ATI or NVIDIA??? Please help

[CCCHeel]

Ok, I am trying to learn more about videocards, but am still pretty new to all the logistical stuff. I have a pretty decent system and want to upgrade my videocard, but not buy somethign real expensive. I'm looking in the $120 range. I have found a Geforce4 Ti4200 128 DDR card at Newegg for $119 shipped:

XFX GF4 Ti4200 8X AGP 128MB 256 bit DVI, VIVO RETAIL Parts # PV-T28A-NC
Specifications:
GPU: NVIDIA® Geforce4 Ti 4200 256 bit graphics accelerator
MEM: 128MB DDR
BUS: AGP 8X
GPU Frequency(MHz): 250
Graphics Core: 256-bit
Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec): 8
Fill Rate (texels/sec.): 4 billion
Effective Memory Clock Rate (MHz): 500
RAMDACs (MHz) (each have 2 RAMDAC): 350
OS: Windows 9x, 2000,ME,NT 4, XP, Linux
Ports: VGA + DVI + VIVO Video in/Video out,

However, after reading some of the comments here, it seems as though a lot of people think ATI is a better company to go with. So, my question is: Are there any cards around $120 that you feel are significantly better?that ATI makes like; Radeon 9100 or something? Also, I was hoping to do some digital editing from my digital camcorder, but that is secondary. I do not play a whole lot of games, but do play a few. Any suggestions would help. Thanks a lot.

 

[mikeycooly]

Personally if i was going to get a card around 120ish i would go with the Geforce fx 5200 or the Geforce 5200 Ultra. I know ati's had the jump on Nvidia since the release of the 9700 but I have allways liked nvidia and there drivers seem stabler. This is just my personal option and do not want alot of " Oh my God Ati is way better then Nvidia" replys this is what i would get. I will mention that I also have a Radeon 9100 my self very nice card for the price. So i would ether get a 5200 or Ultra or the 9100 128 version. Its a toss-up.

 

[Schadenfroh]

for 120ish, your best bet is going to be a 4200. the 4200 defeats a 9100.

 

[Vadatajs]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
for 120ish, your best bet is going to be a 4200. the 4200 defeats a 9100.

Agreed. Isn't the 4200 faster than the 5200 in most cases?

 

[ZimZum]

Originally posted by: Vadatajs

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
for 120ish, your best bet is going to be a 4200. the 4200 defeats a 9100.

Agreed. Isn't the 4200 faster than the 5200 in most cases?

Theres not much that ISNT faster than a 5200, its basically the new MX. I would also recommend the 4200 in that price range.

 

[clicknext]

ATI owns nVidia, because they are teh cool and i are ATi fanboi woot!!!~

Uh, seriously, I put my vote in for 4200 too. If you can find a Radeon9500 for a price you can afford I would recommend that, but you can't, right?

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: clicknext
ATI owns nVidia, because they are teh cool and i are ATi fanboi woot!!!~

you must be a visiontek customer

 

[4x4expy]

Another vote for the 4200. It is still a lot of card for todays games if you're on a budget.

 

[Serp86]

4200. This card was NVidia's brightest moment......

 

[Dragontail]

sure, the 4200 is faster than the 5200/ultra, but plz remember that the 4200 is a DX8 card, and the 5200/ultrz is a DX9 crad. The advantages might not seem obvious now, but in a few years time it will show. however, the 4200 is the better card at the moment.

 

[sodcha0s]

but in a few years time it will show.

In a few years, both of those cards will be pretty much useless for games I'd imagine.

 

[Corporate Thug]

4200, i have seen no performance increse from DX8 to DX9

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Dragontail
sure, the 4200 is faster than the 5200/ultra, but plz remember that the 4200 is a DX8 card, and the 5200/ultrz is a DX9 crad. The advantages might not seem obvious now, but in a few years time it will show. however, the 4200 is the better card at the moment.

By that time, any $120 card you buy now might, if you're lucky, play those games acceptably at 640x480. But probably not.

Another vote for the 4200.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

erm my vote is with the 4200, it can whoop the 5200, but is only dx8.1. there are an increasing number of games coming out now that will want dx9. like colin mcrae 3 and enter the matrix. but an ATI 9100 or 9200 which ever has DX9 could be a better bet, check out...

www.connect3d.com

they make ATI cards super cheap! i got me a 9500pro from these guys for about 130 quid (english) that card is basically a detuned 9700pro and can easily match 4600's whilst givin me DX9. but they simply sell u the card and nothing much else bar sum connectin leads like s-vid and DVI.

basically its even stevens, one will give better short term peformance (4200) the other will give a bit longer life with DX9.

but if u do go for Nvidia, get the 4200. the 5200 is basically the new MX range, which by the way are very very pants indeed

 

[Schadenfroh]

ATI 9100 or 9200 which ever has DX9 could be a better bet, check out...

neither have directx 9, they are both directx 8 cards, but their marketing team trys to make you think that they are directx 9

9000 = cheaper to make 8500
9100 = 8500le
9200 = 9000 with agp 8x

8500<8500LE=9100<9000=9200

the only cards that have direct x 9 in the ati family are those that are >=9500, ie 9500 thru 9800

 

[Brackus]

Quite simply, in the price range you put, the geforce4 4200 128mb is basically the best bet out there, and honestly, I'm with most other people in that I agree that the 4200 was one of nvidia's major shining moments, I was(and am) way too poor to get a 4400 or 4600, and 9500's werent out at the time, but still, with major price drops, and the card being a very solid card all around, I would vote for that, but you know, even the radeon 8500 was a nice card once all the drivers were set up, personally I dont care about AA and AF so thats that, and as long as I can play all my games at 800x600 for a while, I am satisfied, and basically, the 4200 destroys basically all games still at that res...

 

[nick1985]

4200 is a great card

 

[icyredsol8181]

isnt the 4800se better than the ti4200?

 

For dependability, compatability, and reliability, definately Nvidia.
For slightly higher IQ and performance in some areas, definately ATI.

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Originally posted by: mikeycooly
Personally if i was going to get a card around 120ish i would go with the Geforce fx 5200 or the Geforce 5200 Ultra. I know ati's had the jump on Nvidia since the release of the 9700 but I have allways liked nvidia and there drivers seem stabler. This is just my personal option and do not want alot of " Oh my God Ati is way better then Nvidia" replys this is what i would get. I will mention that I also have a Radeon 9100 my self very nice card for the price. So i would ether get a 5200 or Ultra or the 9100 128 version. Its a toss-up.

The 5200 is a complete POS for that amount of money - it is comparable in speed to a GF3.

Pick up a Ti4200 or invest a few more bones in the Radeon 9500. It is worth it