V5 5500 AGP or GF2 GTS 32M???

[Playmaker]

I am building a new system and want to spend in the low $100s for a gaming vid card. Emphasis will be on pure speed for gaming, image quality is already great w/ my V3 2000 agp on CS, so it can only get better. I heard there will be new V5 5500 drivers at least for awhile? is this true? or are they done completely? Would be great to get a 64mb card that cheap. Also I love the speed w/ the V5 5500 and wickedgl drivers. I'm not really sure how fast the GF2 GTS 32m is. Is it faster then the V5? Would the extra $40 or so be worth it? Which card do you all think I should go with?

 

[shiznut123]

Many other people say their GF2 gts's are faster than voodoo 5 5500's. 3DFX is over with. Get the GF2. The extra $40 is worth it.

 

[alarcon]

Yes, it´s faster, go for the GF2 GTS 32mb
you won´t be dissapointed

 

[gtd2000]

Seriously - if you think a V3 2000 is great for CS then you will be blown away by the cheapest GF MX2 u can get your hands on
I've seen the V3 in action vs the original GF 256 - my mate just changed and he is as happy as larry!
I'm a big CS player too - you won't need anything more if thats your main game
US$74 for my MX2 card!

 

[BFG10K]

I'd pick the GTS.

 

[js1973]

nm

 

[agrall]

I don't know...

I have been thinking about this one for a while myself...

Maybe I'll be waiting until either one gets a little bit closer to the $100 point...

 

[ErikaeanLogic]

It seems to me that if you play GLide-based games like CS and UT, then the V5 is the way to go. You won't get a better image quality in HL or CS than if you use the 3dfx GL Mini-Driver in the Graphics area of configuration. Just my $0.02. . .

 

[ahfung]

<< You won't get a better image quality in HL or CS than if you use the 3dfx GL Mini-Driver in the Graphics area of configuration. >>



Nah. HL and CS are both built on Open GL engine which GeForces are second to none. Not to mention 3dfx's one is only mini after all.

 

[gtd2000]

Glide is a bit dead now though - along with 3dfx.....
I've read that most textures do not exceed 32Mb in games right now - so the 64MB will perform just like 32MB unless it goes above 32MB
For extreme value get an MX2 - for performance and value get a GTS2

 

[gtd2000]

Check out the prices for &quot;Inno&quot; GTS 2 cards - very reasonable prices

 

[ErikaeanLogic]

ahfung: Have you run HL or CS on both cards, NVIDIA and 3dfx? I have and I don't think that GeForce image quality is anywhere near the 3dfx quality, particularly on the Voodoo5. There's alot more to these games than benchmarks. That's just my opinion, though.

 

[skace]

I've seen HL and CS on both cards Busta. Unfortunatly, the friend I had who had the v5 got rid of it for a Geforce card, enough said...

 

[RacerX]

Hey skace I had a Herc GTS2 Pro and got rid of it for a V5 so what's your point?
If you want the best image quality and smoothest gameplay for HL/CS I think V5 (1024 FSAA2x) is still the best.
...and I have owned a couple MX cards, you can't play (smoothly) at 1280x960 with them so for me it's useless.
Plus the V5 handles the smoke better IMO

 

[gtd2000]

You don't buy an MX 2 to play above 1024 x 768 - if you do you are expecting a bit too much really!
It is a budget card after all

Maybe by the end of this year budget cards will achieve that

 

[gtd2000]

Check out benchmark results of V5's here vs MX2 and others.
You will see the MX2 can beat the V5 5500 in some situations - how much does the V5 5500 cost though?

 

[RoboTECH]

the 5500 does everything better than the MX

if you're buying new, you should probably pick up either a 32MB DDR Radeon or a GTS

I dumped my GTS Pro for a 5500 after using both extensively.

But it really depends on what games you're going to play and how important 2d image quality is to you.

 

[ErikaeanLogic]

I just picked up my second V5 for $115, and I've seen them lower, so it would get my vote over an MX anyday! Hey, I was attracted to the benchmark numbers, too, but I missed my first V5, so I had to get another one.

PS. I'm glad to see you other V5 fans; it was getting a little lonely out here with all the NVIDIA fans!

 

[Playmaker]

Hmm, I'm kind of leaning towards V5 now. They get cheaper everytime I check them. I'd have enough for another 64mb of ram if I go w/ a V5 instead, but first I have a few more questions. What is the true driver situation on the 3dfx cards? I know nVidia won't make them, and that x3dfx site got shut down. What are the chances of someone still making fixes? I'd like to keep this card for at least a year. Also, how is the OCing on a V5? I know I can heavily OC any GF2 card, how about the V5? Thanks.

 

[Avatar26]

You're honestly not going to get much in the way of support from ANYBODY for a Voodoo5. The only people left putting out reliable drivers were the crew at x3DFX and they have since given up. You want something you can have support on, and more speed, go with a GTS.

 

[Playmaker]

Well, I've made up my mind. I'm going with the 64mb kyro2. It's perfect for me as I just don't like nVidia, and the box even looks like an old voodoo box Thanks for the input tho.

 

[gtd2000]

Wow the V5 5500's are cheap over your way!

They (V5's) cost HK$2280 (US$293) you can get a GF 2 Pro for HK$1980 (US$254)
An Inno Geforce 2 GTS 32MB would be HK$1300 (US$167) and that's the cheapest available!

Now you realise why I find it hard to accept comparisons of a US$74 MX2 and a US$293 V5

 

[RacerX]

Actually Playmaker after seeing you planned on keeping the card for a while I was going to suggest the KyroII (over the V5). I think I am going to get one of them too just to try out since it is the best card for SeriousSam (the game I am looking forward to most). Hopefully they will be out before April.
good luck on the upgrade

 

[Playmaker]

Thanks, you too. I can't wait to get my hands on one of them.

 

[RoboTECH]

gtd, those prices are about 2.5 x as expensive as around here.

i can pick up a brand new 5500 for under $125 from several vendors