AnAndTech CPU Scaling 1
GF4MX440 is better than GF2-Pro, using that as a guide in the above link. You see the following AVERAGE FPS (note the lowest FPS will be significantly lower, an average of 60FPS is generally considered playable).
UNREAL PERF TEST:
AthlonXP2100+ & GF4MX440 gives: 25FPS at 800x600, 18FPS at 1024x768 and 12FPS at 1280x1024.
AthlonXP2100+ & GF4TI4200: 49FPS at 800x600, 44FPS at 1024x768 and 31FPS at 1280x1024.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF4MX440: 18FPS at 1024x768.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF3TI200: 26FPS at 1024x768.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF4TI4200: 29FPS at 1024x768.
SERIOUS SAM 2:
AthlonXP2100+ & GF4MX440 gives: 59FPS at 800x600, 38FPS at 1024x768 and 24FPS at 1280x1024.
AthlonXP2100+ & GF4TI4200: 126FPS at 800x600, 88FPS at 1024x768 and 57FPS at 1280x1024.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF4MX440: 37FPS at 1024x768.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF3TI200: 58FPS at 1024x768.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF4TI4200: 74FPS at 1024x768.
JEDI KNIGHT 2 J.O.:
AthlonXP2100+ & GF4MX440 gives: 104FPS at 800x600, 102FPS at 1024x768 and 78FPS at 1280x1024.
AthlonXP2100+ & GF4TI4200: 105FPS at 800x600, 105FPS at 1024x768 and 104FPS at 1280x1024.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF4MX440: 62FPS at 1024x768.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF3TI200: 62FPS at 1024x768.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF4TI4200: 62FPS at 1024x768.
COMMANCHE 4:
AthlonXP2100+ & GF4MX440 gives: 36FPS at 800x600, 31FPS at 1024x768 and 40FPS at 1280x1024.
AthlonXP2100+ & GF4TI4200: 43FPS at 800x600, 43FPS at 1024x768 and 24FPS at 1280x1024.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF4MX440: 22FPS at 1024x768.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF3TI200: 27FPS at 1024x768.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF4TI4200: 28FPS at 1024x768.
QUAKE3A:
AthlonXP2100+ & GF4MX440 gives: 209FPS at 800x600, 115FPS at 1024x768 and 103FPS at 1280x1024.
AthlonXP2100+ & GF4TI4200: 250FPS at 800x600, 228FPS at 1024x768 and 172FPS at 1280x1024.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF4MX440: 140FPS at 1024x768.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF3TI200: 155FPS at 1024x768.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF4TI4200: 160FPS at 1024x768.
RETURN TO CASTLE WOLFENSTEIN:
AthlonXP2100+ & GF4MX440 gives: 137FPS at 800x600, 121FPS at 1024x768 and 87FPS at 1280x1024.
AthlonXP2100+ & GF4TI4200: 167FPS at 800x600, 162FPS at 1024x768 and 133FPS at 1280x1024.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF4MX440: 90FPS at 1024x768.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF3TI200: 93FPS at 1024x768.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF4TI4200: 101FPS at 1024x768.
AnAndTech CPU Scaling 2
UNREAL TOURN2003 Asbestos Benchmark (indoors):
AthlonXP2100+ & GF2-PRO: 80FPS at 800x600 HIGH DETAIL.
AthlonXP2100+ & GF4MX440: 90FPS at 800x600 HIGH DETAIL.
AthlonXP2100+ & GF4TI4200: 195FPS at 800x600 HIGH DETAIL.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF2-PRO: 79FPS at 800x600 HIGH DETAIL.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF4MX440: 90FPS at 800x600 HIGH DETAIL.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF3TI200: 125FPS at 800x600 HIGH DETAIL.
AthlonXP @ 800mhz & GF4TI4200: 140FPS at 800x600 HIGH DETAIL.
From all of these benchmarks we see the following with AthlonXP @ 800mhz (faster than Athlon 800mhz or PIII 800mhz); GF4MX440 can only manage an average 18FPS at 1024x768 on Unreal Perf Test, 37FPS at 1024x768 on Serious Sam 2,
62FPS at 1024x768 on Jedi Knight 2 JO, 22FPS at 1024x768 on Commanche 4,
140FPS (hooray!) at 1024x768 on Quake3A,
90FPS at 1024x768 on Return To Castle Wolfenstein and from the last link we see the MX440 can manage
90FPS at 800x600, but it also shows the GF2-Pro is about 15% slower than the GF4MX440. So in the final test we see 800mhz & GF2-Pro can achieve an average of around 80FPS at 800x600 with High Detail, not bad at all, but obviously when things go outdoors or we change games the combination can't really be called playable in many instances.
I obviously take the point that many people get speed for the sake of it, rather than for any noticable gain, but IMHO 800mhz & GF2 is taking things a touch far to be classed as playable in modern games, and that's if you're happy living without AA (and most people are). With an AthlonXP1800+ costing $80 and a GF3TI200 / Rad8500LE costing $90 it isn't a big concern considering the perf gain to be had.