GF4 4200 64meg for $100 best bang for the buck right now (9/02)? or a gf3 ti200 for $70?

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
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3,300
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best buy has PNY gf4 4200 64meg for $129 - $30 rebate = $99 + tax.

Is that the best bang for your buck video card right now? if not, then what is? (and links to benchmarks pls)

THX
 

AnAndAustin

Platinum Member
Apr 15, 2002
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:eek: That seems like one heck of a 'bang for buck', although it is still very wise to only buy a 128MB card regardless of type. Even though a 4200-64MB tends to come with 13% faster RAM clock by default than the 4200-128MB cards this only works out to be 2-3%, so even before the extra RAM becomes necessary you'd already be paying the price for going 64MB on a new card. As for o/c'ing 4200-64 tend to come with 3.6ns RAM which tend to hit about 300/600 (core/RAM) which is near 4600 speeds. However when 64MB becomes limiting the perf will drop heavily and you'll only be roughly getting perf equiv to a 4200-128 at DEFAULT clock of 250/444. As such a 4200-128 is certainly worth the extra cash, as 128MB becomes more and more necessary over the coming months your madly o/c'ed 4200-64 won't be giving a whole lot more than a 128MB GF3 or 128MB Rad8500/9000PRO.

;) 'Best bang for buck' ... I'd say yes, but depending on how much extra a 4200-128 is and how much less the 128MB GF3/Rad cards are. If you have a fast CPU (Athlon 1.6ghz+ or P4 2.0ghz+) then a 4200 even with 'only' 64MB is a wise buy as Rad8500/9000PRO and GF3 generaly gain very little perf when going to the faster CPUs. There's no denying though, Rad8500, Rad9000, GF3 and ALL GF4TI are great cards!
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
30,160
3,300
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i have a celeron 950 w/512meg ram. i figure that i'll be keeping this card for at least 2 years. heck, i'm still using a radeon SDR 32meg PCI from 2 years ago. of course i get like 10 fps in Serious Sam2 using 2xAA.

i could spend $70 now and get a gf3 ti200 to last a year, or spend $100 for a gf4 4200 and last 2 years.
 

conlan

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2001
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IMHO, With a 950 Celly, i'd get the GF3 and save your money for a CPU and VidCard upgrade down the road, especially considering VidCard prices are going to be dropping with NV30 and XP4 coming soon.
 

AnAndAustin

Platinum Member
Apr 15, 2002
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:( Yup, with a Cely 950 you won't be getting anything out of the 4200 you couldn't get out of a GF3 or Rad8500, but you should find a 128MB GF3 or Rad8500 performs better, esp over the coming months than a 4200-64MB, if you had an AthlonXP1800+ or P4 2.0ghz (or better) then the 4200 even with 64MB would be the better buy. Well to say the 4200 with a Cely 950 would give 'nothing' extra isn't entirely true. It should be a smidge faster than both and will certainly give a lot more when the time comes to upgrade your CPU. In addition over the GF3 it has much better image quality, dual display, TVout, Quin AA and will sell on much better. Over the Rad8500 the 4200 sports HUGELY better AA (esp in 2xAA and QxAA) as well as better quality (but slower) Aniso. So if you want AA that pretty much rules out the Radeon cards (excl the wonderful Rad9700) and if you want much better image quality, dual display, TVout and the ability to eek out lots more perf with a faster CPU then 4200 is certainly the way to go. That's my take on it anyway!

;) NV30 isn't going to be selling sub-$150, certainly for a good while and there's been no news of the Rad9500 either. I'd suggest a 4200 for the above reasons but if you aren't going to be upgrading your CPU in the coming months then you'd be better served really getting a Rad8500/9000PRO or GF3 esp in 128MB versions. NV28 is scheduled for release any day now, but how long you want to wait for availability, prices to settle, reviews to come out etc etc really does mean you could always be waiting for the next big thing. I'd say you really need to consider a CPU and therefore mobo if not RAM too. With AthlonXP1900+ type CPUs being so cheap it really makes sense to put your money there, there are a few SktA mobos which possess both SDR (PC133) and DDR slots which can take the sting out of the upgrade. Current Pricewatch prices show AthlonXP1900+ $80 or XP1800+ $69 (same price as a Cely 1.3ghz) and SktA mobo are only about $50 too. Using SDR PC133 would only knock perf about 10% which isn't too bad considering the huge leap in perf, at least then you'd be able to get a whole lot more out of any gfx card you choose.
 

alexruiz

Platinum Member
Sep 21, 2001
2,836
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Originally posted by: XFILE
i have a celeron 950 w/512meg ram. i figure that i'll be keeping this card for at least 2 years. heck, i'm still using a radeon SDR 32meg PCI from 2 years ago. of course i get like 10 fps in Serious Sam2 using 2xAA.

i could spend $70 now and get a gf3 ti200 to last a year, or spend $100 for a gf4 4200 and last 2 years.

Serious Sam is heavily dependant on CPU power.....

 

Cat

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
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Bestbuy.com lists the PNY 4200 at $199, not $129. Where did you see this price? Thanks.
 

Johnbear007

Diamond Member
Jul 1, 2002
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id like to know too about this geforce4?


Can you guys recommend a card for me too please?

I currently have a athlon xp1700+, 384 MB SDR , Radeon 64mb DDR VIVO

Whould that geforce4 give me a significant performance boost?
 

AnAndAustin

Platinum Member
Apr 15, 2002
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;) With an XP1700+ you really will gain from a GF4TI (note the TI, don't get an MX version). Although Rad8500/9000PRO and GF3 are also options read my post above for more info on why to pay the extra for a GF4TI card. So really a 4200-128MB by any manu is what you should go for (IMHO) and you should easily find then under $150 if not under $130. If your budget is a little more limited then you could get a 4200-64MB or even a 128MB Rad8500, Rad9000PRO or GF3 ... they'll all give you a HUGE boost over the Radeon DDR you're currently using. If you get a 4200 or GF3 you want to enable 2xAA if not a little Aniso too, and also rem these cards o/c very well, GF3TI200 often reach or exceed GF3TI500 speeds while GF4TI4200 often reach/exceed GF4TI4400 speeds. If you go Radeon8500/9000PRO then you want to enable high Aniso but forget AA, that's my thoughts anyway!
 

Johnbear007

Diamond Member
Jul 1, 2002
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Hmmm... It really sounds like 128MB is the way to go


But not sure if I can afford a g4 128mb maybe a radeon

what are prices like compared between the two. and speed featureS? ill start looking into it, thanks!