Brand name cards

Axloz

Member
May 2, 2001
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Im looking at purchasing a GF4ti4200 64mb card. Heres my options:

X-micro GF4ti4200
or
Creative GF4ti4200

both are 64 mb. The Creative card is about $25AUD more than the Xmicro

My questions:

Does the brand name necessarily mean its a better card? - Will it have better resale value when i get a Radeon 9500 :)?
and
Has anyone had good/bad experiences with either of these cards?

Any input will be much appreciated.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,215
11
81
Get the 128MB.

Meh...if you are looking for resale value, you might get more for a better name card. But you pay more for it now.
 

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
64MB benchmarks better than 128MB, since 128 has slower memory

128MB will have the advantage with large textures in games that use more then 64mb,you can overclock 128mb cards with no problems anyway,128mb is a wise investment and a better choice then 64mb version.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,215
11
81
Originally posted by: techietam
Get the 128MB

64MB benchmarks better than 128MB, since 128 has slower memory

Don't backtalk me boy.

99.999% of the 128MB versions will easily overclock to 64MB speeds and beyond. Also, see which one is better in games that actually use the additional memory, clock speeds aside.
 

AnAndAustin

Platinum Member
Apr 15, 2002
2,112
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:eek: Selling on any 64MB card in a few months time is going to be difficult, there are already games which show 128MB and even before that the 13% higher RAM clock on the 4200-64 on equates to about 2-3% even before the extra RAM is truly needed. The same should be true when they are both o/c'ed, a 4200-64 @ 300/600 won't be at all significantly faster than a 4200-128 @ 300/550 and once more than 64MB is needed in a game expect that 4200-64 @ 300/600 to drop to 4200-128 @ 250/444 frame rates. 4200-64 is still a VERY fine card, but I'd pers pay the extra $20 to get 128MB myself. Manu makes little diff for GF4TI4200, just avoid EVGA, AOpen and the std Gainward cards and you're sweet! Here's some reviews:

Tech-Report Ref 4200-64 275/550
TomsHW Ref 4200-64 310/550
AnAndTech Gainward 4200-128 330/540
FiringSquad Ref 4200-64 285/600
GotApex VisionTek 4200-128 315/560
ExHW VisionTek 4200-128 300/550)
Tweak3D Visiontek's GF4 roundup (4200-128 316/570)
HardOCP Abit OTES 4200 305/600
Sud Abit OTES 4200 295/585
AnAndTech 4200 roundup
Abit 4200-64 290/600, Gainward 4200-128 330/540, Inno3D 4200-64 300/610, Prolink 4200-128 320/550, Visiontek 4200-128 330/600 AVE=314/580
Tech-Report 4200 roundup
MSI 4200-128 333/585, Visiontek 4200-128 320/587, Compro 4200-128 311/517, Gainward 4200-64 311-635, Abit 4200-64 323-622, Albatron 4200-64 317/613, MSI 4200-64 314/584, PNY 4200-64 285/612 AVE=314/594

A look at 128MB vs 64MB (all cards clocked to 250/500)

A look at 4200-128 vs 4200-64[/L]
 

techietam

Senior member
Jan 29, 2002
774
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Wow!!!
I just got attacked! :)

I know that 128MB card can be overclocked beyond 64MB version but
64MB card with 3.3ns memory can do the same thing much better
than 128MB card with 4ns memory.

As far as textures over 64MB in size goes... Which games are using those right now?
This is just a question. I think, Tom's Hardware site mentioned the same thing.
In a while we'll see that but for now, I think, not too many games do that.

If you are planning too keep that card for a few years, then 128MB version
would be the way to go.

Please, don't flame me. I have a serious question :)

Edit: Just saw the last post. I guess, I missed newest reviews :eek:

Techie


 

AnAndAustin

Platinum Member
Apr 15, 2002
2,112
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;) I don't think anybody was trying to attack you techietam, just voicing a diff opinion ... and that's just Deeko's style BTW.

99% of 4200-64MB use 3.6ns have std clocks of 250/500 and should o/c to about 300/600.
99% of 4200-128MB use 4.0ns with std clocks of 250/444 and should o/c to about 300/550.
4400-128MB = 275/550 o/c = 300/640
4600-128MB = 300/650 o/c = 300/720

:D There are the new 4200-8X-128MB which use 250/500 std clocks and are therefore going to come with 3.6ns meaning a 300/600 o/c. Then there are the enhanced 4200-128MB cards using 3.3ns BGA RAM (TSOP is std on all other 4200's) and the longer 4400/4600 board design (good egs being Albatron P Turbo and Suma Special Edition). These often come clocked about 260/550 and o/c to about 300/720 although the Asus Deluxe is 'only' equivilent to a 4400 hence 300/640 once o/c'ed.

;) Checking the links and looking around there are about 4 current games which show improvements with a 128MB card meaning they pull out a large lead regardless of clocks. IIRC JK2 and Commanche4 are the 2 best known and DoomIII will certainly favour the 128MB cards. 64MB will do no harm at all and on a GF3, GF4TI, Rad8500 or Rad9000PRO will play all current games very well ... but anybody looking to buy a card is better off with a 128MB version, they hardly cost anymore and are better in the long term (more games will use it AND it avoids having to reduce details/candy) and even in the short term (when you sell it on a 128MB will sell quicker and for more cash).
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,215
11
81
I don't think anybody was trying to attack you techietam, just voicing a diff opinion ... and that's just Deeko's style BTW.
true, true...twas no attack, I actually found my comment rather amusing.
 

techietam

Senior member
Jan 29, 2002
774
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0
I don't think anybody was trying to attack you techietam, just voicing a diff opinion ... and that's just Deeko's style BTW.

:) :) :)

I know, guys. I was kidding about being attacked ;) :) :)

The only reason why I said that thing about 64MB card was the Anandtech's
benchmark article that was posted on this site:

GPU shootout

Even with 1600X1200 resolution running high details 64MB card still
shows higher results (running @ stock speed)

Tom's Hardware shows the same thing here:

Ti4200 Results

That's what my opinion was based on :)

But if a game is using textures over 64MB in size, then 128MB card will win for sure, since it
takes longer to process the graphics using RAM.

I guess, I was just trying to make myself feel better after buying 64MB Gainward with 3.3ns
memory, which cost only $5(!) dollars less than 128MB card on Newegg.com :)

Gainward cards

:) :) :) :)
 

phintze

Senior member
Sep 19, 2002
241
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0
I ordered a gainward ti4200 64MB from newegg, and the next day the 128 MB card dropped to about $5 more. That will make you sick to your stomach... The card still rocks o/c'd stable at 300/600.