The card you kept the longest in your Computer

Slappy00

Golden Member
Jun 17, 2002
1,820
4
81
I had Voodoo2 SLI that i spent a boatloads of money on... But Let me tell you I had those cards in my comp for at least 3 years w/o having to upgrade... Ahh the good old days when video card companies gave you cards that you expected to keep for more than two years...


 

Rand

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
11,071
1
81
3dfx Voodoo 3 3000, and Matrox G200 were both in my system for an extremely long time.
At times it was paired with 3dfx add-on board for 3D, but it lived on in my primary system for a good while.
Once it was replaced by the Banshee it continued to see use in another system devoted purely to 2D graphics design, for a short time before being superceeded by a G400.

The 3dfx Voodoo3 3000 was bought as a replacement for a TNT2 Ultra that I was completely unimpressed with, and is still hands down the most pleasant and trouble free graphics card I've ever used.
It handled everything I needed it to do and worked admirably for a long time. Anything I needed the V3 was quite respectable in, and I never had any problems at all even remotely related to the graphics card.
3D performance was quite adequate, and the feature set while relatively basic did the job perfectly for a long time. 2D quality was excellent, and the TV-Out implementation relatively simple but adequate for my needs.
Compatibility was superb, both in the way of hardware and software. GLide support was always there when I wished for it, and was a strong benefit for me long after it had been relegated to niche market.


It was replaced about half the way through the GeForce2 Ti's life as nVidia's primary lower mid-range GPU.
As is, the GeForce2 Ti has been a mild irritant the entire time I've had it... so it's very unlikely to last very long.
3D performance is easily more then adequate, but the 3D feature set is only adequate and up to my needs without exceeding them in any way.
2D visual quality is mildly disappointing, and TV-Out capabilities are poor.
Software compatibility is good, though not great. Reliability and hardware compatibility are poor to very bad however.
Probably to see replacement early 2003.
 

Kowan

Member
Jul 15, 2000
174
0
0
I'm still using an original Visiontek GF3 I got through the Gateway deal for $315.
Looking to grab either a 9700Pro or NV30 for the new system I'll be building.
 

Wolfsraider

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2002
8,305
0
76
matrox millenium and a gforce 2 mx 200 64 mb still using them um for a while now;)

but they can't compare to this on my main rig:p
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
2
81
Longest ever was my AWE64 sound card. Longest currently is my DEC Tulip based NIC.

The AWE64 still is used in a secondary system. IMO, it was the last great CL product (the rest have been CRAP)
 

Serp86

Senior member
Oct 12, 2002
671
1
0
This is a good one.

A 1Mb Tseng Labs card (only the lord knows the name) on my older system. It stayed there for, what, 6 years now?
 

WarSong

Golden Member
Jan 16, 2002
1,147
0
0
My US Robotics 33.6 ISA Card. I had it in my computers from 1997 until last month when I upgrade to a mobo without ISA slots :(. Of course, I haven't used it since I got broadband in 10/98 :p
 

Slappy00

Golden Member
Jun 17, 2002
1,820
4
81
The card you kept the longest in your Computer

damnit i knew that was going to happen :p

I meant video cards, but yah if you were going to get all bean-counter on me then almost everyone is going to say a NIC... or a 56K

My US Robotics 33.6 ISA Card

if you still have anything ISA in your system you get much props from me but your g0d if you somehow ( and g0d would only know how) still have a VLB bus and stuff that runs on it... heh i still poke fun at my friends that said VLB would be 4-eva.
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
2
81
Oh, as far as vidcards. My Permedia2 card lasted a few years in my main system, and currently it's driving a second monitor on my work computer.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,215
11
81
Radeon 9700 Pro - 3 months(and counting)
Riva128 - 6 months
TNT2 ultra - 1 year
Voodoo5 - 2 years
 

RobsTV

Platinum Member
Feb 11, 2000
2,520
0
0
Canopus Total3d 128v PCI 4 or 8 meg, which cost $220, and had nvidia Riva 128 chipset.
Also had video in/out, so I kept it as a capture card for a while.
Then, used it along with my Ti500 for second monitor until just recently.
Probably used it for over 5 years, and it is now in use in friends system.

Still using a 3dfx Voodoo2 as well.
Have a Toshiba P266 laptop with docking station that accepts cards, and use it in there. About 3+ years.

Besides those cards, never kept a card more than 6 to 8 months.

Just throwing out old boxes in garage, and came across a Brand New, never opened V2 box.
I now remember that Staples had a sale, and after double rebate, card was free.
Picked up 2, sold one, and was thinking someday SLI laptop.....
Now what to do with the NEW 12 meg V2????

The card in system the shortest time was Diamond S220.
When used with Cyrix P166 at time, it ran slower than anything. 2d was pathetic as well.
Lasted 2 hours, then paid the Curcuit City 15% restocking fee, went to BB and bought a
STB Velocity 128 crap card which made it 6 months before the Canopus upgrade.
 

NEVERwinter

Senior member
Dec 24, 2001
766
0
71
it would be my old TNT card and Vortex2 SQ2500... from 1998 to 2002 well, both are replaced now but it's still on my dad's PC

hehehe... he doesnt need hardcore 3D card or such
 

stebesplace

Senior member
Nov 18, 2002
580
0
0
Many moons ago. . .I used to have an Intel I740 which was al whopping 8 megs!!!!! better than the 4 meg's that were out at the time. Belive it or not, I am still using this card on an old word processing computer for another family member. It still works and is doing fine. i am always impressed. HA, what am i saying. Anyways, this is the oldest video card i've ever had.

-Steve
 

jamesbond007

Diamond Member
Dec 21, 2000
5,280
0
71
3Com 3C905C-TX-M network card. :) It's outlived 4-5 computers and it's going on number 6 in about a week. :D
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,716
417
126
tbqhwy.com
Geforce2 256 - 6 months
ATI Readon 64 DDR VIVO - 8 months
GF4 TI 4600- 3 months and counting
Sb Live - 1 year
 

GrumpyMan

Diamond Member
May 14, 2001
5,778
262
136
Voodoo Banshee I use as my second vid card. Had it for so long I forgot when I bought it. 97? 98? Still works great.
 

BFG10K

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
22,672
2,817
126
3dfx Voodoo3 2000 PCI. In fact back in my Mac days I flashed the card and even had it in my Mac.
 

KiltedFool

Senior member
May 30, 2001
614
0
0
First generation Hercules (Guillemot) GeForce DDR-DVI at 32 MB, has been in my computer for something like 3 years now, minimum of two, will be upgrading soon finally. Debating several choices for upgrade, would welcome input, considering Albatron GF4 or the like, budget is about 170-180, open to ATI.

KF
 

Spiffae

Member
Nov 17, 2002
102
0
0
Oh man...that would have to be either a (really old school) Matrox Mystique...man, that was awesome...it came bundled with a special version of destrucion derby 2, or maybe my TNT2 - 5 years.