The best GeForce 4 Ti 4200 128Mb

[Killeruk]

Which is the best GeForce 4 Ti 4200 128Mb graphics card?

 

[cdub]

The one in my computer!

Seeing as how no one else's helps me render GTA3 every night. I have a Gainward Golden Sample 128 MB. Mine doesn't overclock very well, but others with the same card have had better stories. However from the research I did, I think the Visiontek is the best for overclocking. It'll probably be the most expensive as well. People seem to have gotten some amazing results with that card. On the cheap end, people seem to like the Chaintech as well.

Really, you should do a search on "Ti4200" in this forum. You should find the answer to your question much quicker that way.

 

[P4spooky]

Here is my experience on Leadtek 128MB Ti4200 MY VIVO edition

Default 3dMark 2001 SE score: 10400
Overclocked to 300/600, 3dMark score: 11497

I recommend this card.

 

[r0ck]

i have Gainward GF4 128mb

3DMark2001Se benchmark

@default - 8854
@ 260/470 - 9797
@ 270/500 - 10045
@300/550 - 10332

 

[WyteWatt]

What mobos and what kind of ddr ram brand/speed do you all have btw? I am curious if thats why you get higher 3dmark2001 SE scores.

 

[rockandroll]

VisonTek Ti4200 here, i've run it as high as 310/560 with stock cooling. $179 at Best Buy.

 

[sep]

Originally posted by: Killeruk
Which is the best GeForce 4 Ti 4200 128Mb graphics card?

If I was going to buy a Ti 4200 128MB and wanted THE BEST I would have to say the LeadTek's WinFast A250 LE TD - MyVIVO Edition. It's overall the BEST card. The only 4200 I can find that outputs 1024x768!

If your looking for the best overclocker then that's another story. I haven't seen a 128MB card that can overclock the memory better than a 64MB card. That's because the 64MB cards are coming with 3.6ns vs 4.0ns or higher. I remember looking at a review of the SUMA's 128MB card using the 3.6ns and it was getting up to 600+, but I can't find anything else on this card. Some of these cards can oc the core to 315+. If you get 300 for the core and 550+ memory then it's a good card. I would then look at the other things that might matter like DVI to VGA Adapter, 2D Quality, Support, Cooling, Output Quality, etc.

In the end I will not get this card. I might go for the cheapiest 64MB that offers potential to oc to 300/550 while keeping it cool and dual monitor support with a dvi2vga adapter (MSI, Gainward, Chaintech) and bank the extra $50 for a new CD-RW drive...

Good Luck!

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

I have an EVGA GF4 128MB. It overclocks to 280/550, which ain't too bad.

3DMARK Scores 2001 SE

WINXP (280/550)- 10,800
WIN98SE(280/550)- 10,595

P4 1.6@2.4 GHZ.

 

[Dreadogg]

I have a chaintech GT21 and it is clocked at 315/560 which maxes out coolbits and I know it can reach higher speeds! My bench mark kinda blows though I think my processor is holding me back I run low 9000 range on 3dmark SE! But the card is really smooth I like it alot!

 

[AnAndAustin]

GF4TI4200 64MB being a better o/c'er than the 128MB is FALSE!

My goodness, don't you people look through the other links!

The only diff is the DEFAULT clocks. 4200-128=250/444 and 4200-64=250/500. If you are scared of o/c'ing then the 64MB is prob the better choice. Otherwise IT IS THE TYPE OF RAM USED that dicates 98% of the attainable o/c. 4200-128 are JUST AS LIKELY to come with 3.6ns RAM as 4200-64. Not only that but even in some current games the 4200-64 o/c to 285/600 is STILL SLOWER than a 4200-128 at default 250/444. 128MB is going to become VERY important, and sooner than you may think.

Both 4200 cards are still faster than the GF3TI500 & full blown ATI Radeon8500. Both are identical in technology to the GF4TI4400/4600 the differences being; cost, shorter board (so fits more mobos), fewer layers, less power regulation and cheaper memory technology (TSOP rather than BGA).

Tech-Report
4200-64 has only a 1.5% advantage over 4200-128.
O/C 4200-64 to 275/550, reached 300/580 but a little unstable.

TomsHW
4200-64 (simulated 4200-128 o/c to250/500) has a 6.5% advantage over 4200-128 (250/444) but bear in mind the simulated 4200-64 has 128MB.
O/C 4200-128 to 310/550.

AnAndTech
O/C Gainward4200-128 to 330/540.

FiringSquad
4200-64 has a 1% advantage.
O/C 4200-64 to 285/600 which was benchmarked and showed a nice increase except for Commanche4, it was still slower than the 4200-128 at default speed (250/444).

AnAndTech 4200 roundup
Roundup of 4200 cards and esp shows 128MB vs 64MB!
Shows a bunch of 4200 cards and how 64 may become a limitation sooner rather than later.

The FiringSquad example of Commanche4 showing the 4200-64 (o/c 285/600) slower than 4200-128 (def 250/444) could suggest the performance hit when a game requires more than 64MB. But also check out the last link which shows that 64MB cards will begin to lag behind 128MB cards, more likely sooner rather than later.

Essentially it really comes down to the type of RAM implimented so forget fancy HSF and RAM HS. 4.0ns RAM o/c to about 550mhz, 3.6ns RAM o/c to about 600mhz (on 4200 cards). This is regardless of whether the card has 64MB or 128MB, generally both come with 4.0ns RAM. Be careful not to pay too much for the faster RAM, you may find the 4400 is within your reach and that would always be a better buy (unless the long design won't fit your mobo).

For 4200 cards (whether 64 or 128):
5.0ns gets to 480mhz
4.0ns gets to 550mhz
3.6ns gets to 600mhz
3.3ns gets to 600mhz

 

[whiteboyatcal]

Dreadogg - I see you finally got that GT21 in your comp. Get Geforce Tweak and crank that sucka!

Too bad your cpu is on the slow side, I have a feeling urs is gonna oc high like mine..

Chaintech G4Ti4200 128MB "GT21" Special Edition w/VIVO
OC'ed to 325/615MHZ with stock cooling

 

[slicksilver]

Chaintech Geforce 4 Ti4200 GT21 128MB is the best out there...

Raj

 

[Alex]

gainward IMO

 

[Xtasy]

Try to get a 128mb card with hynix 4ns ram. The 64mb usually have 3.6ns (ie. MSI and ABIT hits at least 300/600 for most cards) 3.5ns (for GAINWARD 64mb, but it's oc sucks for lower ns). You should get a core that could hit 300, if u get on that can hit 300, you are not lucky. The ram is the most important thing here. Nanosecs and the brand of the ram are important. I found that hynix is the best. The hynix 3.6ns out overclock the 3.5 ns on gainwards, which are etrontech. For 128mb cards, they come in samsung 4ns and hynix 4 ns. I theorize that the hynix are better than the samsung chips. Other factors include the brand of the company or revisions, because some cards give more (very minimal, but could get you 10 to 20 more mhz) voltage to the ram, and your case ambient temp and the cooling. If i were you, maybe you should try the abit siluro 128mb (with hynix), tweaktown got theirs to 315/625! And if you are into VIVO, dvi, etc... , then i don't really know which card to get as i don't use them.

 

[AnAndAustin]

You really don't pay attention Xtasy. 4200-128 are just as likely to come with 3.6ns and therefore should hit 600mhz o/c. Even with some current games 64MB on a new card is a bit short sighted. 128MB is only going to get more important to have.

 

[Xtasy]

AnAndAustin,
All the 128mb ti4200's i have ever seen came with 4.0ns ram.

I personally have tried the MSI ti4200 64mb, which came with 3.6ns hynix ram.

MSI ti4200 64mb - 3.6ns hynix ram

ABIT SILURO ti4200 64mb - 3.6ns hynix ram

INNO TORNADO ti4200 64mb - 3.6ns hynix ram

Gainward ti4200 128mb - 4.0ns samsung ram

Pixelview ti4200 128mb - 4.0ns samsung ram

Visiontek ti4200 128mb - 4.0ns samsung ram

ABIT SILURO ti4200 128mb - 4.0ns hynix ram

TRIPLEX MILLENIUM ti4200 128mb - 4.0ns samsung ram

AOPEN ti4200 128mb - 4.0ns samsung ram

ASUS ti4200 128mb DELUXE - Samsung BGA 3.3ns! on a ti4400/4600 style pcb

OVERCLOCKED ROUNDUP ON ANANDTECH - Hynix 3.6ns gets 605mhz average, Samsung 4.0ns gets 563mhz average

OVERCLOCKED COMPARISON FOR ABIT 128MB and TRIPLEX 128mb, hynix 4.0ns gets 625mhz, samsung 4.0ns gets 580mhz

This is just a FEW of the roundups i have found so far that show the ram speed. If a company wants to put lower ns ram on their 128mb ti4200 cards to get the edge, great, but i have yet to see one company do that. And if they did, they should advertise that to gain more audience. I agree that the 128mb cards are more important, but i rather wait until they put lower ns ram on their cards or find the right 128mb card with the right memory.

 

[AnAndAustin]

Just to emphasise, I meant no disrespect Xtasy. I just seem to keep repeating myself so much regarding 4200-128 vs 4200-64. However you make a very fair point in that it seems to you that 4200-64 mostly come with 3.6ns while 4200-128 mostly use 4.0ns.

A big problem seems to be the lack of information retailers and manus have. They tout all of the pretty pointless paper specs and features, even give pics of the cards, but one of the most important things (as we know) is the RAM rating. I hope the samples reviewers receive use the same RAM as the cards consumers buy, it hasn't always been the case. I think it does depend upon where you live, US vs Europe vs Australia show very different pricing, manus and RAM ratings. Many Aussies have even shown me many links to various 4200-128 cards using 3.3ns! Of course it is ALMOST certain to only reach around 600mhz, just like 3.6ns as the TSOP (etc) of the 4200 design limits much higher RAM clocks, but that's another point.

Here's some links and benchmarks I have noted since the 4200 release. I quote the card used and the attained o/c as well as average out all of the given benchmarks of 4200-128 vs 4200-64 at their default clocks.

Tech-Report
4200-64 has only a 1.5% advantage over 4200-128.
O/C 4200-64 to 275/550, reached 300/580 but a little unstable. 4.0ns.

TomsHW
4200-64 (simulated 4200-128 with 4200-64 default clocks of 250/500) has a 6.5% advantage over 4200-128 (250/444) but bear in mind the simulated 4200-64 has 128MB.
O/C 4200-128 to 310/550. 4.0ns.

AnAndTech
O/C Gainward4200-128 to 330/540. 4.0ns.

AnAndTech gfx cards compared

FiringSquad
4200-64 has a 1% advantage.
O/C 4200-64 to 285/600 (3.6ns) which was benchmarked and showed a nice increase except for Commanche4, it was still slower than the 4200-128 even at its default speed of 250/444!

AnAndTech 4200 roundup
Roundup of 4200 cards and esp shows 128MB vs 64MB!
Shows a bunch of 4200 cards and how 64 may become a limitation sooner rather than later.

The FiringSquad example of Commanche4 showing the 4200-64 (o/c 285/600) slower than 4200-128 (def 250/444) could suggest the performance hit when a game requires more than 64MB. But also check out the last link which shows that 64MB cards will begin to lag behind 128MB cards. So personally I think a 4200-128MB with 4.0ns and 300/550 would be preferable to a 4200-64MB with 3.6ns and 300/600, if a 4200-128MB card using 3.6ns doesn't cost much more then that would easily be the best buy. Of course it is important to remember that ALL 4200 cards are GREAT! Even at default clocks they beat both GF3TI500 and full ATI Radeon8500 in pretty much every benchmark, fantastic value for money whatever you buy!

 

[h0tai]

To those who think that the Chaintech GT21 special edition is the best.....
is there any difference between the GT21, and the chaintech GT20 (with 128 megs of ram)
other than the VIVO function?

 

[Xtasy]

I would love to know what ram the chaintech gt21 has, if it weren't for those darn heatsinks. If i were to make a choice of a 128mb card, i would choose the abit siluro ti4200 128mb, as the hynix 4.0ns ram beats samsung 4.0ns ram.