I need your valuable help making a purchase decision

[thereaderrabbit]

Thanks for taking the time to read my post,

I just found out that there's a LAN party this weekend that I want to go to , but realize my computer should get a video upgrade before going (even though I like my TNT2 Ultra) . So what I need is some advice on what video card to purchase that can arrive in or before Friday's mail. Being a college student, I'd like to do it on a reasonable budget (say <$200).

I'd be using the computer for work (number crunching), games (first person shooters and Civ III : ), and photo editing. Right now I'm using two video cards so that I can use a second monitor, but would rather be using once slick AGP solution instead. The system has an Athlon XP, lots of memory (700MB+), and runs WinXP nicely.

Any suggestions? Right now I?m looking at a toss up between the Radeon 8500 and the GeForce4 TI 4200.

-Reader

 

[Zukatah]

The 4200 isn't out yet so the radeon 8500 seems to be the best option that you have. It supports dual monitors and it will be a nice improvement from your TNT2 Ultra (got one myself and I'm not impressed anymore with 50fps in Q3....). If you can wait, I'd go with a 4200 for sure if I were you... it really leaves the 8500 in the dust.

If you need it for friday: 8500
If you can wait a bit longer... 2-3 weeks: 4200

 

[thereaderrabbit]

Zukatah -

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking long the same lines.

I just ordered the 4400. It's a lot more than I wanted to spend, but it should have a long life (just like my TNT).

-Reader

 

[Blurry]

Hey ReaderRabbit, which Ti 4400 did you get?

 

[thereaderrabbit]

Blurry -

I grabbed one of the "PNY Verto Geforce4 TI4400 - 128MB DDR DVI TV Out AGP - OEM".

-Reader

 

[upwardspiral]

where were you able to find the PNY OEM? trying to get one myself.

thanks,
upwardspiral

 

[thereaderrabbit]

Yea, I got the PNY OEM at www.enpc.com.

-Reader