
 >
 >(3) Another paper label (with a barcode) says R128 GL 32M" but I
 >can't find that on the Web.
 >
 >(4) One of the chips has a paper label saying "R128 66501"
 >
 >Can someone tell me what board this is and which of those bits of
 >info were ther key indentifiers.
 >
 >---
 >
 >Another question I would like to ask is .... is this graphics card
 >any better than the integrated video on modern boards using the
 >latest integrated graphics chips like the "NVIDIA nForce2 IGP"?
 >
 >(E.G. the Asus AV8NX-VM motherboard)

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"Overlord" <kurt_SPAMLESS.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:40887a6c.1707872250@news.central.cox.net...
 > uh.....lessee.......
 > click RUN
 > type in "cmd" <enter>
 > type in "DEBUG" <enter>
 > type in "d c000:0010" <enter>
 > type in "d" <enter> a couple times for a couple more screens until you get
 > to the part of the Video BIOS that has the model # you want to see.
 > It should tell you what it is.
 >
 > when you're done, type in "q" <enter> {for quit}
 > Of course <enter> is the enter key and the parts in "" are what you type
(without
 > the "" quotes.

OUCH!!

Been doing this a while, eh?

Remember how to format an MFM drive in debug?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Help me ID this ATI graphics card 

Noozer wrote:

 > "Overlord" <kurt_SPAMLESS.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
 > news:40887a6c.1707872250@news.central.cox.net...
 >
  >>uh.....lessee.......
  >>click RUN
  >>type in "cmd" <enter>
  >>type in "DEBUG" <enter>
  >>type in "d c000:0010" <enter>
  >>type in "d" <enter> a couple times for a couple more screens until you get
  >>to the part of the Video BIOS that has the model # you want to see.
  >>It should tell you what it is.
  >>
  >>when you're done, type in "q" <enter> {for quit}
  >>Of course <enter> is the enter key and the parts in "" are what you type
 >
 > (without
 >
  >>the "" quotes.
 >
 >
 > OUCH!!
 >
 > Been doing this a while, eh?
 >
 > Remember how to format an MFM drive in debug?
 >

Oh, man. Talk about dredging up nasty memories.

I used to be so good at making typos in the worst
possible places when using debug - and I remember
managing to permanently ruin an MFM drive. It was
a 5 MB or 10 MB drive and cost more than I made in
a month.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Help me ID this ATI graphics card 

On Fri, 23 Apr 2004 02:44:04 GMT, "Noozer" <dont.spam DeleteThis @me.here> wrote:

 >
 >"Overlord" <kurt_SPAMLESS DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
 >news:40887a6c.1707872250@news.central.cox.net...
  >> uh.....lessee.......
  >> click RUN
  >> type in "cmd" <enter>
  >> type in "DEBUG" <enter>
  >> type in "d c000:0010" <enter>
  >> type in "d" <enter> a couple times for a couple more screens until you get
  >> to the part of the Video BIOS that has the model # you want to see.
  >> It should tell you what it is.
  >>
  >> when you're done, type in "q" <enter> {for quit}
  >> Of course <enter> is the enter key and the parts in "" are what you type
 >(without
  >> the "" quotes.
 >
 >OUCH!!
 >
 >Been doing this a while, eh?
 >
 >Remember how to format an MFM drive in debug?
 >
Sometimes the old tricks work best<G>.
I seem to remember formatting floppies that way.

I recall keeping a cheap generic config.sys and autoexec.bat on the root
and editing command.com so it looked for and used files other than those
to fire up. Didn't want some empty headed installation program editing my
baby; my 10 or 12 page autoexec.bat and almost as large config.sys.

I remember making 50 character init$ for modems.

I remember typing in switches to make zmodem file transfers from the DOS prompt...
But there got to be so many protocols; Xmodem, Ymodem, Zmodem, DSZmodem,
GSZmodem, FASTmodem, Hydra, Imodem, HSlink, DSZ Qmodem G, IceZmodem,
Jmodem, Tmodem, VisualZmodem, Smodem, VXY Xmodem 1k.... and each one had it's variants.
I forget the more exotic and obscure protocols now, used a couple dozen I guess.
Eventually I had to put them all in a batch file as each would have a line of switches.
Typing in a simple Xmodem transfer and find you're adding a Kermit switch is a Bad Thing.

Forgot a hell of a lot since then.....

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On Thu, 22 Apr 2004 21:16:01 -0600, Rob Stow <rob.stow.TakeThisOut@sasktel.net> wrote:

 >Noozer wrote:
 >
  >> "Overlord" <kurt_SPAMLESS.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in message
  >> news:40887a6c.1707872250@news.central.cox.net...
  >>
   >>>uh.....lessee.......
   >>>click RUN
   >>>type in "cmd" <enter>
   >>>type in "DEBUG" <enter>
   >>>type in "d c000:0010" <enter>
   >>>type in "d" <enter> a couple times for a couple more screens until you get
   >>>to the part of the Video BIOS that has the model # you want to see.
   >>>It should tell you what it is.
   >>>
   >>>when you're done, type in "q" <enter> {for quit}
   >>>Of course <enter> is the enter key and the parts in "" are what you type
  >>
  >> (without
  >>
   >>>the "" quotes.
  >>
  >>
  >> OUCH!!
  >>
  >> Been doing this a while, eh?
  >>
  >> Remember how to format an MFM drive in debug?
  >>
 >
 >Oh, man. Talk about dredging up nasty memories.
 >
 >I used to be so good at making typos in the worst
 >possible places when using debug - and I remember
 >managing to permanently ruin an MFM drive. It was
 >a 5 MB or 10 MB drive and cost more than I made in
 >a month.

But doublespace was great. Almost doubled your storage.
You ever find that huge file on that G or H partition and
delete it for the space.... and find that was your entire C
drive in a single compressed file on a sneaky partition?
I forget what the name of the util was before M$ stole it...

Remember using Copy con for cobbling your files and then
when they didn't work using Debug or Edlin to troubleshoot 'em?

I remember kids bringing me dual 5¼ floppy systems and wanting
me to make it so they could run Doom....
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 >> Stay informed about: Help me ID this ATI graphics card 

Overlord wrote:
 > On Thu, 22 Apr 2004 21:16:01 -0600, Rob Stow <rob.stow DeleteThis @sasktel.net> wrote:
 >
  >>Noozer wrote:
  >>
   >>> "Overlord" <kurt_SPAMLESS DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
   >>> news:40887a6c.1707872250@news.central.cox.net...
   >>>
   >>>>uh.....lessee.......
   >>>>click RUN
   >>>>type in "cmd" <enter>
   >>>>type in "DEBUG" <enter>
   >>>>type in "d c000:0010" <enter>
   >>>>type in "d" <enter> a couple times for a couple more screens until you get
   >>>>to the part of the Video BIOS that has the model # you want to see.
   >>>>It should tell you what it is.
   >>>>
   >>>>when you're done, type in "q" <enter> {for quit}
   >>>>Of course <enter> is the enter key and the parts in "" are what you type
   >>>
   >>> (without
   >>>
   >>>>the "" quotes.
   >>>
   >>>
   >>> OUCH!!
   >>>
   >>> Been doing this a while, eh?
   >>>
   >>> Remember how to format an MFM drive in debug?
   >>>
  >>
  >>Oh, man. Talk about dredging up nasty memories.
  >>
  >>I used to be so good at making typos in the worst
  >>possible places when using debug - and I remember
  >>managing to permanently ruin an MFM drive. It was
  >>a 5 MB or 10 MB drive and cost more than I made in
  >>a month.
 >
 > But doublespace was great. Almost doubled your storage.
 > You ever find that huge file on that G or H partition and
 > delete it for the space.... and find that was your entire C
 > drive in a single compressed file on a sneaky partition?
 > I forget what the name of the util was before M$ stole it...
 >

Stacker by Stac IIRC.

 > Remember using Copy con for cobbling your files and then
 > when they didn't work using Debug or Edlin to troubleshoot 'em?
 >
 > I remember kids bringing me dual 5¼ floppy systems and wanting
 > me to make it so they could run Doom....
 > ~~~~~~
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 > root@localhost
 > postmaster@localhost
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 > ~~~~~~
 > Remove "spamless" to email me.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Help me ID this ATI graphics card 

On Fri, 23 Apr 2004 09:03:11 GMT, kurt_SPAMLESS DeleteThis @hotmail.com (Overlord)
wrote:

 >But doublespace was great. Almost doubled your storage.
 >You ever find that huge file on that G or H partition and
 >delete it for the space.... and find that was your entire C
 >drive in a single compressed file on a sneaky partition?
 >I forget what the name of the util was before M$ stole it...

Stacker... was impressive until you start using it for a while...

 >Remember using Copy con for cobbling your files and then
 >when they didn't work using Debug or Edlin to troubleshoot 'em?

I still use copy con now and then when I forgot to put a copy of edit
onto a boot disk. :PpPp

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If you need basic to med complexity webpages at affordable rates, email me
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 >> Stay informed about: Help me ID this ATI graphics card 

"Sal Amie" <Sal_Amie.DeleteThis@eatm.com> wrote in message
news:Xns94D3BD50D246B37E1A@130.133.1.4...
 > I have this old graphics card which I am trying to identify. It is
 > labelled Sept 1999.
 >
 > The circuit board has a logo on the circuit side which says
 > "graphics by ATI Rage 128"
 >
 > On the components side of the circuit board it says ""C in a
 > circle"" (copyright) 1999 ATI Technologies Inc.
 >
 > (1) Does this mean the board is actually made by ATI or is it
 > probbaly made by someone else using an ATI Rage chip? (I didn't
 > think grahhics chip companies like ATI made complete graphics
 > boards.)
 >
 > (2) Also on the circuit board it says "N625". What does this
 > mean?
 >
 > (3) Another paper label (with a barcode) says R128 GL 32M" but I
 > can't find that on the Web.
 >
 > (4) One of the chips has a paper label saying "R128 66501"
 >
 > Can someone tell me what board this is and which of those bits of
 > info were ther key indentifiers.
 >
 > ---
 >
 > Another question I would like to ask is .... is this graphics card
 > any better than the integrated video on modern boards using the
 > latest integrated graphics chips like the "NVIDIA nForce2 IGP"?
 >
 > (E.G. the Asus AV8NX-VM motherboard)

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 >> Stay informed about: Help me ID this ATI graphics card 

  > > I have this old graphics card which I am trying to identify. It is
  > > labelled Sept 1999.
  > > The circuit board has a logo on the circuit side which says
  > > "graphics by ATI Rage 128"
  > > On the components side of the circuit board it says ""C in a
  > > circle"" (copyright) 1999 ATI Technologies Inc.
  > >
  > > (1) Does this mean the board is actually made by ATI or is it
  > > probbaly made by someone else using an ATI Rage chip? (I didn't
  > > think grahhics chip companies like ATI made complete graphics
  > > boards.)

ATI does make their own graphics cards and they also sell their
chips to other manufacturers. Your board was made by ATI.


  > > (3) Another paper label (with a barcode) says R128 GL 32M" but I
  > > can't find that on the Web.

The card is a a RAGE 128 card with 32MB of RAM.
It could be an Expert 2000.


  > > Another question I would like to ask is .... is this graphics card
  > > any better than the integrated video on modern boards using the
  > > latest integrated graphics chips like the "NVIDIA nForce2 IGP"?
  > > (E.G. the Asus AV8NX-VM motherboard)

It's slower that the built-in video on that motherboard.

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