***Need expert advice on Vid cards!!!

killerklownca

Junior Member
Jun 15, 2005
3
0
0
Hi all,

I am needing some advice for a video card purchase.

My old card was a ASUS v8420 Ti4200 128 mb Geforce 4 (nvidia)

My new card is a BFG 6200 OC 256mb (nvidia)

The new card is almost double in all ways compared to the old one. When I play certain games however, it seems there is little to no increase in performance. For example, on the new card I can play Doom 3 on High quality settings at 1280x1024 res. and it plays very well, gets a little staggered when there are tons of badies on the screen, but overall really good. Then I load up GTA: San Andreas on 1024x768 res with almost highest details and the screen is lagging big time.

Now I chose the BFG card based on quality and price as I am not yet ready to spend $500 + on a 6800.

The next card up from this one is the 6600 GT OC with alot more speed etc, but only has 128mb.

So, the question is: Do I need a better card than the 6200 or is it just game related?

P.S I have also tried it on Far Cry, UT2004, Painkiller.
 

Avalon

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2001
7,567
156
106
Your problem is that you believe the ammount of memory on a card makes a difference for all cards. This is not the case. I'm assuming that your 6200 is not a turbocache. Since it's a 256MB model, your card is running at 300mhz/500mhz core/mem with 4 pixel pipelines, which puts it relatively close to a Ti4200, I believe.

256MB of memory is only good for cards who can run on high resolutions and detail that require the extra memory. At 1280x1024, you won't need more than 128MB of memory, even if you max Anisotropic filtering and Anti-Aliasing. This is especially true for 1024x768. A card that you'd want to pair 256MB of memory with would be something that would be running at 1600x1200, like a 6800GT. Not a budget card.

Anyway, you have a few options. You could get a 6600GT instead, which is noticeably faster than your 6200, even with 128MB of memory. Or, you could download rivatuner and see if your card unlocks to a 6600. Non turbocache 6200 cards are really 6600 vanilla chips with half their pixel pipeline units locked. Unlocking them will not always work flawlessly, and will void your warranty, but it is an option.

This will help a bit performance wise in your current games, but I can guarantee that even with your card unlocked to a 6600, it won't be able to handle the next generation of games that will begin to come out soon.

 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
11
81
First, what are the rest of your componants? CPU? Memory (amount and speed)? Motherboard?
 

killerklownca

Junior Member
Jun 15, 2005
3
0
0
Wow,

Thank you for the quick response. I was thinking about overclocking the card but then againI dont want to void anything on the cards as I could just pull it out tonite and swap it out for a 6600GT tomorrow at FutureShop.

Also, I know that games are advancing very quickly. Now is that to say that there is no current card that will suffice right now?, like a 6800 or even 7 series?

or, should we all kinda wait and see whats coming before spending wads on potentially useless cards?

~klown

P.S sorry, forgot mt specs.


Motherboard: ASUS P4P800 SE Pentium 4 3.2mhz HT
Memory: 1gb DDR RAM
GFX: BFG 6200 OC 256mb
 

SneakyStuff

Diamond Member
Jan 13, 2004
4,294
0
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My advice to you, get a 6600GT, they can be had very cheap now, and even without overclocking it, you'll find that it handles any game out there now at reasonable settings, very nicely. evga 6600GT @ newegg.com if you don't mind a mail in rebate, $150 for that is a great deal.

edit: Here's an idea of what you can sell your current card for ebay auction, with 12 bids
 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
11
81
killer, if you can make do with what you have for a few more months, I'd do it. Prices of the 6800's will drop when the next generation comes out, and then you may be able to get a 6800 for what you'd pay for a 6600GT right now. The performance difference is significant.
 

fstime

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2004
4,382
5
81
I agree with the above post about memory on these cards.

Only high end cards can take advatage of 256 mb.

On the 6200 and lower end models like your card, its simply MARKETING, a trick to fool you.

Bottom line, the 6600GT will be A LOT faster, double the pipes, much higher clocks, etc.

Going to the 6600GT wont be like going to the 6200 from the Ti, it is a lot faster than both cards.


By the way, the 6600GT will be an excellent choice for lower resolutions, you should be able to max everything out.

Your probably gonna be limitewhen it comes to aa/af though.
 

gac009

Senior member
Jun 10, 2005
403
0
0
I really dont the the 6800 series droping all that much if at all when the 7800s are released, so I would just get a 6600gt, its got alot more power than the 6200.
 

killerklownca

Junior Member
Jun 15, 2005
3
0
0
Wicked,

Thank you for all the advice guys. I think I will pick up a 6600GT while I am waiting for the next generation cards. It should do me fine until its time to upgrade to 64 bit processors etc.

~klown
 

NatePo717

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2005
3,392
4
81
my 6600GT rocks. I score almost the same as a 6800 Ultra in 3DMark 03 with it OC'd so this card can deff put out.
 

VIAN

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2003
6,575
1
0
6600GT is SOOOOO much better. RAM is only a fraction of the performance process, unlike what marketing has led people to think.
 

Avalon

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2001
7,567
156
106
Originally posted by: NatePo717
my 6600GT rocks. I score almost the same as a 6800 Ultra in 3DMark 03 with it OC'd so this card can deff put out.

No you don't.