Video Card for PIII450 -- Radeon DDR?

[onviagra]

I am upgrading my PIII450 system, choosing between a Radeon DDR and Geforce2 GTS board. I use the system for a solid mix of 2D and 3D. I want to milk the most I can out of this system, to put off upgrading MB and CPU for a while. At the same time, I don't want to buy too much video card for the CPU.

Does my PIII450 have the power to make these video boards worthwhile? I know that performance won't be the same as a faster processor, please don't waste your keystrokes telling me that.

Would I be better off sticking with a Geforce2 MX? In other words, will my processor limit the faster boards so that performance benefits on top of the MX are negligible?

I'm pretty new at this upgrading routine, what web sites do you all recommend for broad benchmark comparisons? I find that most reviews have a few comparisons, but generally with much faster processors than mine.

Thanks!!!

 

[hoang473]

best bang for the buck right now, yes. geforce2 mx-visiontek. about 90 bucks right now.

hoang473

 

[lifeguard1999]

I have a Celeron 300A o/c to 450A with a Radeon 32MB DDR. It gets 60 fps in Quake III at 1024x768x32. So yes, such a video card upgrade can help, although your system (and mine) is holding you back. The retail 32 MB DDR Radeon can be found at Buy.com for $162 - $30 coupon + S&H = $137. The OEM version of the Geforce 2 MX without heatsink or fan can be had for $89 + $11 S&H = $100. That limits your o/c of the card, should you want to do that sort of thing.

Do not buy the Creative Labs DDR version of the Geforce 2 MX. It is slower than the SDR versions. Do not buy the Asus 16MB version of the Geforce 2 MX as it is short on memory.

 

[uni1313]

I have a P3 500 mhz (Dell XPS T500) with 256 mb ram (100 mhz)and an ATI Radeon 64mb VIVO retail I get a 3d mark score of 3801 (1024*768 16bit) and 3714 (1024*768 32bit). DVD quality is amazig, it is better than my TNT2 and mpegdecodercard (cinemaster 3.0), the image is much sharper.
I can play all my games at 1024*768 32 bit with everything on maximum.
Also in 2d the colors are much more vibrant and the image sharper than with my tnt2.
I am running the 4.12.3063 driver version.
I believe that the card is a very good solution for 2d and 3d.
The Retail 64mb vivo (European version) comes with composite and s-video cables, scartconnector, software Ulead Videostudio 4.01 and Ulead Cool 3d SE 2.5, a cd with dvdtrialers and the ATI installation cd (also includes the impressive Radeon Ark Demo).

Uni1313
Belgium

 

[miniMUNCH]

I concurn with UNI and lifeguard: go for a Radeon 32MB DDR. A superior card to the Geforce2 MX in most areas: better 2D, 32bit 3D, and DVD playback. DVD playback is second to none; I rather watch DVD's on my computer than my TV and sony DVD player. And the DVD support comes at no additional card: winDVD 2000, the best software DVD decoder, cost about $40...so the Radeon and Mx are evenly priced, IMO.