Radeon 9000 vs. integrated video question

[Mloot]

My brother-in-law has an HP w/Athlon XP2000+, 256mb pc2100, Win XP home. He is using the Nforce 32meg integrated video. Hasn't the Nforce video been compared with GeF2MX performance-wise? He has no previous experience with PC gaming, so he doesn't realize there is better to be had! He likes to play Dungeon Siege and Morrowind at 1024x768 resolution and his games play just a little better than mine did on a 32mb Radeon 7000 PCI (i.e lots of stuttering). His B-day is coming up and I would like to get him a budget AGP card. Would a standard Radeon 9000 64mb be a large improvement over the Nforce video he is using? And is this the best budget card I could get for under $70 ($67, newegg)? Thanks for any input.

 

[EdipisReks]

that would be better than the integrated, and it's probably the best card for under $70, but the 8500 (which is signifigantly faster) ain't much more expensive. the 8500 is what i would get.

 

[EdipisReks]

that would be better than the integrated, and it's probably the best card for under $70, but the 8500 (which is signifigantly faster) ain't much more expensive. the 8500 is what i would get.

 

[EdipisReks]

that would be better than the integrated, and it's probably the best card for under $70, but the 8500 (which is signifigantly faster) ain't much more expensive. the 8500 is what i would get.

 

[EdipisReks]

that would be better than the integrated, and it's probably the best card for under $70, but the 8500 (which is signifigantly faster) ain't much more expensive. the 8500 is what i would get.

 

[EdipisReks]

that would be better than the integrated, and it's probably the best card for under $70, but the 8500 (which is signifigantly faster) ain't much more expensive. the 8500 is what i would get.

 

[EdipisReks]

that would be better than the integrated, and it's probably the best card for under $70, but the 8500 (which is signifigantly faster) ain't much more expensive. the 8500 is what i would get.

 

[EdipisReks]

that would be better than the integrated, and it's probably the best card for under $70, but the 8500 (which is signifigantly faster) ain't much more expensive. the 8500 is what i would get.

 

[EdipisReks]

that would be better than the integrated, and it's probably the best card for under $70, but the 8500 (which is signifigantly faster) ain't much more expensive. the 8500 is what i would get.

 

[EdipisReks]

that would be better than the integrated, and it's probably the best card for under $70, but the 8500 (which is signifigantly faster) ain't much more expensive. the 8500 is what i would get.

 

[EdipisReks]

ok, i don't know what the hell just happened, but i hope it goes towards my post count.

 

[Mloot]

I would get him an 8500, but even the 9000 will be stretching my budget a bit tight.

 

[Rand]

Depending upon whether or not he is utilizing the DualChannel memory controller on the Nforce the integrated graphics performance ranges from slower then that of the GF2 MX200, to roughly mid-way between the of the MX200 and MX400.

In any case, the regular R9000 will easily outperform it.
If you have a little extra money an R8500LE would be quite a decent amount faster, though will cost you an extra $18.

 

[Mloot]

I have no idea of he is using dual channel memory or not. This a HP package deal that he is running stock (right out of the box), with no tweaking, whatsoever.

 

[EdipisReks]

i'm pretty sure that most of the nForce HP's are single channel. if you can only afford under $70, then the 9000 is a great choice. go for it!

 

[Mloot]

Dang, I think I just saw a ti200 for $70 at newegg. Would the 9000 still be a better buy between the 2 cards?

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: EdipisReks
ok, i don't know what the hell just happened, but i hope it goes towards my post count.

Hey dude! You just created the REPOST if the century! LOL!
What happened? You've got like a gazillion posts with the same content.
LOL!

Besides that I agree.

 

[EdipisReks]

heh, the server seemed to have timed out, but i let it sit there with the hourglass going. 5 minutes later it completed, and that's what i got, a gajillion posts.

 

[AnAndAustin]

Or just been drinking too much Guiness LOL!

As said the o/b nForce1 (215, 220, 415, 420) are GF2MX gfx, without dual channel (VERY likely what he'll have) you'll get GF2MX200 while if you have an nForce 420 or 415 and have 2 stick of RAM in the correct slots it will utilise dual channel which is only good to boost the o/b gfx and you'll still be slower than a GF2MX400 (roughly 50% slower than GF2TI or Rad7500). Not that it's going to but if it had an nForce2 mobo it would have much better (though still slow) GF4MX420 type gfx. Whatever the o/b gfx is it is still very much inferior to even a GF2TI, GF4MX420, Rad7500 or Rad9000 let alone anything better.

So GF2 cards aren't wise, neither is GF4MX420 or Rad7500 considering the prices of GF4MX440 and Rad9000. Rad9000 is a lot slower than Rad9000PRO (20%ish) while Rad8500LE is actually a good 15% faster still (even though 8500LE is 10% slower than 8500). GF4MX are nothing more than slightly enhanced GF2, enhancements being image quality, dual display, hw DVD playback and slightly improved TVout/VIVO. Even so it is only DX7 and effectively 2 year old technology. Rad9000 though slower should o/c well and does at least have full DX8 hw. However I'd seriously rec you pay that little bit more for a Rad8500LE and pref 128MB as this is a seriously nice card so long as you're in the US and Canada where prices are reasonable. Rad9000 will be better than the o/b and will improve image quality, dual display, DVD/MPEG playback, TVout as well as a good 50% boost in 3D and full DX8 hw ... but considering the extra cost for a GF4MX440 or the hugely better Rad9000PRO and Rad8500LE it makes sense to pursue those lines. On Rad8500 you can often lose dual display and for all Radeons clocks vary by manu and retail vs oem/bulk so do check before you buy. Clocks should be Rad9000=250/400 Rad8500LE=250/500 Rad8500=275/550 Rad9000PRO=275/550. See how the prices for these add up, Rad9000 is the best of the absolute bottom cards but Rad8500LE or Rad9000PRO are the ones to go for.