GeForce 2 MX 32MB Vs. ATI Radeon VE 64MB DDR

[tullyganny]

Hi guys. This is my first post and maybe this topic has been done to death before but I just need to know which one of these cards would you go for? I know it is not the best choice in the world but right now its my only one. Can anyone give me some thoughts on this?

Thanx

 

[Eug]

The Radeon VE is slower than the Geforce2 MX by a significant margin. The Radeon LE is faster than the Geforce2 MX by a significant margin. Both are the same price. The Radeon LE has no dual head function though. Are you somewhere where the Radeon LE is unavailable? If you can't get the LE, I'd still be hesitant to recommend the Geforce2 MX, simply because it's more likely than not that the 2D quality will be mediocre or poor.

What about the Kyro II? I have not seen it myself, but on a fast machine it will be faster than all of these, at least for some games, and I'm told it has good 2D. It's a bit more expensive though.

 

[tullyganny]

Thanx 4 replying. Well u see I am going to buy a machine off Gateway and I only have the above two cards as an option with that syatem. They are offering the TNT2 as well but I think I better keep away from that card, right? What do you mean by the MX having bad 2D performance? Will this be affecting Windows and applications at all? I knew that the MX wasn't a top notch card but I thought it would do, I like playing games and would prefer a better card but they will not put any other cards into the machine for me so I am restricted to those 3 cards I mentioned.

I have heard about the LE and its overclocking capabilities as well as being able to turn on the hyper z function but I would have to buy that elsewhere.

Mark

 

[savoyl1]

Unfortunately your post does not show where you hail from but if it is the US or Canada you can pick up the LE for $80US ($120Can). If it was me I would buy the sysem with a TNT2 and sell the card. Then buy an LE and pay the difference. The TNT2 is not a bad card. Just a little outdated. I have been using one for over a year now.

I am am just about to upgrade though. You have to do that every once in a while if you want to play some games. I do not believe the LE supports hyperZ. Thats the one of the things radeon cut out of the card to make it cheaper. Still a great card for the price.

 

[Eug]

The LE shuts off HyperZ only via software. A simple registry entry reactivates it. If you don't like playing around in the registry, then all you need is to download a free tweaker that turns it on for you, and that also lets you overclock the card. With a fan, basically everyone hits 166 MHz, with most hitting 180 MHz or higher. (I run at 191 although up to over 195 is stable.) At 175+ MHz with HyperZ the card simply flies.

What I was saying about 2D is that the Geforce2 MX has a reputation for blurry text at high resolutions, but it varies from card to card, and I don't know anything about the Gateway iteration of this card. However, at 1280x960 or higher, it can be quite annoying if you get one of the not-so-good cards. That said, given your three options I'd consider getting the Geforce2 MX, since you want to play games. If the 2D is OK then you're laughing, and many people are fine with it even if it ain't perfect. If you don't like the 2D quality, then I'd sell it and buy a Radeon LE or Kyro II.

 

[tullyganny]

Hi, thanx 4 replying. I am actually in Ireland and if I wanted to get the LE I would have to buy it over the net. That is a good idea about getting the TNT 2 then selling it off later but I may not be able to open the PC I get from Gateway because it will void the warranty, it is kinda annoying that. Basically if you don't buy components off them you have to void the warranty to put in 3rd party components, s****y or what!

Of the MX and the Radeon VE which would u go for? I'm thinking the MX but someone mentioned it was a poor performer in 2D, what does that mean?

 

[tullyganny]

Eug, I appericiate all your thoughts. As far as I know the monitor I will be using only goes to a maximum resolution of 1280 X 1024, it is a 17 inch monitor. So do u think that the MX would hve the blurriness at this resolution? Anyways if there is some of this bluriness coming up I will just complain to them about it. I can send the whole thing back again before 16 days if I want. Right now it's looking like I'll go for the MX. Anything else I should know?

 

[savoyl1]

Bluriness depends on which Manufacturer made the board. I would go with the MX as it will provide the best gaming of your available options. If it is blurry send the system back. Thanks for the info on the Hyper Z Eug. I did not know that. If I buy an LE and I might I will refer back to you to get this turned on.

 

[tullyganny]

I would love to go for the LE myself, it sounds like a great option, cheap as well as good performance. All the reviews I have read about it have been positive. Well thank you all for making the decision a little easier for me. I wanted to be exactly sure what I was getting before shelling out for this PC as I have saved so long and hard for it. Does anyone find it strange that the Radeon VE(£150) costs more than the MX(£100), well at lest here in Ireland anyways (with Gateway), I wonder are they trying to make out that it is the proper Radeon and selling them off the VE to people who do not know any better?

Sometime down the road I may be needing some answers so it is nice to know that I can come here to get them!

Thanx

 

[gtd2000]

This is one problem which has varying solutions according to the part of the world you live in.

Every man and his dog in the USA (generally) says get a Radeon over an GF2 MX - thats because in some cases a Radeon is the same price or even significantly cheaper than an MX.

The GF2 MX is a decent performing card and if it is going to be 50 quid (or Punt?) less than a Radeon LE (which is almost US$80 - what the card costs here new virtually!!!) then it is a better deal overall.

I lived in Hong Kong for the past 5.5 years and before I left (April, 2001) you could buy almost 3 No. GF2 MX cards for the price of one Radeon card!!!

I have also seen numerous MX cards in action and never seen any that display poor quality 2D - even the cheapest card available which I purchased (Axle brand) in Febuary this year for approx 40 quid - and it even had -5ns RAM good for a 210/230 overclock

So to summarise - assuming both are equally priced get the Radeon LE and overclock it - the VE is a slower card and not as fast supposedly as the MX.

I would not choose the TNT2 card - I'm sure you will be quite happy even with the MX card when you actually see it in action However, stick to 1024 x 768 x 16 etc when playing games and you'll be nice and smooth.

If you decide you really need the Radeon - see if you can get one 2nd hand thru one of the guys on here - US postage to foreign lands is riduclous from the online sites ....Then sell the MX card and you'll be much better off than trying to sell a TNT2 card

 

[powervr2]

please don't forget that there is a 3d card (hercules 4000XT) that is actually better than mx at 32 bits...
and I think it will cost less...this card is based in the kyro 1 chip...