Calling those who are experts on older video cards!

[IS300]

I'm in the process of purchasing an older video card, and have quite a few choices to sort through. I got into computers about a one and a half years ago (and aren't familiar with the older ones), so I've been doing serious research on these cards for several hours, but it's a lot of work.

I also found Tom's VGA charts, but it only has video cards starting from the Riva TNT2's. Is there one that offers a similar kind of comparison in this sort of format?

Alternatively, I'm looking at these cards (I know it's a wide range):

Matrox G2+ 8 meg AGP
Viper 770 16 meg AGP
Jaton 16 meg AGP (shows up in XP as an Nvidia Vanta)
Savage 4 8MB SDRAM
voodoo3 2000 AGP 16 mb w/ tv out
ATI 3D Charger AGP (3D Rage IIC)
ATI Xpert@Play 98 kit 8mb AGP w/tv out
Diamond Stealth S540 32mb AGP (S3 Savage4 Pro+)
3D Blaster Banshee 16MB AGP
VisionTek nVidia M64 TNT2 32mb AGP
Matrox Millenium II AGP
voodoo 3500 w/ tv out.

Similar to benchmarking, if a Geforce2 MX400 64MB was assigned a score of 1000, what would the other cards score relative to the MX400?

thanks,

Mike

 

[MWWInc]

So are you only interested in performance? What are you going to be using it for?

 

[doog519]

You said.
You Aren't familiar with the older ones.
You a redneck son?
Even thought they no longer offer support go with the Vodoo if you can get it for the right price. under $25.00

Good Luck

 

[IS300]

I'm interested in a combination of features/performance, including using it for my an old PC with only PCI port, and another really cheap one for testing newly built PCs, and yet another for my mom, who wants a video card with tv-out. In addition, relative performance is still very important to me, as I may have future uses later on.

I'm really not looking to spend much, but I'm one of those people who really wants to get the best peformance for their money, regardless of whether I spend $10 or $1000.

I thought performance might give me a clue as to the relative value and prices I should pay for them.

 

[SexyK]

I've got a beautiful Diamond Viper V770 16 meg (which is a TNT2 based card, BTW) sitting right here. You can have it for the low, low price of only US$150.00!! you pay for shipping of course. I've also still got the origonal packaging, if you want that too ill throw it in

Kramer

EDIT: I've also got a Riva128 based card with 4mb of SDRAM here, if you're interested!

 

[IS300]

SexyK,

I take it you mean $15?

 

[Conky]

I would take the V3 3500 over any thing else in that list including the GF2MX.

 

[MWWInc]

Ok, so how old is the first PC that doesn't have an AGP slot (what proc/mobo)?

Also, is your mom's comp going to be doing besides using the TV-out, like gaming?

As for the card for testing, you can pick up a TNT2 (any brand) for $20. That should do you since nVidia cards are *usually* more compatible with a wide variety of hardware.

 

[Athlon4all]

Well, I'd say here's a little bit of input:

V3 2000: 650
V3 3500: 700
TNT2: 750
TNT2 M64: 550
Savage4: 650
GF2MX 400: 1000

These are just gustimates

 

[Woody419]

You should consider all the parts in a computer if you want them to work harmoniously together, not just the graphics card. Another prime consideration is the OS you plan to use with these computers, now and in the near future, before you buy a card check out the current driver situation. Some of the cards mentioned may not have WinXP support if you go that route.

Matrox has always been good about updating drivers with tested and stable releases. It would be hard to test new systems with out of date and buggy drivers with a card whose manufacturer went out of business.