Pci geforce probs

[d64]

Ok, the situation is like this... My friend had a box with a 350mhz cpu and a gf2mx graphics card, agp. This comp was too slow to play rtcw on.

Then he bought a cheap celeron 1.2ghz box. This box, surprisingly, had no agp slot. So he had a pci gf4mx420 with it.

Now, after installing drivers and so, the new comp gives actually LOWER fps in q3 based games than the old one.

Is there a problem here, or is a pci gf4 just this slow? I tried to look for benchmarks but didn't find any. Anything we should try?

Edit: I since found out that the mobo is the msi ms6368.

 

[halkebul]

PCI grossly limit performance of graphics cards. Time for AGP.

 

[Mloot]

Yep, but if you have to stick with PCI vid cards, then get the 9000 PCI. The 2nd choice would be the MX440 PCI. Both will be faster than the 420, with the 9000 having DX8 support.

 

[d64]

Yes, I do know normal pci only has a fraction of the bandwith of agp, but what is strange to me, is that manufacturers would do a pci gf4 card, which still would be limited to below gf2-speeds by the bus?

As I said, rtcw is slower on his 1.2ghz gf4 pci comp than his old 350mhz gf2 agp one...

Does anyone have any numbers which would suggest if this is right or not?

 

[halkebul]

Originally posted by: d64
Yes, I do know normal pci only has a fraction of the bandwith of agp, but what is strange to me, is that manufacturers would do a pci gf4 card, which still would be limited to below gf2-speeds by the bus?

Here's the scenario: user with motherborad without agp slot wants better 3D graphics performance; user buys pci graphics card because he doesn't want to go through the hassle of replacing the motherboard with a motherboard that includes an apg slot; user finds out that not enough speed in 3D graphics performance; user buys new mobo and agp graphics card. The consumer gets burnt once again.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: d64
Yes, I do know normal pci only has a fraction of the bandwith of agp, but what is strange to me, is that manufacturers would do a pci gf4 card, which still would be limited to below gf2-speeds by the bus?

As I said, rtcw is slower on his 1.2ghz gf4 pci comp than his old 350mhz gf2 agp one...

Does anyone have any numbers which would suggest if this is right or not?

This is why you should read video-card reviews on the Anandtech main site. the gf4 MX cards are not really greforce 4 cards, they're more like geforce 2, and the 420 mx is a dog.

The naming was also a dirty trick by nVidia to mislead consumers, but unfortunately it's "buyer beware" when purchasing PCs. Sadly, it's up to the buyer to figure out (for example) that a new PC has only craptastic "integrated intel AGP video" and PCI slots with no AGP slot.