Rated 
Started Jan 19, 2003
Strengths: Affordable with decent quality
Weaknesses: Documentation
I installed the ATI Radeon 7500 into an XP machine--no problems. It replaces an NVidia GeForce2 integrated graphics. It blows away the integrated graphics. I use a 1024x768 LCD monitor and the windows startup screens don't have the fizzles, the text is very sharp at a wider viewing angle. Its better all around.
As discussed by another reviewer, I wanted to do the virtual desktop/Pan and Scan in XP for my 1024x768 monitor. In XP Settings I could not select more than 1024x768 due to the DCC (monitor set) max resolution. My trick was to download a monitor driver for a bigger but similar monitor that has 1600x1200 resolution. Then followed the other reviewers instructions--disabling DCC, setting the ATI monitor settings to 1024x768, then expanding the XP resulution to 1600x1200. It works perfectly. Thanks to the dlauber, from IL for the hint.
I'm very happy with the card and the DVD/File Viewers that come with the product look pretty fine too. I haven't gotten into the other utilities yet. I wish it came with a DVI-CRT adaptor to make it easier to set up a second analogue monitor.
The documentation isn't the best but it was adequate to get me through the install without much trouble. It discusses updating BIOS and uninstalling old drivers first and my system with its integrated graphics didn't seem to match up with their instructions just right. I figured it out anyway and all went smoothly enough.
For under $60, this card is amazing.
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