comparing top quality 4200 with cheap

[faye]

Hi, for example... If Leaktec is the best GF4 out there... Ti4200
and MSI is the cheapest one... (i am not sure which one is the best and which is worst, sorry to their fans)

if MSI can be overclocked more than 10% of its core/mem clock where Leaktec can only have 5 to 10%max. what is the other difference?

picture quality for GF4 are mostly same, rite?

what are the elements that matters?

forget about software...

thanks

 

[faye]

sorry, i mean Leadtek

 

[Dthind]

I too am curious...

 

[Mem]

I think image quality and reliabilty(which means sticking with the well known brands in general) are the main things,GF4 TI4200 wise it makes sense to go with 128mb over 64mb for sure,also there`s a nice GF4 ti 4200 roundup here ,infact eleven cards.Taken from the review,

All GeForce 4 Ti4200 cards produce a high quality image, but we nitpicked and made the table you see above. The judgments are harsher than they should have been, so we recommend that you don?t take them for granted.

If we would have to pick a card that has the best 2D image, it would be the Leadtek models, followed by Abit Siluro and Prolink. A bit less sharp, but still great were ASUS, Gainward and Microstar, who we would like to commend as they have been known earlier for series that produced a blurry image.

Choosing which software bundle is best is down to what you prefer between brands,also overclocking wise results will vary,in the end you`ve to decide on price,bundle,brand,etc.
Leadtek are probably the top brand for image quality(GF4 wise),MSI probably have the best software bundle IMHO and good price ,also their image quality has improved.

 

[faye]

i don't need software, all i want is plain simply. Quality and performance.

i can get the software somewhere else... just need the drivers.

which brand has this two elements?

 

[Jackular]

Okay... I am using the MSI GF4 TI4200 64megs one...

Default clock = 250/512, clocked with MSI tweak utility to 300/594 (unable to make it exactly 600mhz for the memory)
Quake III, 3D Mark 2001 SE, all at 1280X1024X32bit, no problem
but... at UT 2003, have white dots all around after 15 mins...
so, lower the clock a bit and everything runs fine

Probably you should go for the 128megs one, coz I cannot run smoothly with NFS Hot Pursuit 2 <-- 1280X1024X32bit highest detail
It's like.. very smooth then suddenly lag for a moment... mostly ram problem

By the way, I only used MSI 27.20 driver as I cannot get other newer drivers or certified Detonator working with my system... Blue screens occured even with Detonator 30.82 or newest 40.72 certified ones...
Using AMD 1.4GHZ + Abit KT7A-Raid + 512MB Crucial, probably too old of a configuration to go with a GF4

 

[Mem]

i don't need software, all i want is plain simply. Quality and performance.

I would shop around and look at prices for Leadtek,Gainward,MSI,Asus and see what` best for you price wise,they are all top brands.

 

[faye]

Originally posted by: Jackular
Okay... I am using the MSI GF4 TI4200 64megs one...

Using AMD 1.4GHZ + Abit KT7A-Raid + 512MB Crucial, probably too old of a configuration to go with a GF4

hahaa, look at my configuration..

in that Ti4200 roundup link, 64mb is faster, !!! how come?

i know 64MB has faster ram but when higher resolution, it should be drop dramatically, but not, how come?

 

[Jackular]

Hay faye! Which driver are you using for your GF 256?

 

[faye]

the latest 40.72_winxp_WHQL

what is Leadtek from?

 

[Mem]

Faye ,it depends on the game,look at Jedi Knight 2 benchmarks herehere .

 

[ultimatebob]

I like my Abit Siluro, which is both cheap AND fast. I didn't get the OTES version, however, because it's much more expensive and only slightly faster.

 

[Beandog]

Hmm, what about the Albatron GF4 4200 series, the standard not the Turbo? Nice price vs performance here, of course card quality over time is tough since they just started producing Video Cards. Also, I see alot of the brands MSI, Leadtek etc now have the GF4 4200 with 8x AGP added? Right now I am trying to decide between the Leadtek 4400 128meg card at newegg for $187, the MSI 4200 128meg card, and the Albatron Standard 4200 128meg...but now I see they have added 8x AGP to the 4200 series, hmm, so would the Leadtek at $187 be better even tho its 4x AGP or should I go with a 4200 128meg 8x AGP card from MSI or Albatron assuming I am upgrading to an 8x Board or is the performance gain not worth it yet for 8X?
EDIT: I only upgrade once a year and I just ordered alot of new parts to build a new comp, MSI KT3Ultra2 etc but I might order an 8x AGP board too if it gives a performance gain, but I am assuming I can run an 8x card in my KT3Ultra2 until I upgrade...trying to decide if the 8x AGP is more important then the speed difference between a 4400 and 4200 assuming both are overclocked.

 

[faye]

Beandog. saw some post in here saying that 8x and 4x and 2x are no big difference.

the videocard support 8x, but just a bigger tube without the pumper.

if u are going to upgrade once a year, wait next year.

i think ...

 

[Beandog]

Yep thanks Faye! I just read a good article that went into detail that lil to no extra performance right now with 8xagp, I am sure that will change in the future though but for now I dont need it. Now to decide whether to get the GF4 4200 128meg for $145 to 160 or to get the GF4 4400 from Leadtek for $187. Most of the GF4 4200 cards I looked at can at least be OC'd to 4400 speeds and some close to 4600, and the 4400 card can easily be overclocked o 4600 speeds...my last part to buy for my new system and I have been agnozing over this item for 2 weeks now...decisions decisions

 

[jackwhitter]

i can tell you from personal experience that not all gf4 4200 cards r made with the same quality (in 2d). my oem gf2 provides better 2d quality (i'm using a graphics quality sony g400 19" monitor) than a chaintech 4200.. just make sure u know what ur getting.