Onboard or AGP Graphics card

[J22]

I'm piecing together another system for a friend. I have an Athlon 1700 and an older (3-4 years) MB (cant remember what kind off the top of my head) but the video card is ancient. It came with my origional P2-300 system!!! (I think its a 4MB Rage128 AGP card).

Anyway, since I need to replace it with something, what is the cheapest videocard that wont be a total piece of crap? A GF2-MX400?? If so, am I wasting $35. Should I just buy a new MB with video built in like the Biostar M7NCG-400 ($61) nForce2 board?

 

[fwtong]

If it's not being used for anything intensive, onboard video is just fine. My parents are using systems built from an nforce motherboard, utilizing onboard video. It's fine for websurfing and MS Office work.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

The Biostar would be an excellent choice as long as you plan on 2 sticks of ram running synch with the FSB.

 

[J22]

Why do you say that about 2 sticks of memory? Is there a problem with running a single stick of 512MB-PC3200 vs. 2x256MB-PC3200?

 

[Evdawg]

2x256 is gonna be dual channel.. more bandwith

i would buy 2x512 if i had the cash but if u have to go with 512, go with 2 sticks

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: J22
Why do you say that about 2 sticks of memory? Is there a problem with running a single stick of 512MB-PC3200 vs. 2x256MB-PC3200?

Yes, you should run 2 identical sticks of RAM in dual channel with an nForce2 board.

Also, you only need PC2100 for that rig.The FSB of the 1700+ is only 266MHz, and you want to run the FSB and the RAM synchronized on an nForce2 board for maximum stability (my first Asus A7N8X wouldn't even POST if they weren't synched). Unless you are planing to reuse the PC3200 RAM in a future rig, it would not make any sense to get the more expensive RAM.

 

[KF]

The onboard video of that nForce mobo needs lots of memory bandwidth to perform to its potential. Using one memory stick would kill video performance, if one stick is permitted. It would be a waste to use just one. Aside from the video, single channel reduces CPU performance only a little on an nForce. The video is the big thing.

As mentioned, the nForce chipset only is rated to PC2100 (133MHz DDR) when you use the onboard video. Dapunisher was warning you. You may be able to OC it, but I doubt if it will go to 200MHz DDR, which is what I think you must be planning with PC3200. You'll probably need a separate video card for that. Check with the people in the mobo section.