Best video card for my aging computer?

kag · Jun 3, 2003

I have a P3-667EB with 256MB of RAM, and I don't have the money to spend on a brand new rig, so I'm just going to upgrade my video card and buy a new hard drive, until I graduate from University and actually have some real money. In other words, I'll upgrade my computer in capacity instead of speed for now.

I currently have a TNT2 Ultra with 32MB, it can handle most games until like 6-12 months ago. I just want to be able to play a couple of cool games at a decent resolution (1024 with medium details is just fine with me), and my "current" (which are old to most people) with the maximum details.

I was thinking about a MSI GEFORCE4 MX440SE-T 64MB DDR AGP W/ TV OUT which is $80CAD or $±55USD. I know it's not the king of the world, but it has 64MB of DDR and it's 2 generations younger than mine (TNT -> GF -> GF2... let's say it's like a GF2).

What do you think?

Schadenfroh · Jun 3, 2003

sounds good, tho you are still going to be CPU limited

kag · Jun 3, 2003

Yeah I know.

What would be better for performance... buying that card, or getting a good deal like on a 1Ghz Coppermine or eBay or somethign?

Rogozhin · Jun 3, 2003

nope

don't do it, get a geforce 3 ti200 or radeon 8500LE, that 4mx is a piece of crap and won't last you very long with your new rig.

it's basically an overclocked geforce 2 with more efficient memory interface.

so, get a geforce 3 ti200, radeon 8500LE, or a geforce 4 ti4200 64mb.

rogo

kag · Jun 3, 2003

*sigh*
A Ti4200 is more than twice the price of a MX440... and I've had trouble with ATI and the 8500LE - I'm never touching ATI again.

Rogozhin · Jun 3, 2003

well my 8500LE was a match for both my geforce 4s but why not the geforce 3 ti200?

I'm only trying to be helpful "sigh"

rogo

kag · Jun 3, 2003

Sorry, I didn't want to be rude.

I know the GeForce3 is a lot better than any GF2 or a GF4MX, but for this one, the problem isn't them the price, but the avalaibility... they almost disappeared from the market.

Maybe I should do like I have always done for the past 2 years - buy second hand. I've built my nice lil server for under $200CAD for everything (from the powersupply to the RAM). Except for HDD, which I don't like buying used.

jjyiz28 · Jun 3, 2003

hwo bout a radeon 7500? should be on par with a 440se. cost same too, maybe cheaper

xSauronx · Jun 3, 2003

you should leave canada now...im sure of it

MercenaryForHire · Jun 3, 2003

Originally posted by: Rogozhin
nope

don't do it, get a geforce 3 ti200 or radeon 8500LE, that 4mx is a piece of crap and won't last you very long with your new rig.

it's basically an overclocked geforce 2 with more efficient memory interface.

so, get a geforce 3 ti200, radeon 8500LE, or a geforce 4 ti4200 64mb.

rogo

Thank you for your insightful and positive commentary.

- M4H

Corporate Thug · Jun 3, 2003

if i were you, i wouldnt make any upgrades. instead, save the money up for a new system

Frodolives · Jun 3, 2003

I'm well aware of the stigma of the gf4mx, but mine is just plain GREAT for the $50 that it costs at newegg shipped, and a far cry from the old gf2, plus SVO.

It's an Albatron gf4mx440 sen. The site says 5.3gb memory bandwidth but they are made with 4ns memory now so it's actually 6.4gb.

The default speeds are not too shabby either at GPU Clock 270MHz, Memory Clock 200MHz, RAMDAC 350MHz. Since my budget is so tight just now it's not a matter of comparing it to obviously better cards, this is a capable little card and I don't mind scaling down details a bit here and there for such nice performance.

kag · Jun 3, 2003

Originally posted by: shady06
if i were you, i wouldnt make any upgrades. instead, save the money up for a new system

I've thought about that too, but I will probably only buy a new system in two years... so I need to give my current one some slack

Frodolives, that sounds good! How important is having a brand name on a nVidia chip like the GF4MX? Just the name Albatron doesn't sound terrific, but they all have the same chip, don't they?

Jeff7181 · Jun 3, 2003

Originally posted by: shady06
if i were you, i wouldnt make any upgrades. instead, save the money up for a new system

I agree... if you just want something to hold you over, get a GeForce3 Ti200

Frodolives · Jun 3, 2003

Originally posted by: kag

Frodolives, that sounds good! How important is having a brand name on a nVidia chip like the GF4MX? Just the name Albatron doesn't sound terrific, but they all have the same chip, don't they?

Well, I'm in favor of name brands, but it seems to me that Albatron is becoming one. Before buying that card I read reviews of several of their products, visited their website (above average organization there btw) and also read the user reviews posted by various newegg customers on various of their cards. You may wish to do the same.

The majority of reviews and feedback impressed me favorably. One guy claims that the thermal paste on his gf4 (4200 I think?) had insufficient contact which would indeed be a quality glitch, so being nervous I double checked mine, it was fine

They look to me to be well constructed and designed, and the passive cooling is ample for this card.

kag · Jun 3, 2003

Ok, cool, thanks!

KillaBong · Jun 4, 2003

I have a 600eb and I just bought a ti200 for 50 bucks to stick in it. It is cpu limited with this card, but it sure doesn't hurt to be a little overpowered for that money.

spanky · Jun 4, 2003

there are plenty of gf3's in fs/ft.

for example...
Visiontek GeForce3 Ti200 64mb w/Ramsinks and Thermaltake Blue Orb... excellent overclocker -$60 shipped

kurt454 · Jun 4, 2003

Another vote for the GF 3. Don't expect to play the newest games well, though. Games are getting real cpu dependant nowadays.

kag · Jun 7, 2003

I was offered a very good summer job ($$$), so I thought that maybe I could build myself another computer...

Although I'll have a couple of bucks for this, I won't be able to buy the latest of everything. I thought about a good-but-not-fancy mobo because I never overclock (I don't like to have a thousand fans running in my computer). Then I'd go for like a 2.4Ghz with the 533FSB. The mobo and the CPU themselves are too expensive if I go for the 800FSB version.

That way, would a GF3 still be okay? I could go ahead a buy the GF3 right now so one way or the other, it would be used either in my current one or in a new one. Same thing for like a 40GB HDD I'm going to buy.

Waddaya think?

spanky · Jun 7, 2003

for a 2.4 p4... i would suggest getting a ti4200... that is... if u can extend ur vieo card budget.

kurt454 · Jun 7, 2003

The extra cpu/mem speed will definitely push a GF3 faster than the P3 would. I would try to find a hot deal on a 4200, but a Geforce3, with some overclocking, will still allow you to play most games on the market now. You will have to use 0 AA/AF though.

kag · Jun 8, 2003

What about this one?

Doesn't look too bad to me, I could possibly get it for around $45 I guess

kurt454 · Jun 8, 2003

Go for it.

rogue1979 · Jun 8, 2003

If your really going to upgrade your rig, get a GF3, Radeon 8500 or a GF4 Ti4200 If you can afford it. If your not gonna upgrade for a while, then just stick a GF2 Pro in there.

I just upgraded two systems with the 8RDA and 1700+ t-bred "B". $43 for the cpu's, $59 for the refurbished motherboards. Both are rock stable at 2200MHz.

Best video card for my aging computer?

Golden Member

Elite Member

Golden Member

Senior member

Golden Member

Senior member

Golden Member

Platinum Member

Lifer

Lifer

Lifer

Platinum Member

Golden Member

Lifer

Platinum Member

Golden Member

Senior member

Lifer

Senior member

Golden Member

Lifer

Senior member

Golden Member

Senior member

Diamond Member