Attention Video Gurus: IS Geforce4 ti4200 128MB a better buy?!

[Diesel]

Hi,

I, like most gamers out there, am in the market for a new video card. I have been checking out plenty of professional reviews, but am recieving mixed messages. I want the power of the Geforce4, and i have teh budget to dip into the ti series. However when reading reviews on Sharky Extreme, They claim the 128 MB card of teh ti4200 series will be the better buy than the 64 MB ti4200 in the long run. I recalled the GPU roundup recently posted on Anandtech which shows the 64 MB card outperforming the 128MB ti in each of the benchmarks. I understand the faster ram on the card is attributed to this, but what incentive do i have to get more ram (which costs more money) if the 64MB card will perform as well/better for less money. What do you guys think? Is the ti4200 series a good buy? Would you go for 128 or 64 and why? I am sorry if this is a repost, it seems like this would be a common dilemma for those selecting video cards. I searched in this forum, but found nothing which satisfied my question.

Thanks a ton,
Jon

 

[Mingon]

have you tried searching the forums at all ? their has been this post at least one a day for the last month at least. The general consensus is that you can o/c the 128mb version to the speed of the 64mb but you cant add the memory to the 64mb version. Look at jedi knight II benches to see the gains that can be associated with 128mb.

 

[bcterps]

I think the 128MB version will definitely add considerable life to the card. Sure it's clocked a little lower, but if you buy a quality card, you should have no problems overclocking it. In Anand's review, he was even able to get his Visiontek 128mb card up to 315/600! The 128mb will do you well for future games, but if you plan to upgrade again in the near future, then the 64mb might be the better choice.

Or you could always hold out for the R300.

--Ben

 

[Voltaire]

Howdy,
I am, like Dieselj, in a delimma, too. I am considering if I should buy a GF4 4200 or 4400 128Mb... I do know that the 4400 and 4200 are not crippled versions of its elder brother, the 4600, both featuring the full DX8 works. Considering this, I would think the 4200 would be a better buy, in terms of being future proof (by future proof, I mean a card that could only last you a year or two!). Being an occasional gamer like I am, I may get the 4200 128Mb at a bargain price, and use it for the next two years, and then upgrade to a more current version of the GeForce series. And even better, I know that it will be a good upgrade from a GF2 MX 32Mb!

Chris.

p.s. I stand corrected Eboe... thanks!

 

[eboe]

excuse me if i'm wrong, but i don't believe the ti4200 is missing ANY functions, nor is crippled in any way, other than having slower RAM/clock speed. EVERY reveiw states it has the same core as the 4600.
I just need $175 so i can get a ti4200, tho
but until then, it's good to know i can play ut2k3 on my GF2 Pro at an ok resolution. considering i used to play UT on my voodoo 3 3500, it will be a lot nicer than that i suspect

 

[Diesel]

THANKS GUYS! Great insight! I have been lookign at a Chaintech card (GT20) on newegg. It's pretty cheap exspecially since it has DVI out, and TV out!!

 

[Actaeon]

For only a few bucks more, I'd go with the Ti4400, all have 128mb 3.6n ram, and has a good chance to OC to Ti4600 speeds.

Just my advice.

But, if you stick to a Ti4200, Go with the 128MB.