help me decide! im pulling my hair off! (Ti4200)

[silencer534]

system specs:

1.1 GHz TBird
Asus A7V M/B
512MB PC133 RAM
15 GB HD
Games will be running at 1024x768

im having a very hard time to decide what 3d card to get, im not sure if I should get the 128MB version or the 64MB version, I want a card that will last me to around christmas time, I'll be mostly playing games that recently came out such as, RTCW, MOH:AA, Ghost Recon, WC3,NWN and so on, I don't think I will be playing the super new games coming out like UT2K3, or Doom 3, but I heard that even tho the 128MB is slower than 64mb it really make a difference for me since Im gonna be playing at 1024x768 w/o AA, is this true? will I see a big difference if Im running at these settings? which would be the best choice for me?if Im going to get the 128MB version im going to get

GAINWARD/CARDEXPERT GeForce 4 Ti 4200, 4ns, 128MB DDR, Power Pack Golden Sample, 1 CRT + TV out, (No DVI, no TV-In), overclocking enhanced mode, DVD player software. Retail. P/N: VGF4TI4200T @ newegg.com

and the 64MB one i want to get is

http://gameve.com/store/gameve_viewitem.asp?idproduct=403

yesterday I was for more sure that i wanted the 64mb, but after hearing about how it wont matter since im running at 1024x768 im kinda leaning to the 128mb version now, your help is greatly appreciated, THANKS!

 

[silencer534]

is AOpen any good? heres another decently priced one

http://gameve.com/store/gameve_viewitem.asp?idproduct=449

 

[Bovinicus]

If you are playing in 1024x768 I seriously doubt 128MB is going to hurt you. In fact, I think the 64MB versions of the Ti4200 are clocked faster than the 128MB versions. This clockspeed different will have more of an impact than the amount of memory.

 

[xpr8]

If you plan on upgrading in December anyways, I'd say go for the cheaper one.

 

[Trevelyan]

Get the 128MB on if you're looking for long term games (IE Doom3 UT2K)... get the 64MB if you are indeed sure you are going to upgrade in December.

 

[silencer534]

well see the thing is, which one should I get just to be sure? and is it true that with my settings (1024x768 w/o AA) that it would be better to get the 128mb

 

[silencer534]

"But with the Ti 4200 the issue is a bit more complex than the ~$20 difference in price between the two boards. While both cards are clocked at the same 250MHz GPU clock, the 64MB cards use faster 250MHz DDR SDRAM while the 128MB cards are stuck with 222MHz memory. The 11% slower memories hurts performance as it reduces memory bandwidth from 8GB/s to 7.1GB/s, which is noticeable at higher resolutions."


it is said noticable at "higher" resolutions, so if im running at 1024x768 it wont matter right?

 

[CubicZirconia]

You really have to run at 1280x1024 before you start noticing much of a difference. That said, I would probably still get the 128 mb version. It will not be difficult at all to overclock the memory on the 128 mb card. That way you have the insurance of the extra ram in case the card has to last you longer than previously thought.

 

[wfbberzerker]

if you just want something till christmas, go for a geforce3 ti (500, probably). plays todays games just fine, and by christmas, something bigger and better will be out!

 

[Gog]

do both the 64 mb and 128 mb variants have nvnew? I know the 128mb card does...

 

[Mavrick007]

Get the Gainward Ti4200 with 128megs. Don't think about it, just go and start playing some games.

Any of the GF4 Ti cards are more than fast enough to play todays games as well as games to come for awhile. It's overclockable and the golden sample one comes clocked higher with their utility right out of the box. The speed isn't going to be much different when comparing a 64meg faster ram card to the 128meg slower ram card and it will last longer in case you decide not to upgrade too soon or decide not to give up game playing.

 

[FluxCapacitor]

I seriously doubt that 128MB is going to do anything for you, at all.

The 4200 doesn't have any features that can really make use of 128MB of RAM (unless you felt the need for 1600x1200 with 4xAA, which seems unacceptable for decent frame rates) The 128MB of RAM is more like a "feature" to get you to buy the card. Once one company puts out a card using 128MB suddenly every company thinks they need 128MB on theirs in order to sell you a card, even if it does nothing for you the consumer at all.

I'd say in this case you are paying more, yet getting slower RAM. Not exactly a good deal. It reminds me of the old tnt2's with 64MB RAM.... did a whole lot of nothing. They couldn't make use of it if they tried, yet it sounded really cool.

Get the Gainward 64MB version and overclock it as far as it'll go. You'll be a lot happier.

Here's the bottom line --> If the 64MB 4200 plays all the games you want to play at 1024x768 with 4xAA on NOW, it's going to be able to play any game in the FUTURE with 64MB at 1024x768 with 4xAA. 128MB will make NO difference to this fact. Don't waste your money.

The 64MB card will last you WELL PAST Christmas. Now go out and buy it. Don't believe the hype.

 

[Chadder007]

I believe there are only going to be like two games that may take advantage of the extra memory if you get the 128 meg boards.......and that is either Doom3 or UT2003, I forget which one but it uses like 80 meg textures.

 

[Derango]

Originally posted by: Bovinicus
If you are playing in 1024x768 I seriously doubt 128MB is going to hurt you. In fact, I think the 64MB versions of the Ti4200 are clocked faster than the 128MB versions. This clockspeed different will have more of an impact than the amount of memory.

the gainward 128MB card is clocked the same as a 64MB card.

 

[FluxCapacitor]

Quote
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by: Bovinicus
If you are playing in 1024x768 I seriously doubt 128MB is going to hurt you. In fact, I think the 64MB versions of the Ti4200 are clocked faster than the 128MB versions. This clockspeed different will have more of an impact than the amount of memory.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



the gainward 128MB card is clocked the same as a 64MB card.

I believe he was referring to the 64MB card having faster RAM than the 128MB card. The cpu's are indeed clocked at the same speed however.

 

[Derango]

Originally posted by: FluxCapacitor

Quote
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by: Bovinicus
If you are playing in 1024x768 I seriously doubt 128MB is going to hurt you. In fact, I think the 64MB versions of the Ti4200 are clocked faster than the 128MB versions. This clockspeed different will have more of an impact than the amount of memory.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



the gainward 128MB card is clocked the same as a 64MB card.

I believe he was referring to the 64MB card having faster RAM than the 128MB card. The cpu's are indeed clocked at the same speed however.

The ram on the Gainward Golden Sample 128MB cards is clocked at either 530 or 540 (I can't remember which one at the moment, I'm not next to my computer) from the factory.

I'm not just making these figures up...I do actaully have this card

 

[ToBeMe]

My advice.......get the 64mb Gainward Ti4200, you'll be happy with that! Another thing concerns me though............take the money you save plus a bit more and go check out "Hair Club For Men"........................I could understand if you were pulling your hair out................but you're pulling your hair off and that can't be a good thing.........

 

[Alienwho]

Ok, so the gainward TI4200 128mb at newegg (id # N82E16814128132) is the overclocked version? If so anybody know any other places to buy it other then newegg?

 

[silencer534]

well Im not a big overclocker, so I don't plan on over clocking my new card, so what Im thinkin is, if Im going to play the recent games like Ghost Recon, RTCW, MOH:AA, NWN, WC3 at 1024x768 w/o AA and not games like UT2K3 and Doom 3 that require more memory, than the 64MB is the one to get?and if I was going to get the 64MB one would this be a good choice

http://gameve.com/store/gameve_viewitem.asp?idproduct=403

 

[silencer534]

and another thing, I have a fairly old monitor, Compaq MV400 which maximums resolution is 1024x768, and my refresh rate i believe is 60hz, will my new card get held back by my low refresh rate?

 

[silencer534]

bump

 

[Alienwho]

Ok unless anybody says different this is what i'm going to get and what I expect this card to do.

GAINWARD/CARDEXPERT GeForce 4 Ti 4200, 4ns, 128MB DDR, Power Pack Golden Sample, 1 CRT + TV out, (No DVI, no TV-In), overclocking enhanced mode, DVD player software. Retail. P/N: VGF4TI4200T . $168

I'm expecting this card to be the one that is clocked the same as the 64mb card and easily overclockable. Is that a decent price? I want to order this thing today.

 

[silencer534]

???

 

[silencer534]

if the gainward is clocked at 500mhz like the 64mb, then I think ill get that instead, but can anyone confirm this?

 

[Mavrick007]

Originally posted by: silencer534
if the gainward is clocked at 500mhz like the 64mb, then I think ill get that instead, but can anyone confirm this?

*Confirmed*

(at least that's what Newegg has on their chipset info).