Video Card Dillema :)

[AeonOnE]

I'm having trouble deciding what video card I should upgrade to.

I'm running:
p3 850e (coppermine)
abit be6 (my motherboard can only handle 100mhz FSB, and AGP 2x)
256 mb pc 100 ram
and am currently using a vanilla v770 TNT2 card.
with a prospect of overclocking (soon as I get some decent cooling).

I will be using this rig to play games, do graphic design, and some 3d modelling.

I have a friend who is selling me his GeForce 2 GTS (creative anihillator) for $100 CAD. But he's also made modifications to it to make it a Quattro 2. I like that idea.
I can get a MSI GeForce 4 MX440-T 64MB ddr agp w/tv out for around $130.
I've not heard a lot about the GF4 MXs, so if you wouldn't mind pointing me to some good places to read up or mind pointing out some things about the MX chipset, it would be greatly appreciated.
What I need to know is what are some better alternatives to this card? I'm not looking for GeForce 4 Tis or anything crazy. Just something to get the job done.

Thanks in advance!
-AeonOnE

 

[BD231]

Try to find a Radeon 8500 of some sort.

 

[AeonOnE]

How is the support for drivers?

I just read up some info on the GF4 MXs, and I don't like what I've read.

 

[Athlon4all]

ATi's drivers are great, sure they aren't the same optimization level as nVidia's but still, iots solid. And I have to agree, a friend of mione is building a computer soon and oriiginally we were gonna go for a MX440, but then I said, "What are we doing? A DX8 capable card (aka Radeon 8500LE) is what $10 more????!?!?!?!? We'll take the 8500LE."

 

[BDawg]

I have a similar config

P3 933
abit SH6 133 FSB, AGP 4x
512 MB pc133

I upgraded in December from a Geforce 256 DDR to a GF3Ti200 (Leadtek). I decided to get an above average card since I'm hoping to upgrade my system in the somewhat near future. I've had a lot of luck with nVidia, so I'm sticking with them.

 

[Technonut]

The 8500 would suit your needs well.

 

[TimeKeeper]

do graphic design, and some 3d modelling.

CAD? if so, get Geforce4 4200 and mod it into Quadro4.
Or if you can find cheap Geforce3 and mod it into Qudro DDC

Edit: forgot you don't want Geforce4. Then get Visiontek GTS-V for $45. (new batch all come w/ 5.5ns) and mod it into Quardo2 PRO @ 200/400 w/out extra cooling.

 

[5489]

What do you mean by MOD?
how do you MOD an GF4 into a quadro 4

 

[AeonOnE]

This is what I mean by mod:
http://www.geocities.com/tnaw_xtennis/G-Quadro-2.htm

 

[Navior]

The geforce4 mx 440 would be faster than the ge2 GTS but its been fairly booed, you can read about it at the anandtech video section in the main site. And the ATI 8500 is a bit faster than both of these, which you should be able to find for about, 130$. You said you were planning on doing some graphics work? I dunnno if you'll ge that out of your current system after reading your sys specs your cpu will be holding any new video card back.

 

[Fokks]

You're getting ripped off on that GF2-GTS.

As it's been said above, you can get a new gf2-gtsv from newegg.com for only $45!!! Modded or not, no gf2 is worth $100 anymore.

If you're only looking to spend about $100 I would consider the GF-MX440 from newegg for only $83. If you're not a heavy gamer, or money is tight, it really isn't as bad a deal as it's been made out to be. But for only $98 you can still get a GF3-Ti200!

That would be my choice.

 

[pennylane]

fokks, it's $100 canadian