Should I use my built-in video or a Radeon card from 2001

[beyonddc]

I'm debating whether or not if I should use the built-in video output from the motherboard or a very old Radeon card from 2001.

I am not sure which one will actually be better, but my feeling is that a 2001 Radeon card is probably still better than the built-in video.

This system is for my parents.
Here's the story [cliff note]
1) Bought a PowerSpec 1405 system from Microcenter today.
$250 - $50 mail-in rebate - 100 mail-in rebate = $100
2) The system has an Integrated 4x AGP S3 Pro Savage 8 Video Chipset
3) I have a spare video card, and it is very old (2001). It is a PCI Radeon 32MB SDR
4) Should I use the built-in video card or Radeon card?

 

[TStep]

usually separate card is better, but since you have them both, an hours worth of your time will tell you which is better for what you are using it for. Try it out each way.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

probably not going to be gaming on that PCI card?

either way id say the performance between the two would be in the same ball park, id go for the add-in card, freeing up some system ram. thats the better option i believe

but dont expect anything from the radeon, its definately not any better than on board

 

[beyonddc]

Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer
probably not going to be gaming on that PCI card?

either way id say the performance between the two would be in the same ball park, id go for the add-in card, freeing up some system ram. thats the better option i believe

but dont expect anything from the radeon, its definately not any better than on board

It is not a gaming machine. It meant to be a word processing and Internet surfing machine for my parents.

I'm downloading 3DMark 2001 right now and test it out myself.

 

[mwmorph]

use radeon onboard probably already saps your minimum of ram.

 

[NokiaDude]

If you're using the desktop only, onboard will be fine. If you're doing anything graphics wise, like maybe an MMORPG, the radeon will help.

EDIT: SAw that it's a PCI card. Just use the onboard video for an internet machine. Also I hope you install XP, Linspire isn't the most friendliest OS for old folks.

 

[beyonddc]

Originally posted by: NokiaDude
If you're using the desktop only, onboard will be fine. If you're doing anything graphics wise, like maybe an MMORPG, the radeon will help.

EDIT: SAw that it's a PCI card. Just use the onboard video for an internet machine. Also I hope you install XP, Linspire isn't the most friendliest OS for old folks.

Yup, installed W2K on there.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: NokiaDude
If you're using the desktop only, onboard will be fine. If you're doing anything graphics wise, like maybe an MMORPG, the radeon will help.

EDIT: SAw that it's a PCI card. Just use the onboard video for an internet machine. Also I hope you install XP, Linspire isn't the most friendliest OS for old folks.

no but if he has the card there, he might as well use it

freeing up a bit of ram never hurt did it?

 

[mwmorph]

"RAM Installed / Maximum RAM Supported


128MB PC-2700 DDR RAM (Expandable to 2.0GB)"

yeah, you've gotta free all the ram you can get. my windows no apps open ram useage is around 210-220mb (xp sp2,f-secure internet security 2005, drivers, asus smartdoctor, daemon, spybot sd resident.)

 

[beyonddc]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
"RAM Installed / Maximum RAM Supported


128MB PC-2700 DDR RAM (Expandable to 2.0GB)"

yeah, you've gotta free all the ram you can get. my windows no apps open ram useage is around 210-220mb (xp sp2,f-secure internet security 2005, drivers, asus smartdoctor, daemon, spybot sd resident.)

I'm using W2K, not XP.

I know the machine only has only 128mb, but ram is so cheap these days. I'm planning to order a stick of 512mb for $37 bucks at chiefvalue either today or tomorrow.

 

[Peter]

Leave the card out, configure the integrated graphics to a lesser amount of RAM (4 or 8 megs will do for 2D). Using a PCI graphics card is a bus bandwidth hog, and may well throw audio and other realtime stuff out of whack. I've seen it happen.

 

[Mingon]

Both have slow 2d, but the ATI is marginally quicker.

 

[Dough1397]

get your parents a stick of 512 ddr ....

 

[beyonddc]

Originally posted by: Dough1397
get your parents a stick of 512 ddr ....

Yup, just bought a stick of 512mb from chiefvalue for $40 bucks. Very good deal...

 

[beyonddc]

Just an update:

I ended up putting a Matrox G400 video card into my parents system.
Millennium G400 Series