Radeon or GF2 MX?

[OS]

I need a new video card, and it seems like the two popular cheap ones these days are DDR radeons and GF2 MX/MX400s.

My needs are, I don't game at all, but like to have crisp 2D and something that will give me the least headache. I don't tweak and I don't want to have to update my drivers every other week, I remember both ATI and Nvidia were pretty bad at this a while ago.

Any opinions on which one to get?

 

[AGodspeed]

My needs are, I don't game at all, but like to have crisp 2D and something that will give me the least headache. I don't tweak and I don't want to have to update my drivers every other week, I remember both ATI and Nvidia were pretty bad at this a while ago.

For crisp 2D, I'd go with the Radeon. For the least headaches, I'd go with the GeF2MX, since it's drivers are top notch. Although, I must say that the Radeon's drivers have matured to the point that they're very stable.

Therefore, I'd take the DDR Radeon (LE version). My second system has a Radeon LE under Windows XP Home, and is running like a charm.

 

[Rand]

If you don't game at all and need extremely good 2D with top notch driver support then I'd look towards the Matrox G400/450/550.

But between Radeon and GF2 MX, I'd unhesitatingly prefer the Radeon. It has significantly better 2D then most GF2 cards, and of late ATi has shown they are capable of improving their driver support to the point wherein their current drivers arent too bad at all.

 

[OS]

How are the Rage 128 based video cards? Drivers for those any good?

 

[Rand]

<< How are the Rage 128 based video cards? Drivers for those any good? >>



At this point in time, yes they are fairly good as they've had years to mature. Even now their still not perfect, but they don't have too many problems.

 

[VBboy]

GF2MX is obsolete, even if you don't play games... You can get a Gainward GF2Ti for under $100 - that's how much many GF2MX400 cost... NewEgg.com.

 

[Rand]

<< $100 - that's how much many GF2MX400 cost... NewEgg.com. >>



MX400's are available for WAY lower then the GF2 Ti.
Even 64MB MX400's are normall about half that price, and 32MB MX400's are even less.
Even if we are to limit ourselves to only NewEgg they have 64MB MX400's available for $65, with again 32MB iterations available for less.
A quick check of price watch yields a full 17 pages worth of 64MB MX400's for less then $100.

Besides, if he's not gaming I can't think of any advantages to wards getting a GF2 Ti over an MX400. In fact, I can think of one small advantage that the MX400 has over the GF2 Ti for non-gamers, besides the price.

 

[Mustanggt]

I seen a few of these post people comparing GF2MX400 to Radeon, If you get a Radeon DDR there no comparison the radeon is better hardware, 2d is outstanding and the radeon beats the GF2MX400 in every 32 bit benchmark. the drivers are very good also. the Radeon is just under a GF2PRO so you cant compare it with GF2MX.