Need graphics card advice, quick!

[Xernex]

Situation is I have ordered a new computer from my local computer store

P4 2.53
512 corsair 3200 RAM
Asus P4PE mobo
Audigy 2
120gb WD
etc

But the problem is the video card. I did ask for a Radeon 9700, there was a 2 day delay to order and just a little while ago they rang to tell me the courier lost the f'kin card!! They say unless they find it they will have to resend taking 3-4 days (weekend). I'm getting really pissed and I don?t know if I should maybe go for a cheap 4200 in place of it which they can have ready today, or wait for the 9700. Should I save a ton of cash and go the 4200, then upgrade later, maybe around the time the NV30 comes out, or the spring refresh of NV30. Or go the ti 4200?

I?ll probably be playing a fair bit of Warcraft 3, maybe battlefield 1942, UT2003, mafia and Raven Shield up to and just after Christmas, so I suppose it?s not like I really need the power right? The 4200 should be plenty for these games?

Quick input in needed please as I have to make a decision in the next 2-3 hours.

Thanks.

 

[Blurry]

. Should I save a ton of cash and go the 4200, then upgrade later, maybe around the time the NV30 comes out, or the spring refresh of NV30. Or go the ti 4200?

Don't go for the Ti 4200 and then later upgrade to the Geforce FX. No point in doing that since the Geforce FX is only able to beat the Radeon 9700 only a bit and by the time the Geforce FX comes out....the next Radeon will be out and will beat the Geforce FX.
My suggestion? Wait for the Radeon 9700, overclock it, and you'll have a very powerful card that will last you til at least the end of 2003.

 

[Davegod]

I've a GF3ti200 and UT really struggles, 800x600 have to turn down everything & follow guide at beyondunreal to get decent framerates...
TBH i think you'll regret being impatient, in UT2k3 tho not those others, at least until it comes around to upgrading again...


this is what im getting atm, using the benchmark .bat's:

BOTMATCH:

dm-antalus
18.752956 / 42.803730 / 79.532608 fps
Score = 42.815308

dm-asbestos
21.383389 / 44.721825 / 84.341637 fps
Score = 44.739605

br-anubis
19.606039 / 49.498466 / 96.408737 fps
Score = 49.522182

dm-inferno
9.153838 / 44.757702 / 223.517548 fps
Score = 44.752502


FLYBY:

dm-antalus
58.945099 / 114.701500 / 425.805695 fps
Score = 114.749901

dm-asbestos
65.362450 / 139.879913 / 385.572937 fps
Score = 140.023926

 

[mrman3k]

I would recommend getting the TI4200 as cheap as possible. I know people say that the FX is designed to beat the 9700, but that is for the top model. There will be TI4400 or Ti4200 like variants of the FX which will be more economical than $500 and probably get around maybe a bit more than 9700 performance with excellent Nvidia drivers even though ATI drivers are now pretty good.

 

[tbates757]

I'd say get an MSI Ti4200 now, overclock it to 300/600 d=D and then buy the R350 (successor to the 9700 aka R300)

 

[Xernex]

Thanks alot for the quick input guys, when i said i might go the NV30 thats just a guess, depending on price, performance, how the 4200 runs at the time. I may hold out longer or go with a 4200 variant of the Geforce FX or see what ATI has on offer. I just hope a 4200 will be plenty for me for the time being.

One other thing I'll note is I have a 17" monitor, and can't afford to get a good 19" till prolly mid next year, so I will be running all my games at 1024x748 at best. Once again im questioning if I'll really need that 9700.

 

[thirtythree]

I guess it's probably too late, but my 128MB Ti4200 runs UT2K3 fine in 1600x1200x32 (not sure of actual fps but I don't notice any problems).

 

[thirtythree]

EDIT: Double post.

 

[Xernex]

Thanks Deslocke, if thats the case, I think the 4200 should be enough for me for the time being. Honestly I was worried about buying the 9700 because its so damn expensive, and it will probably drop about 20% in the next month or 2.