radeon > gf4mx420?

[CripplerCrossface]

is the redeon 32MB better in terms of graphics. its prob a stupid Q but i want to know whether to get a AIW radeon pci or a personal cinema mx400 or mx 420.

 

[Mingon]

Can you be a bit clearer - agp or pci, radeon 7000, 7200, 7500, 8500 or 9000 What do you require TV out ? video in ?

 

[sechs]

The Geforce4MX is about the same or better than the Radeon in 3d performance. The Radeon has better 2d performance and, generally, provides higher quality at less expense to 3d framerate.

If you're not a big gamer, the All in Wonder is a better choice. If you're a gamer, then you're looking at the wrong GPUs....

 

[AnAndAustin]

Yeah I'm guessing your limited to PCI hence the choices in cards. It is worth rem'ing that an AthlonXP and SktA mobo may be all you need and cost XP1600+ $53, XP2000+ $90 with SktA mobos around $50. If you absolutely need to choose between these low end gfx cards then it really does depend upon what Radeon you mean (is it SDR, DDR etc), your reqs and also what CPU you're using.

GF4MX420 is under-rated and gives near GF2GTS perf but with the GF4 enhancements such as image quality, dual display, slightly enhanced TVout/VIVO and hw DVD playback. GF4MX440 tends to be faster than any GF2 card inc TI and Ultra and obviously sports the GF4 enhancements. The Radeon cards do tend to still be better in terms of image quality, TVout and hw DVD playback although it is pretty close. So I'd dismiss GF2MX cards and choose between GF4MX or Rad7500/9000 cards presuming you're stuck in PCI.

As for Radeon perf, Radeon7000/VE gives roughly GF2MX perf, Rad7500 gives GF2GTS-TI perf, Rad9000 only has Rad7500 perf but is the only one of these cards to support DX8 hw just like the GF3 and Rad8500 cards, plus it should o/c well too. Here's some reviews, note they use AGP and you'll lose about 20% perf going to PCI:

TomsHW Rad7000/VE
AnAndTech Rad7500, GF2MX400 etc review inc some CPU scaling
Guru3D GF4MX420 review
Tech Report Rad9000PRO review (20% faster than Rad9000)

EDIT: As for TV abilities the AIW are tops, nVidia Pers Cinema are still decent while most GF4 come with VIVO ability which comes on very cheap. You may want to consider a seperate PCI TVcard, esp with the speed at which the gfx market is moving, plus you can take it over to your new PC when you do upgrade.

 

[Mingon]

the radeon pci 9000 is about 8% slower than its agp counterpart look here. As for image quality there is nothing in it (i have 440pci, 9000pci and ti4200) its a bit of a myth. Personally i prefer the radeon for its dx8 support but the nvdia drviers are imoh better.

 

[CripplerCrossface]

yeah i am trying to build a sff pc which only has one pci slot. but i might just have to wait for one with a agp slot. i already have a main comp i might buy a pvr for that but i want to use my sff for htpc purtposes and it would be quite cumbersome to transfer files all the time. i might just have to wait.

 

[CripplerCrossface]

thx people.

 

[Mingon]

the radeon is abig card, i had to move the psu in my shuttle sv25 to get it to fit.