Please comment on Geforce 4MX 2D quality

Booster

Diamond Member
May 4, 2002
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In general, is it good enough? Compared to the Creative Geforce 256 that I refer to as bad image quality that I'm experiencing now. I'm using a 17 inch LCD with analog only input and GF 4MX seems to be the best choice for me since it's rather cheap compared to other cards and I don't need anything faster right now. I'm thinking of getting either ASUS or MSI model MX-420 (since I don't need fast, just the image quality).

BTW, maybe there are better alternatives? I know someone would recommend ATI, and indeed I been thinking of a Sapphire Radeon 9000 at some point, but I like nVidia drivers better since I had some issues even in 2D Windows, rather annoying, with a Radeon 7000 I got rid of. But it was fairly good anyway. nVidia works better, however.

So would you please comment on this and what choices I might have. BTW, not long ago I borrowed a Matrox G550 to test it in my system, and it didn't work at all no matter what (since I got a SIS chipset motherboard made by ECS maybe). So Matrox is out I guess.

Thanks for any replies to this thread.
 

Booster

Diamond Member
May 4, 2002
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Originally posted by: DannyBoy
Consider a 9100.

It will perform much better, cost the same, and it also has a DVI output.

Yeah, just did an advanced search of these forums and found out that ASUS GF4MX 2D is crap. Or so I believe. Of course, I don't need absolutely the best. But why would I want a 9100 over a 9000? I only need a clear 2D output and I can't bear another fan in my system which only has 2 fans total. Thus I need a fanless video card. Plus I don't play games at all and don't care for 3D performance. The Radeon 7000 was more than enough for my daily needs, but it had issues and the analog image looked crappy on my current monitor so I had to swap it.

So looks like I'm stuck with a Sapphire 9000 np. How do you think, as far as 2D, is it good enough for a humble 1280*1024?
 

DannyBoy

Diamond Member
Nov 27, 2002
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www.danj.me
Originally posted by: Booster
Originally posted by: DannyBoy
Consider a 9100.

It will perform much better, cost the same, and it also has a DVI output.

Yeah, just did an advanced search of these forums and found out that ASUS GF4MX 2D is crap. Or so I believe. Of course, I don't need absolutely the best. But why would I want a 9100 over a 9000? I only need a clear 2D output and I can't bear another fan in my system which only has 2 fans total. Thus I need a fanless video card. Plus I don't play games at all and don't care for 3D performance. The Radeon 7000 was more than enough for my daily needs, but it had issues and the analog image looked crappy on my current monitor so I had to swap it.

So looks like I'm stuck with a Sapphire 9000 np. How do you think, as far as 2D, is it good enough for a humble 1280*1024?

If you really only need good 2d and no 3d go for a 7500, they have some decent 2d quality in my experience, but they totally blow for 3d gaming.

The reason i recommended the 9100 is because its better than the 9000 for 3d performance, because it has higher clocked memory and will cost you pennys more, ive also had good overclocking results from my 9100.

All in all, the 9100 / 9000 are both the same cards, just different memory specs / memory sizes.

You can get a good dual head 7500 for pennys now, like i said, if its just for 2d.

Dan
 

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,409
39
91
if you're having trouble with ati.. i'd just go with nvidia..
The 2D quality all depends on the brand. Go with gainward, they'll match ATI quality anyday...
 

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
1
81
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
if you're having trouble with ati.. i'd just go with nvidia..
The 2D quality all depends on the brand. Go with gainward, they'll match ATI quality anyday...

his problem is with a GeForce256, not a Radeon.
Just about any Radeon card will be fine. If your LCD has a DVI connection, get one with DVI, otherwise I'd go for just about any Radeon. Remember to clean out the old Nvidia drivers before you install the ATI to save a lot of headaches.
 

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,409
39
91
Originally posted by: MonkeyDriveExpress
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
if you're having trouble with ati.. i'd just go with nvidia..
The 2D quality all depends on the brand. Go with gainward, they'll match ATI quality anyday...

his problem is with a GeForce256, not a Radeon.
Just about any Radeon card will be fine. If your LCD has a DVI connection, get one with DVI, otherwise I'd go for just about any Radeon. Remember to clean out the old Nvidia drivers before you install the ATI to save a lot of headaches.

yes 2d image quality problem is with geforce256... but he had driver issues with his old radeon 7000 in 2D windows
 

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
1
81
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Originally posted by: MonkeyDriveExpress
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
if you're having trouble with ati.. i'd just go with nvidia..
The 2D quality all depends on the brand. Go with gainward, they'll match ATI quality anyday...

his problem is with a GeForce256, not a Radeon.
Just about any Radeon card will be fine. If your LCD has a DVI connection, get one with DVI, otherwise I'd go for just about any Radeon. Remember to clean out the old Nvidia drivers before you install the ATI to save a lot of headaches.

yes 2d image quality problem is with geforce256... but he had driver issues with his old radeon 7000 in 2D windows
ATI's drivers are light years ahead of where they were even just a year ago. I'd give a Radeon another try if I was him.
 

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,409
39
91
well i guess it's ok for 2D now...
I had a radeon ve(same as 7000) 2 years ago... and there was tons of artifacts in 2D windows..
I recently had a 9700pro.. and 2D was pretty flawless
 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
6
81
If you can find a cheap Matrox card you could look at that, they are meant to be top for 2D quality, although some of the older cards may not be suported now, and newer cards are more expensive.
 

camman97

Junior Member
Dec 7, 2003
20
0
0
I had to find a similar solution for a video card (Not a gamer) for under $20. My friend gifted me an item worth $10 to return to CompUSA and they had this card for $30 after rebate...Predator GeForce4 MX440-8X Video Card, AGP 8X, 64MB DDR. (256-bit, 64 MB of fast 500 MHz memory,Dual 350 MHz RAMDAC's)

I had borrowed an older 4X MX440 card that really sucked, even for 2D. This one seems to be a world of difference in the same system. Is it the 8X? 256Bit?

Anyway, you may want to wait until after x-mas when they have these on sale again. Then upgrade to a real video card over the next half year when you can prob find a 9600Pro refurb for around $75.