Ok Terr, this is gonna be painfull but let try it!

Usually, hardware change alot but ATI and Nvidia are stuck now, they are working on PCI-Express video card now who should be release in the 2st semester of 2004. ATI release their VPU for Radeon 9000 serie 1 years ago!!

At first, they release 2 card each for each VPU. A Radeon 9*00 and a Radeon 9*00 Pro. The different was PRO was more performance because of the CPU/Memory Clock Speed has upgrade but cost more.

But those card were getting very old!! ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (Who still the best card on the market) was release in February 2003! That 10 months ago and that damm old for hardware equipement!! So for christmas, ATI decided to renew is Radeon line. They release improve VPU, R360 for Radeon 9800 TX who have 42 more MHz in the VPU and 15 more MHZ in Memory. For the Radeon 9600, they had 100 MHz to the VPU and and nothing to the Memory MHZ)

Right now, their 9 video cards from ATI on the market.

Low-End : Radeon 9200 --> Upgrade to Radeon 9200 Pro --> Upgrade to Radeon 9200 SE
Mid-End- : Radeon 9600 --> Upgrade to Radeon 9600 Pro --> Upgrade to Radeon 9600 XT
High-End : Radeon 9800 --> Upgrade to Radeon 9800 Pro --> Upgrade to Radeon 9800 XT.

Basically, it's the same, ATI is just keeping their Radeon line up to date with VPU clock/memory speed pumping!

Hope I help! Happy X-Mas!

P.S. VPU = Video Processing Unit