GeForce2 Pro or Integrated GeForce4 MX?

[CKDragon]

I'm putting together an el cheapo system for my younger brother based mostly on old parts that I have laying around and a new EPoX NForce2 IGP motherboard. The system is only going to have 256MB of DDR in it so going with an integrated video card isn't too appealing. I checked Tom's Hardware's video card comparison graph and while it says that the GF4 MX is faster, it doesn't say that they measured it as an integrated solution.

Obviously, with either of these he'd only be able to play old games, but which would you nice people recommend?

Thanks for any help you can provide,

CK

 

[vshah]

they're basically the same core, difference is in clock speeds. the gf4 supports dual monitors, but maybe not in the integrated solution. i'd go with the gf2pro, to save the onboard ram.

<= still using the Geforce 2 ultra in an old pc

 

[dguy6789]

Geforce 4 MXs in general are faster then most the of the geforce 2s. If your running dual channel memory, then use the integrated.

 

[dainthomas]

I've built a few systems using the ASUS board with integrated GF4 MX and they were quite fast. Just remember to use dual channel because I believe the integrated video has exclusive access to one of the channels (someone can correct me if I'm way off base).

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: dainthomas
I've built a few systems using the ASUS board with integrated GF4 MX and they were quite fast. Just remember to use dual channel because I believe the integrated video has exclusive access to one of the channels (someone can correct me if I'm way off base).

I don't think it is actually exclusive, but because 1 64bit gives the XP enough bandwidth, the other 64bit is basically available for the IGP which is why the performance nearly doubles in dualDDR mode. BTW, you can use coolbits to overclock the IGP core speed and use the 44.03's to get even better performance from it. Here is a guide with tons of info on tweaking the nF2 IGP Text He has all the top 3DM2K1 scores for the platform

 

[yhelothar]

Nope, dual channel is so that the video has a 128-bit memory bus at their disposal. I don't see why they would make a design like your description, it'd serve no purpose.
GF4MX should be about the same. I used to use a geforce2GTS and my mom's computer uses an IGP GF4MX with dual channel memory. They're pretty much the same speed.
GF4MX only uses 32MB onboard memory. I doubt 64MB would give any performance increases.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Nope, dual channel is so that the video has a 128-bit memory bus at their disposal. I don't see why they would make a design like your description, it'd serve no purpose.
GF4MX should be about the same. I used to use a geforce2GTS and my mom's computer uses an IGP GF4MX with dual channel memory. They're pretty much the same speed.
GF4MX only uses 32MB onboard memory. I doubt 64MB would give any performance increases.

Talkin' to me? If so all I was saying is that since there are 2 64bit controllers and 1 is enough to feed the XP it basically leaves the bandwidth of the second channel free for the IGP. I did not indicate it is dedicated to it, I in fact stated I do not think it is.

As to what amount of ram it uses, 32mb is incorrect as it is adjustable upto 128mb on some boards, and 64mb with 128mb aperture yielded better results than any combo with 32mb, and not just in 3DMock either for both myself and tripleJ who wrote the guide.