$150 - 200 which video card to get

[sugar18]

Hello:



I am looking for a new video card and need some assistance from the group here.

Currently I have a Matrox g200 16mb on a p3600e 128mb system on a msi bxmaster. When I built this system I did not play games but did use program such as photoshop and web editors such as dreamweaver. Hence the awesome 2d card of the matrox g200 16mb

Since that time I have dabbled into the pc gamming area and for that reason I would like to get a good 3d - 2d video card. What are some of my choices that you guys can recommend. The games that I play are usually sport related so I dont know if there are video cards aimed at a certain type of game like RPG

Should I just wait until the end of the year til prices come down on current models

 

[Chuffmaster2k]

I currently own a GeForce 2 GTS that I bought from Untamo in the ForSale/ForTrade section. Mine was about $185 shipped. A lot of people have been saying great things about the ATI Radeon 32MB DDR. It has great 2D, great dvd playback, and very good game frame rates. The frame rates are not quite equal to the GTS. You could probably pick one up for a decent price in the FS/FT forum. Good Luck.

 

[SilverBack]

Roughly $149, the retail verion of any Geforce GTS MX card.. Asus Geforce 2 MX pure retail $145

 

[duragezic]

I'd look into the FS/FT forums for Untamo like Chuffmaster 2k said because he sells a GF2 GTS 32mb for about $180 shipped.

 

[nippyjun]

The best card for sports is one that has good FSAA such as the Voodoo4/5 series. The Geforce cards will run the games faster, but they will look much better and run plenty fast enough with one of the new voodoo cards. I can't emphasize enough how much games look better with FSAA.

 

[Geeforcer]

Radeon 32MB DDR for $150 after $50 rebate. Great card, even better value.

 

[Blain]

I can't complain about my V5 5500
They can be had for $200 or so.

Oh, I can...
No TV-Out

 

[Phuz]

You MUST talk to ntamo

 

[john433i]

Radeon 32MB DDR.

 

[Comp10]

Another vote for the Radeon 32mb DDR, it's 2D quality is right up there with Matrox and it has excellent 3D performance.

 

[MustangSVT]

Go see a screen of Radeon DDR then go see a screen of Voodoo5 or Geforce GTS. U'll notice something and since u use photoshop i recommand Radeon DDR heavily, but if u are leaning for frame rates and dont care about image quality go for Geforce GTS.

 

[macssuck]

I?m also looking for a video card in this price range. I have tried a Hercules 3D Prophet IIMX and the 3D was good but it made text look fuzzy compared to my Riva128. I also had an ATI Rage Fury Pro VIVO but the drivers under win2K did not work well and I have a few All in Wonder Pro cards at work and the driver support sucks on those also making me wonder that if I purchase a Radeon will there be any driver updates or will they just abandon us like they did with their previous products?

 

[oldfart]

ATI driver support is certainly something to consider. I have a Radeon running ubder Win98, and it works great. From what I hear, Win2K drivers are substandard. If you are running Win2k, I'd be careful. Maybe wait for good Win2K drivers BEFORE you buy the card.

 

[sugar18]

now i am even more confused







I have to say that playing superbikes 2001 in my g200 is damn good for me as maybe I dont know the difference



that said, i dont want to sacrafice 2d for 3d and i dont have a dvd for the computer

 

[Souka]

I would recommend keeping an eye on eGay. I just got a GeForce GTS (non-MX) 32mb for $140...NEW.

For RPG and Driving games, I would recommend the Voodoo5 5500, or possibly a Raedon. Better image quality and FSAA. Oh yes...if using a tuner card, or any overlay...much better than any nVidia product.

For other games, a GeForce MX or GTS would be great. Even a GeForce 256DDR would be fine.

I borrowed a friends Voodoo5 5500 card....I like the image much better than my GeForce when playing flightsims, driving, etc...anything where the scenery isn't moving a mile a second.

Hope this helps....

 

[roc919]

Contact Untamo for his Geforce2 GTS @ $175

 

[sugar18]

i want to keep good image quality in programs like photoshop and even word but I wouls also like a better gaming card



would a matrox 400 accomplish that over my g200

 

[BurnItDwn]

it all depends on what you want to do


Gf2 GTS is a great card all around
Radeon is a bit less expensive .. but has bad 16bit quality (who uses 16bit anyways???)
GF2MX is great for low resolutions and 16bit ... but it just sucks at 32bit at high resolutions ...


if you want to game at 1280x1024 with 32bit color ... then the Radeon and GF2 GTS are about equal (well they vary from review to review and game to game)

the Radeon's drivers will probably suck in comparison to the GFt (if ati keeps up their trend) ...

however ... if ATI does fix up their drivers ... im sure the Radeon will be the better of the two cards .... (look at anands review of the GF2 ULTRA ... see how close the radeon compares to the GF2 ULTRA in most of the 32bit benchmarks in most of the games) ...

and the voodoo5 ... ehhh ... from what ive read its not worth investing in .. unless you really like glide .. and FSAA ....

so ... my final verdict ... the radeon ...