should i upgrade videocard?

[vshah]

I have a pc identical to the one in my sig, except with an ANTIQUE Geforce 2 ultra...question is, should i upgrade this now or wait till next year for d3/hl2 etc...

it runs halo/ut2k3/freelancer fine at 1024, due to its AMAZING 7.3gb/s memory bandwidth (4 year old card, remember 😀 )

I tried a friends fx5200 128meg non ultra, and it scored lower in 3dmark 01....

i'm thinking i should just wait...but if there is a cheap card i could get that offers faster performance i might get it.

-any ideas?

 

[modedepe]

Well if you're happy with your current performance wait.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

If i were you, and it was still playing ok, i'd just hold out till the next generation of cards/games but if you got the money and feel that you desperately need it, sure.

Though, im wondering does it lag when you play halo @ 1024? and what are you settings?

 

[Pete]

An $80 64MB GF4TI 4200 will certainly be faster, but if you're happy with your current performance, there's no point in throwing money out the window. If the money isn't an issue for you, then you should be happier with the 4200.

 

[Tetsuo]

Just wait until there is a game (that needs more juice) that makes you want to go out and buy a new card

 

[Jeff7181]

I'd get a Ti4200 for $100... you'll be pretty happy with the improvement over your GF2. What you consider "fine" may not be very good. People sometimes don't realize what they're missing... they run a game at 20 fps and have never played it any faster, so they don't know what it feels like to maintain 100 FPS and never drop below. I'd say if you have $100, you'll love a Ti4200... but... it doesn't sound like you upgrade often, so you may just want to hang onto your GF2 until the next generation of cards come out, then you can spend a pile on a good card that will last you another 2-3 years.

 

[vshah]

yeah...i've got the 9700 anyway in the 2nd machine, but my friends always complain when we play over lan... 😀

halo i have to drop down to medium details, obviously no aa/af as that'd kill the gf2, but it is playable at about 30-40fps at 1024
the flamethrower drops the fps a bit...anyone know what rendering technique is used for that effect?


-viv

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: vshah
yeah...i've got the 9700 anyway in the 2nd machine, but my friends always complain when we play over lan... 😀

halo i have to drop down to medium details, obviously no aa/af as that'd kill the gf2, but it is playable at about 30-40fps at 1024
the flamethrower drops the fps a bit...anyone know what rendering technique is used for that effect?

-viv

So your friends are complaining that your 2nd rig *they are borrowing* is too slow? Hehe... How about you kick your 9700 to your 2nd rig and tell them to chip in 50% of the cost of your video card upgrade and it's a deal! 😀

 

[TheMouse]

i have a 9500 softmodded to a 9700, and overclocked to pro speeds.. do you think its time i upgraded?








::sarcasm::

 

[Mardeth]

Originally posted by: TheMouse
i have a 9500 softmodded to a 9700, and overclocked to pro speeds.. do you think its time i upgraded?








::sarcasm::

Hehe. First I thought what an idiot, then read the text below... 🙂

 

[BenSkywalker]

vshah-

obviously no aa/af as that'd kill the gf2

Can you try and enable AA and tripple buffering in your control panel? I'm interested to know if it works or not. You will see the performance hit one way or the other, but can you see if you actually get the AA image? Not to be a pest or anything, but you are the first person I've seen with a decent SSAA board and Halo that can test it. AA will not work on any MSAA board due to some of the effects they render, but I believe it should work on a SSAA board if it is running tripple buffered.

To your broader question, tell your friends to suck it up and run 640x480 or pony up $5 every time they come over to play to put in your upgrade fund 😉

Seriously, my second rig is running a GF2Pro right now, if my buds griped I'd tell them to lug their own d@mn rig over 😀

 

[z0mb1e]

You think your card is old, I'm just now upgrading from a Voodoo4. 😛