Please recommend vid card, choose from 2 (lower-end stuff)

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Yo Ma Ma

Lifer
Jan 21, 2000
11,635
2
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This is for a dated kids' computer.. needs a better vid card for some online game. Pricing seems to be ~ mid-30's for the GeForce2 and less for the Radeon, esp the refurbs.

Will it even matter, just go for the price alone? Thanks in advance, for any advice :)
 
Y

Yo Ma Ma

Lifer
Jan 21, 2000
11,635
2
0
LOL, no doubt you could! :) It's not so much a budget, as just keeping the video in line with the rest of the system.. I think someone from the online game told her either of these would be OK, what did you have in mind for a bit more than 20-35 range? :p
 
Away

Away

Diamond Member
May 1, 2005
4,430
1
71
Take a look at the MX4000. Found several on Newegg for that price range. It's core and mem speeds are a little faster than the other cards.
 
uOpt

uOpt

Golden Member
Oct 19, 2004
1,628
0
0
Take the NVidia. You don't want driver issues with older games.

If you spend 10 bucks more you can get a used GeForce Ti 4x00 which is an actually good card.
 
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dguy6789

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2002
8,558
3
76
The Geforce 2 MX400 is likely 25% faster than a Radeon 7000. If your not gonna get one of the used cards suggested above, then a GF2MX400 is a better choice than the Radeon 7000.
 
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MonkeyWrench4000

Member
Feb 2, 2005
153
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Unless the game is Ultima Online, your probablly going to want to get a 9000 or 9200.

The original Radeon and GF2 are not really worth the price (new) compared to last generation cards, that could run around only $5 more for entry level.

Go with one of these:

Radeon 9000

Radeon 9200

GeForce 4 MX


You could get these cards brand new for under $50 shipped.
 
Malak

Malak

Lifer
Dec 4, 2004
14,696
2
0
A geforce4mx is going to be the same as the geforce2, so why bother?

I would be interested to know what game it is, since it's online. I would vote for a 9000 too probably.
 
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bjc112

Lifer
Dec 23, 2000
11,460
0
76
Originally posted by: MartinCracauer
Take the NVidia. You don't want driver issues with older games.

If you spend 10 bucks more you can get a used GeForce Ti 4x00 which is an actually good card.
Click to expand...



What driver issues? Wha games?

ATi's drivers are definitely on par with nVidia.
 
Bateluer

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
Originally posted by: bjc112

ATi's drivers are definitely on par with nVidia.
Click to expand...

Not in the days of the original Radeons. The original Radeons were great cards that were ruined by subpar driver releases.
 
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PrayForDeath

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2004
3,478
1
76
Originally posted by: Bateluer
Originally posted by: bjc112

ATi's drivers are definitely on par with nVidia.
Click to expand...

Not in the days of the original Radeons. The original Radeons were great cards that were ruined by subpar driver releases.
Click to expand...

Well, he's not gonna install 5 year old drivers, so what's the problem?
I'd say get either the 4200 or the 9000. Don't bother with the GF2/7000.
 
Bateluer

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
Originally posted by: Frown66
Radeon 9200 for $30 shipped. New and much better than the 7000. Has s-video out and DVI out too. I just bought this card for a budget build for someone.

http://www.chiefvalue.com/app/productdetails.asp?submit=search&item=14-164-028

Edit: When I say new, I just mean its not refurbed or not an ebay type used thing. Not new, as in new type of gpu.
Click to expand...

New, as in from the factory? :p

You do have a lot of options in the cheap video card market to day. I'd shoot for a used GF4 Ti4x00 myself, that's the fastest option.
 
Y

Yo Ma Ma

Lifer
Jan 21, 2000
11,635
2
0
Thanks so much for all the great replies and suggestions! The online game that the 'upgraded' card is required for is roseon.com, must be a bit more to it than their usual ones like neopets and maplestory! Since some of the better cards are just a bit more I am certain I can get her something better than the original 2 choices I presented.
 
K

kurt454

Senior member
May 30, 2001
773
0
76
Originally posted by: Frown66
Radeon 9200 for $30 shipped. New and much better than the 7000. Has s-video out and DVI out too. I just bought this card for a budget build for someone.

http://www.chiefvalue.com/app/productdetails.asp?submit=search&item=14-164-028

Edit: When I say new, I just mean its not refurbed or not an ebay type used thing. Not new, as in new type of gpu.
Click to expand...

That's a 64 bit memory card. I would stay far away. Get a full fledged 9000 or 9200 w/ 128 bit memory.
 
P

PrayForDeath

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2004
3,478
1
76
Originally posted by: kurt454
Originally posted by: Frown66
Radeon 9200 for $30 shipped. New and much better than the 7000. Has s-video out and DVI out too. I just bought this card for a budget build for someone.

http://www.chiefvalue.com/app/productdetails.asp?submit=search&item=14-164-028

Edit: When I say new, I just mean its not refurbed or not an ebay type used thing. Not new, as in new type of gpu.
Click to expand...

That's a 64 bit memory card. I would stay far away. Get a full fledged 9000 or 9200 w/ 128 bit memory.
Click to expand...

Yep
 
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BillyBobJoel71

Platinum Member
Mar 24, 2005
2,610
0
71
whatever you get, nothing is going to affect online games - integrated plays it fine, so get a cheap card from newegg as explained above if there is no 3d gaming involved (like halo, half life 2, doom 3, etc.
 
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Frown66

Member
Mar 11, 2005
155
0
0
That's a 64 bit memory card. I would stay far away. Get a full fledged 9000 or 9200 w/ 128 bit memory.
Click to expand...

I assumed based on his original post that the 30's were in his price range. I'm not sure you can get a 128bit card new (Unless you follow the other posts and get used) for that price. He still should be able to play not too complex 3d games at 800x600 or less with a 64 bit memory path. It'll probably take a big hit starting at 1024x768, but hey, its 30 bucks.

Original:

Pricing seems to be ~ mid-30's for the GeForce2 and less for the Radeon, esp the refurbs.
Click to expand...
 
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mwmorph

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2004
8,877
1
81
Originally posted by: Frown66
That's a 64 bit memory card. I would stay far away. Get a full fledged 9000 or 9200 w/ 128 bit memory.
Click to expand...

I assumed based on his original post that the 30's were in his price range. I'm not sure you can get a 128bit card new (Unless you follow the other posts and get used) for that price. He still should be able to play not too complex 3d games at 800x600 or less with a 64 bit memory path. It'll probably take a big hit starting at 1024x768, but hey, its 30 bucks.

Original:

Pricing seems to be ~ mid-30's for the GeForce2 and less for the Radeon, esp the refurbs.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

get a geforce2 ultra. i've got one in my machine and it's served me well even now. 64mb memory at 460mhz. core at 250. will be around $35-40 and a lot faster than the stripped down mx geforce2s. I play hl2 in dx7 mode 4xaa 8xaf 12x10 highest fine at around 45-49fps average.
 
RussianSensation

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
126
Originally posted by: mwmorph

get a geforce2 ultra. i've got one in my machine and it's served me well even now. 64mb memory at 460mhz. core at 250. will be around $35-40 and a lot faster than the stripped down mx geforce2s. I play hl2 in dx7 mode 4xaa 8xaf 12x10 highest fine at around 45-49fps average.
Click to expand...

Is this for real? Or DX7 is 10x less intensive on the graphics card than DX8/9? My radeon 8500 can barely do 1024x768 without AA/AF in HL2. Remember just cuz you set AA/AF in the driver panel doesnt mean anything. I dont think cards that old supported 4AA/8AF at such high resolutions (my 8500 surely doesnt even have that option for those resolution). So even if you enable 4AA/8AF, the driver will disable them in the game once the resolution exceeds the graphics card's capability (at least that was the case back in teh days with old cards).
 
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mwmorph

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2004
8,877
1
81
Originally posted by: RussianSensation
Originally posted by: mwmorph

get a geforce2 ultra. i've got one in my machine and it's served me well even now. 64mb memory at 460mhz. core at 250. will be around $35-40 and a lot faster than the stripped down mx geforce2s. I play hl2 in dx7 mode 4xaa 8xaf 12x10 highest fine at around 45-49fps average.
Click to expand...

Is this for real? Or DX7 is 10x less intensive on the graphics card than DX8/9? My radeon 8500 can barely do 1024x768 without AA/AF in HL2. Remember just cuz you set AA/AF in the driver panel doesnt mean anything. I dont think cards that old supported 4AA/8AF at such high resolutions (my 8500 surely doesnt even have that option for those resolution). So even if you enable 4AA/8AF, the driver will disable them in the game once the resolution exceeds the graphics card's capability (at least that was the case back in teh days with old cards).
Click to expand...

radeon 8500 wasnt exactly a speed demon in it's day i remember it was signifigantly slower than the geforce3...

read this.
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2281&p=9
hl2 takes a big image quality hit but it runs so much faster without using pixel shaders. the mx440 is as fast as my geforce2 ultra.
 
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