A couple of upgrading friends...

[Brackus]

First of all, congrats to me on my first post here...

Anyway, I have ordered a VGA LEADTEK|GF4 TI4200 128M VIVO% from newegg.com(it looked like the best VIVO geforce 4 for my needs and wallet).

I am wondering, A friend of mine is looking to buy a new video card, he has a geforce 2 mx 400 64mb, and my other friend has a geforce GTS or PRO, something of that sort, and you really can tell the difference when playing NHL 2002 (all these guys play aside from diablo and morrowind)

So, he is looking at the 8500 Le, or maybe the 8500 but the price difference might be too great (all 128 mb versions) I think the geforce 4 ti 4200 is a little out of his price range. I am starting to learn that the 9000 and 9000 pro are not as good as I thought they would be given their hardware specs... (anyone know why this is?) I know prices are dropping like flies, thanks to there now being 4 companies producing chips, and ati has a huge card in the 9700...

What should I tell my friend, his comp is likely around a 1.4 ghz with at least 256 mb ram (pc 133 i think) and all other things with an average mid range computer....

He will definately be getting NHL 2003, but like 2002 after 2001, I dont think the graphics hit will be all that great, he already has a good sound card so the dumb on ice sounds shouldnt hurt him. He just wants to run games nicely, but cant spring too much right now, so... what should I tell him, be reminded we are canadians, and therefore, biased from all american online stores, even ebay(grrrr...) because no one will ship to us so we have to drive to the states to get our stuff.

Anyway, we are thinking 8500 le, but I am almost curious about tridents card...

Please give me feedback on the card I picked, I am not a hardcore tv in or out guy, just starting actually, and figured, why the hell not eh?

 

[Peter]

Remember that the 9000 series is out to replace the "value" 7500 series, not the "performance" 8500 series. The latter will move from 8500 to 9700 (and eventually 9500 for not-quite-so-much money).

 

[Brackus]

Okay, that is understandable...

Another question, my card is going to have direct x 8.0 compliancy right? but the ATI's are either 8.1, or that damn 9700 is 9.x(whatever)....

So, my question is, just how much does this matter,

Also, with the card I am getting, for some reason I keep thinking I could:

Hook my cable into my tv,
Hook my tv into my computer
hook my computer up to a big projector
play massive games on that projector and my sweet stereo system(that i use as computer speakers)

Is this the best way to do this, and if so, do all required things come with the card, or will I need new conncectors...

Please respond guys, I really need to know what to do about 8500's, geforce 4mx's (i think screw em), 4 Ti's, 3 Ti's (once again, I think useless, but maybe not) and the 9000's...

Thanks