Need help determining what vid card to get !!!

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JasonStixBuckley

Junior Member
Jul 1, 2003
9
0
0
Please help a newbie!

Here is my system:

Operating System:
Windows 98 SE

Processor:
600 megahertz Intel Pentium III
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache

Main Circuit Board:
Board: Intel Corporation WS440BX AA744110-205
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
BIOS: Intel Corp. 4W4SB0X0.15A.0017.P12

Memory Modules:
384 Megabytes Installed Memory (3x128)

Display:
Vid Card - NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro
Monitor - Gateway EV910

****
My vid card is frying, so I need to get a new one. I use my PC for some gaming (NASCAR games), but I am not looking to spend $400+ for a graphics card. Maybe around the $200 range or so, but I do not want a crap card.

I was thinking about going with the GeForce4 Ti 4200 w/ AGP 8X. Is this a good card? Is brand name important (ie: visiontek or whatever)?

Your thoughts would be appreciated!!!
 
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squidman

Senior member
May 2, 2003
643
0
0
Yes, if you're looking into GF4 series, than GF4600 is the best. 4200 is pretty cool too. Yes, brand names do matter, ASUS, Leadtek and few others are the best.
If you want more - then look into ATI Radeon 9500 Pro, or 9700 non pro. 9500 Pro definitely beats 4200, and costs ABOUT the same (150 dollars).

However, you also have too look into your main system. Powerful videocards such as these would bottlenecked by your CPU and/or RAM. At least overclock that 440BX of yours to 120mhz, or 133 if possible.

And welcome to the forums!
 
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JasonStixBuckley

Junior Member
Jul 1, 2003
9
0
0
Thanks for the welcome squidman ... been a long time viewer (for last 2 years) ... used to have an account but I forgot what it was. :)

I am VERY CPU unknowledgable. I was thinking the GeForce4 Ti series due to what I have heard about those being good. I haven't heard a thing about the ATI Radeon cards. You are saying that those are better than the GeForce4 Ti series ?

I have no idea how to overclock, so that is out the window. Under my current config, you think I will be able to run these cards without crashing or probs?
 
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beserkfury15

Member
Jun 25, 2003
91
0
0
yep, you should go for the 4200, seeing how they're pretty much around $100 nowadays, and the 9500pros are about 1.5 times more expensive. They 4200 is a very fast card if you're only planning to use a little bit of aa/af.
 
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JasonStixBuckley

Junior Member
Jul 1, 2003
9
0
0
I am having a prob finding these cards locally. GRRRRRR! The only thing I have found so far is a ATI Radeon 9500 pro for $220 at my local circuit city.

If I cannot find one, I might just go cheap for now ... heard the GeForce4 MX 440 was a good lower end card. Is that true? I can probably get one of those locally.

Otherwise, where is a place online to get a good quality cheap priced 4200 , and get it overnighted? Need this by tomorrow if possible!

Thanks!
 
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beserkfury15

Member
Jun 25, 2003
91
0
0
Don't get the gf4 mx440, it might be cheap but the performance is bad (I should know cause I have one). One can run alot of games at 800x640 resolution but once you hit 1024x768, you start to get lag.
 
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Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
6
81
Can you get a Radeon 8500/9100 (clocked at least 250/250). They might be less than a Ti 4200, and better than an MX440.
 
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KingN0smo

Junior Member
Jul 1, 2003
4
0
0
First of all, a great site with overnight shipping and everything is http://www.newegg.com; great prices, rated well on service etc. (keep in mind that overnight shipping will cost a bit extra)

Also, just how much are you willing to spend on a videocard? didn't get a clear idea of that.
Also are you planning to get a new comp. sometime soon and if you do will you get one w/ a new vid. card?

Welcome to the forums for me too i guess.


 
Schadenfroh

Schadenfroh

Elite Member
Mar 8, 2003
38,416
4
0
Don't get the gf4 mx440, it might be cheap but the performance is bad
Click to expand...
will it matter on a 600mhz p3

jason, get the cheapest thing you could get. i would reccomend a geforce2 pro for your cpu. it would be a good balance and your cpu and you could probably get one for dirt cheap. then save for a cpu/mobo/ram upgrade
 
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JasonStixBuckley

Junior Member
Jul 1, 2003
9
0
0
Hey gang. Thanks for the input.

I looked around locally, and I ended up getting a GeForce FX 5200 AGP card 128MB DDR (PNY) ... taking the advice of Schadenfroh. It was $100, and is at least better than what I have in here now (RIVA TNT2 Model 64).

Any known problems or anything that I am to expect with this one? This is better than the gf4 mx440, correct?

Thanks!

(edit: and shady06, I live in NC, and Adelphia here sucks horribly too ... the prob is that is my only option in this area for high speed net access)
 
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IgoByte

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2001
4,765
0
76
I honestly think that you just need a whole new computer if you want to game decently. I'd look out for the next great deal on a Dell Dimension.

As for a video card, I just got a Radeon 9600Pro (ATI-built), and I think I'll be happy with it.

 
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Pete

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
4,953
0
0
I wouldn't have spent more than $50 on a used GF3 for your system. Your CPU is just too slow for most remotely modern games. You need to move to an Athlon XP or P4 with DDR memory, and that may require a power supply upgrade as well.

Seeing as you already bought a new card, let us know if you notice an improvement in games. I doubt you'll see a big one, but at the very least you should be able to enable anisotropic filtering without incurring a performance hit.
 
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squidman

Senior member
May 2, 2003
643
0
0
Cmon guys, he asked for what card to get, not for a "get-new-computer" thing. And Jason you shouldnt encounter any problems with it whatsoever. just D/L newest detonators (preferably do a clean install) and have fun. Good luck!
 
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Pete

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
4,953
0
0
If someone asked for the best Z-rated tires for their Civic, I'd point out that a Civic isn't car enough for a Z-rated tire. Similarly, his PC isn't fast enough to justify a GF4, IMO. OTOH, he could certainly carry that card onto a new PC, and it'll improve greatly. But if he's buying a card to leave in his current PC, I wouldn't go higher than a 64MB GF3 or 8500/9000P for about $50.
 
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JasonStixBuckley

Junior Member
Jul 1, 2003
9
0
0
Hey gang. Thanks for all your help.

Getting a new PC just isn't an option for me at this time due to where my money is tied up.

I spent hours last night tryng to figure why the GForce FX 5200 AGP 128MG DDR wouldn't work... then I found it. It requires a power supply of at least 250W to 300W ... my PC only has a 200W one. So, I am off to buy a new power supply today.

I have checked a bit, and I can get a 350W one for around $60 at a local Best Buy, so that is what I will probably do. Anything I need to know about power supplies? I assume if it says it works with Pentiums it should work with mine.
 
Mem

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
I have checked a bit, and I can get a 350W one for around $60 at a local Best Buy, so that is what I will probably do. Anything I need to know about power supplies? I assume if it says it works with Pentiums it should work with mine.
Click to expand...

You might as well get a decent brand that`s good quality(PSUs are the backbone of any good system) I would suggest brands like Antec,Enermax,Sparkle,Enhance etc are good brands to look for.
 
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Dragontail

Member
Jun 29, 2003
25
0
0
You might as well get a decent brand that`s good quality(PSUs are the backbone of any good system) I would suggest brands like Antec,Enermax,Sparkle,Enhance etc are good brands to look for.
Click to expand...

with ur old system, i personally wouldnt bother getting a brill psu. a psu from a reliable retailer would do the trick untill u get a new pc.
 
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titanmiller

Platinum Member
Jan 5, 2003
2,123
2
81
I reccomend the FX5200. I know alot of people always make fun of the poor little 5200, but it does have a place, and I believe your system is one of those places.
 
Mem

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
with ur old system, i personally wouldnt bother getting a brill psu. a psu from a reliable retailer would do the trick untill u get a new pc.
Click to expand...

Sooner or later he`ll upgrade his motherboad and CPU,having a good quality PSU in there now is a good long term investment,besides they are within his price range.
 
Mem

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
Solution Series, either 300W or 350W, is probably all I need, right?
Click to expand...

JasonStixBuckley,

Yep if you can afford it the 350w will have a longer life span hardware wise,you never know when that extra 50w will come in handy down the road ;).

:)
 
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JasonStixBuckley

Junior Member
Jul 1, 2003
9
0
0
Good deal ... I will probably get the SL350 then (350W). It does say though "+5V and +3.3V combined output: 230Watts max." .... is that something I have to worry about?
 
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