A new video card - Is it worth it?

ANY2

Member
Sep 24, 2000
90
0
0
I was wondering if the Hercules 3D Prophet FDX 8500LE would suit my system.
My computer consists of some very old parts, so I wanted to know if it's worth buying the card I mentioned which is by far the most cost-effective one that can be bought where I live (for the time being)...

Please note thet I have no intention to upgarde my CPU any time soon.
I think the LE would suit my needs - It is fast, has a very fast DAC as well, and the IQ is suppose to be second to none...(except Matrox,I guess...)

The thing that bothers me is my weak CPU. I am afraid that pairing it with the LE would be a waste of money...
What do you think? What should I buy if not the LE?

Specs is in my sig...

Thanks for any input!
 

tenoc

Golden Member
Jan 23, 2002
1,270
0
0
An R8500 would be an improvement but your system will be horse-power
limited. Recommend the retail version over an LE for a few extra bucks.
 

dbal

Senior member
Dec 6, 2001
395
0
0
www.facebook.com
Your system specs are not that bad....Your horse power is not a limiting factor for your 3D performance-it affects only by 10% maximum.... Ditch the matrox with anything above Geforce2Ti and you will see the light...!! ;)
 

nRollo

Banned
Jan 11, 2002
10,460
0
0
Your cpu will be your limiting factor. I don't know where the other guy got his 10% figures, but you should sell that P3 board and use the money to defray cost on an Athlon /P4 board.
 

dbal

Senior member
Dec 6, 2001
395
0
0
www.facebook.com


<< sell that P3 board and use the money to defray cost on an Athlon /P4 board. >>



And you think that doing that and keeping the same graphics card, is there going to be any improvement in his 3D gaming performance? You don't seem to know much about it.....As for the 10% I said you just have to browse a large database like Madonion's with a certain card and different cpu/mobo combos-then u might understand....
 

miken

Senior member
Mar 22, 2000
710
0
0
I'd say getting a PIII 1Ghz and a GF2 TI would make your system 100% faster. Probably run you around $250.

I would also add 256M of PC133, and dump that PC100.

here's a review on your board:

Review

Board has a lot of potential, A Radeon would be a waste on that slow of a system even with the upgrades IMO.
 

308nato

Platinum Member
Feb 10, 2002
2,674
0
0
My old rig is a PIII 450 Katmai on a Gigabyte GX-6BXC board. It had been running since late '99 with a Voodoo3 3000. When I bought RTCW it was all over. I bought a VisionTek G3 ti-200 and replaced the Voodoo. I would recommend this option to you. It made a HUGE difference. Yeah, your CPU may not be the latest hot rod but upgrading the card will extend its lifespan. I gave the old girl to the kids and put the Voodoo back in. The ti-200 is my new box.

The Voodoo still has the best 2D I have ever seen. Tonka Joe looks great.
 

sep

Platinum Member
Aug 1, 2001
2,553
0
76
Pop in a Celeron 1GHz ($75), Geforce2 Ti ($98), and another 256MB RAM($55) and your off and running again. Limited then get the Video Card and Ram. Good Luck!
 

Def

Senior member
Jan 7, 2001
765
0
0
I definitely agree with the other people here. Spread out your upgrades over the entire computer. No reason to spend that much money for a video card that your current system can't even come close to maxxing out.

I felt I was bottlenecking a GF3 Ti200 with a P3@980, I can't imagine what it would be like on a P3-533.