POLL: Ti4200, FX5200, Radeon 9000, 9100, G550

[zCypher]

(prices converted to U.S. currency for your convenience)
$106 Generic GF4 TI4200 64Mb [TV Out]
$116 Generic Geforce FX5200 128Mb [TV Out]
$109 ATI Radeon 9000 Pro 128Mb DDR [TV Out]
$94 ATI Radeon 9100 128Mb DDR [TV Out]
$109 Matrox G550 32Mb DDR [Dual Head]
$112 PowerColor ATI Radeon 9100 128Mb [TV Out] DVI
$97 Asus V9520 GFX-5200 128MB [MAGIC] 8X

With 80GB goodness and 1GB DDR, a TNT2 Non-Ultra isn't quite sufficient. What cards out of the above listed would you go for? If the one you'd go for is not listed, but is within that price-range, please do enlighten me! TIA!

(reposted this thread in here, where it's more appropriate, and created poll)

Tbird 1.333/266 CPU

 

[MangoX]

If not gaming, the Matrox card would be best for dialy use imho

 

[zCypher]

Anybody else?

 

[godmare]

If you can stretch for a 9500 Pro, I'd say do that. It'd be some stretch, though, at about $180
That aside, I'd say go with the Ti4200, but 4x AGP and 128MB, not 8x and 64MB, respectively.
I haven't voted yet, btw.

 

[zCypher]

I have the ECS K7S5A which has 4x only, so i don't mind

 

[bunnyfubbles]

No, stretch for a 128MB Ti 4200, chances are you may only have to fork over an extra 20-30 instead of an extra 70-100 youd need for a 9500 Pro

 

[BenSkywalker]

What's the purpose of the rig?

 

[zCypher]

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
No, stretch for a 128MB Ti 4200, chances are you may only have to fork over an extra 20-30 instead of an extra 70-100 youd need for a 9500 Pro

It's an extra $50 for the 128MB. According to Anand's Ti4200 reviews - the 64MB Ti4200 out-performs the 128MB Ti4200 in many or most cases due to the higher clock speed and lack of need for the extra 64MB. Of course in a scenario where much more than 64MB is required, the 128 will clearly outperform by far. But I'm NOT a heavy gamer.

To answer the last question - the rig is my main computer for every day use. Any computer-things I do, I do on this computer which lies in my room. Monitor still sucks - future investment there... anyway, concentrating on video card right now - got the HD (80x2) and ram (1GB ddr) down, so video is my next target.

I've nailed it down to either GF4 Ti4200 64MB or GF4 FX5200 128MB.

Not sure which to go with. Ti4200 64MB = $154. FX5200 128MB = $168.

Not sure what the performance differences would be between the two, but you guys will probably suggest I go with 128MB. But i just don't know. Need to know how to choose one over the other. I want good quality, reliability, speed, no driver issues, etc.. just like anybody else. I just don't want to be kicking myself in the arse a week later saying I should have bought something else. Oh and I'm not particularly fond of cards that take up huge amounts of space or generate large amounts of heat. I already have enough heat in there and I'm not interested in getting additional cooling, so yeah..

 

[zCypher]

Just a recap... system specs are 1.333GHz Tbird w/266 fsb, 1GB DDR 333 (@266 due to K7S5A mobo limitation), 80GB/2MB/7200 Seagate, 80GB/8MB/7200 WD... so would any of my specs affect my decision at all? Will my CPU be too slow for a particular card making it a better buy to go with another one? Or is my 1.333 sufficient? I don't really feel the need to upgrade the CPU, as I have never had a problem where my cpu was too slow, yet.

What is the GF4 Ti4200 64MB in comparison to a Radeon 8500? For $150cdn is the Ti4200 the best deal to go overall? What I'm reading so far is that the Ti4200 outperforms the equivalently priced Radeons and the GF FX line as well.

 

[firemoth12]

ti4200 beats them all including the 5200

 

[butch84]

I think the 5200 may win with fsaa and aniso enabled, but not by a whole lot. for some reason i voted for the radeon9100, but i shulda voted for the gf4 4200. meh, oh well

 

[bluemax]

I voted for the extra features and memory of the 9100 Retail. Better warranty by far.
Although as someone suggested, a Radeon 9500 Pro (even non-retail) would be the best option by far! Yeah, it's a bit more money, but the time your card will last is worth it.

Of course, you could scour the ForSale area here on Anandtech... you can't go wrong with a gently-used TI4200!!
(Some fools overclock theirs to death....)

 

[Gage8]

i have the msi ti4200 and like it

the mem is faster than the 128mb. You can also download the program "coolbits" which lets u up the core and memory speed so the card is basically between a ti4400 and ti4600

The msi does this the best.

 

[Booster]

Originally posted by: AznBoi36
If not gaming, the Matrox card would be best for dialy use imho

Yeah, it has such a good 2D you won't see a thing or it'll lock up every other minute. Read Matrox support forums, even after a glance you'll never consider their cards. They're worse than Trident in terms of compatibility and driver quality (it just locks up in 2D, not speaking of 3D, and Matrox tech supports says only one phrase - 'We're unable to reproduce the problem in-house, but we'll kepp it in mind', and I'm not using any ECS board with 3rd party chipset, Intel made board with Intel chipset, latest Matrox BIOS and WHQL certified drivers, fresh Windows install and the d@mn thing locks up. Stay away from their 'cards' as far as possible. So far I've seen such problems with G400, G450 and G550. Run!!!

 

[Pete]

Where are you, Canada/Australia? Those prices look high for what you can egt at NewEgg.

I'd take a 250/250 128MB 9100 (Powercolor) over a 64MB 4200--once AF is enabled, both are about equal, and the 9100 will give you much better texture quality.

Both will be faster than a 5200, though that's not an entirely bad card. The Prolink 5200 looks like a great deal, as it sells for the same price as regular ones but is clocked much higher (275/250 vs. 250/200). Problem is, every review I've read of it (Tweaktown, Darkcrow.co.kr, and others) mention its poor 2D.

 

[Regs]

$106 Generic GF4 TI4200 64Mb [TV Out]

I bought my ti4200 128 MB TVO for 115 dollars from XFX . Which I some what regret because the saphire Radeon 9500 went down to $150 2 weeks after I bought the GF4.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: Regs

$106 Generic GF4 TI4200 64Mb [TV Out]

I bought my ti4200 128 MB TVO for 115 dollars from XFX . Which I some what regret because the saphire Radeon 9500 went down to $150 2 weeks after I bought the GF4.

Yeah, but had you waited for the 9500, something else would have dropped to $170 two weeks after that. I wouldn't worry about it. Video cards are still being released at a frantic pace and it is impossible to stay at the fore front (or even close) without shelling out lots of money.

I am stilling using my Kyro II.