Buying a new video card for UT2003: how much do I need?

[bupkus]

Buying a new video card for UT2003: how much do I need?

I'm ready to get the MSI G4Ti4200-TD (8870-030) GF4 TI4200 64MB from Newegg cause the price and owner comments sound good. Will it do the job? Currently using, if you can call it using, a Matrox G550.
Specifications for MSI card
I'm looking forward to doom 3 but that's all I'll probably play.

Thanks.

 

[halkebul]

It will definetly do the job. Very good component choice!

 

[bupkus]

So the 64MB upper limit isn't an issue? Do you think 64 will be enough for UT2003 and the future Doom 3?

 

[halkebul]

Originally posted by: bupkus
So the 64MB upper limit isn't an issue? Do you think 64 will be enough for UT2003 and the future Doom 3?

I would go with the 128MB version of this card in order for it to have future usability (DoomIII). Fellow on NewEgg said he was able to play UT2003 without a problem, with this card. Could also get some extra juice out of it by overclocking it using PowerStrip.

 

[Superman9534]

I have an XfX Ti 4200 64MB and I get 50-80fps in UT 2003 (1024x768, normal details).

 

[halkebul]

Tech-Report writes in the article entitled <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.tech-report.com/etc/2002q3/graphicsmem/index.x?pg=1">TR's graphics memory size comparison
Is 64MB enough?</a>:

If clock speeds are equal, there's definitely a benefit to getting a graphics card with 128 versus 64MB of graphics memory. Of course, prices for cards with different memory sizes aren't going to be the same, so how much more you're willing to pay is going to come down to how much you want to future-proof your purchase. As we saw in our testing, newer games are making use of extra graphics memory when it's available. Future titles, whose geometry and highest-detail textures should easily saturate 64MB of memory, will only further widen the performance gap between 64 and 128MB cards.

 

[jaybee]

Originally posted by: bupkus
So the 64MB upper limit isn't an issue? Do you think 64 will be enough for UT2003 and the future Doom 3?

Yup -- if you want to play at 640x480. 8x6 might be acceptable too, but from what I've seen, DoomIII is going to really tax your video card. My GF4 4400 struggles with bf1942 and UT2k3 at 10x7x2AA, and the performance at 8x6x2 isn't smooth, so a 64MB 4200 is really going to suffer.

It's all a matter of what's acceptable to you, but I think DIII is going to be a major leap in terms of hardware requirements. If you have $220 or so to spend -- and can wait for the 9700 (not Pro) to come out -- do it. Otherwise, I think you should find a 128MB board.

just my $.02
jaybee

 

[TenEgg]

I think 128mb is a must if you want to play doom3.

About the 9700 non pro version, I saw the specs from gigabyte. It is 275/540, but only 3.6ns ram, so I'm guessing it can do 325/650 max without any mods. Well I'm waiting to see the reviews on it.