nForce2 Integrated Graphics vs. GeForce 2 GTS

arynn

Senior member
Feb 16, 2001
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I'm considering purchasing one of the nForce2 motherboards. I'm still undecided about going with the IGP or SPP versions.

As I understand it, the integrated graphics are similar to the GeForce 4 420 (or 440) MX which is based on the GeForce2. If I will be just using the computer for general use (i.e. minimal gaming), would the onboard video slow down the system at all over the stand alone card?

Would the performance of the GeForce 2 GTS be better than the integrated graphics (I thought I saw a review that compared the GeForce 2 cards to the GeForce 4 MX cards, but can't find it)?

Also, I would be replacing the GeForce 2 card in my old machine with an old Riva TNT card. For general use, would the difference in performance be noticeable? My old machine has a MSI K7 Turbo-R Limited Edition motherboard (KT 133A chipset). As far as I can tell from MSI's documentation this board will support my old AGP 1.0 video card. Does anyone know for sure?

Thanks.
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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Originally posted by: arynn
I'm considering purchasing one of the nForce2 motherboards. I'm still undecided about going with the IGP or SPP versions.

As I understand it, the integrated graphics are similar to the GeForce 4 420 (or 440) MX which is based on the GeForce2. If I will be just using the computer for general use (i.e. minimal gaming), would the onboard video slow down the system at all over the stand alone card?

Would the performance of the GeForce 2 GTS be better than the integrated graphics (I thought I saw a review that compared the GeForce 2 cards to the GeForce 4 MX cards, but can't find it)?

Also, I would be replacing the GeForce 2 card in my old machine with an old Riva TNT card. For general use, would the difference in performance be noticeable? My old machine has a MSI K7 Turbo-R Limited Edition motherboard (KT 133A chipset). As far as I can tell from MSI's documentation this board will support my old AGP 1.0 video card. Does anyone know for sure?

Thanks.
The benchmarks I've seen indicate that using the onboard video doesn't impact the daily-driver performance of the system in 2D tasks, not even the Content Creation stuff where the system's running at warp speed. Check the bottom chart here for a comparison of the two in that situation. Although it doesn't say explicitly, I suspect that test was run with dual memory modules.

In 3D gaming, I guess you could look at what makes up the testbed system for Anand's results here and compare them to the results of similar systems that have a GF2 GTS over at MadOnion/Futuremark's site. In absolute terms, running UT2003 Demo benchmark: ~60fps, slower than add-in GF4MX 440 or Radeon 9000 Pro

Bottom line, it's way faster than necessary for office work and probably fast enough for some gaming, maybe not UT2003 with all the eye candy maxed out though?
 

Kartajan

Golden Member
Feb 26, 2001
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general use question:

for EMail/ surfing/ Word processing- no appreciable difference. for the games, make SURE that you get maximum benifit from the memory archetecture of the onboard card and you should be "OK" If it plays on a GF2, the 440MX like ability of the onboard should be pretty close.

as far as the AGP 1.0 specification, you should be able to see the support or lack thereof in the manual for your MB. (does it mention AGP 2x/4x?)
 

arynn

Senior member
Feb 16, 2001
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Thanks for the information.

The motherboard manual for the MSI K7T Turbo-R LE mentions support of AGP 2.0 1x/2x/4x. It does not mention the voltage supplied to the slot. However, I got the impression from reading MSI's site that the AGP voltage was changed after the 133A chipset. I'm not sure which AGP spec revision modified the voltage. So, I expect the board would run the Riva TNT card but was just wondering if anyone knew the slot voltage.

Thanks.
 

ShowdOWN

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Sep 25, 2002
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i dont know the specs on that board, but do you know if the intergrated graphics is shared memory?
if so you are better off going with the GTS.
 

Adul

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Oct 9, 1999
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danny.tangtam.com
Originally posted by: ShowdOWN
i dont know the specs on that board, but do you know if the intergrated graphics is shared memory?
if so you are better off going with the GTS.

it is shared memory, the performance is around a geforce4 MX 420 level.
 
Jan 9, 2002
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Just because the nForce would potentiall utilize shared memory, which I hate, I would opt for the discrete option and plug that good 'ol GTS in there! This is probably exactly what I'll be doing for my next rig.
 

arynn

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Feb 16, 2001
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I'm really most concerned about the 2D performance. I guess I'll just try the Riva TNT in my current machine to see how it runs. Adul, thanks for the confirmation. If the performance is good enough, I guess I get a cheaper nForce2 board w/o integrated video.

Another question, many of the nForce2 boards don't expicitly mention using the nVidia Soundstorm. However, do all of the boards that mention using the RealTek sound use the nForce APU? From the motherboard round up by Evan, I think he said all of the boards except the Chaintech board used the nForce APU. All I need is 2 channel sound as I only have two speakers.

Thanks.
 

OS

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
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Originally posted by: Whitedog
My GF2 GTS has the suckiest 2D performance... I need a new card. :p

I have a GTS-V, is it really that bad? I wanna know if I'm missing out. :p

 

mrman3k

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Dec 15, 2001
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I would just save up a bit extra and get even a Radeon 8500 which should be fairly cheap but perform great by now.
 

Adul

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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danny.tangtam.com
Originally posted by: arynn
I'm really most concerned about the 2D performance. I guess I'll just try the Riva TNT in my current machine to see how it runs. Adul, thanks for the confirmation. If the performance is good enough, I guess I get a cheaper nForce2 board w/o integrated video.

Another question, many of the nForce2 boards don't expicitly mention using the nVidia Soundstorm. However, do all of the boards that mention using the RealTek sound use the nForce APU? From the motherboard round up by Evan, I think he said all of the boards except the Chaintech board used the nForce APU. All I need is 2 channel sound as I only have two speakers.

Thanks.

that is correct.