Wath videocard should I get?

[uni1313]

I am planning to buy a new vidocard. I was thinking of a Geforce 2 GTS 64 mb or a ATI Radeon 64 mb.
My pc is a Dell P3 500 mhz 128 MB (100mhz) it has a TNT2 32 mb Viper770D videocard and a Mpeg decodercard (CineMaster DVD Playback Card c-3.0 ). I use a 17 inch monitor and a soundblaster live Value 1024 videocard, my os is Win98SE.

I mostly play first person shooters.
The card should also have sharp 2d (I use a resolution of 1024x768) and be compatible with my mpeg decodercard. .

Wich of the above cards should you recommend? Would a Geforce2 Ultra work fine with my system or would it be a waste of money?

Yours truly

Uni1313
Belgium

 

[force26]

Being that the Ultra will probably run you >$400US, you may want to pick up the GeForce2 MX and use it until the next Nvidia chip, NV20, is released. The GeForce is going to be faster in 16 bit resolutions in 3D games plus Nvidia is very good about driver releases. The Radeon will probably win in 32 bit especially at higher resolutions. If you are looking for top 2D quality, I think the Radeon is going to beat the GeForce (MX or Ultra), though. Also, with a P3/500, the Ultra may be a bit of an overkill. I would go with a GeForce2 MX or an ATI Radeon 32/64 DDR depending on how much 3D speed and 2D image quality factor into your decision.

Geoff

 

[Maverick2002]

what he said........gf2mx ROCKS!!!!

 

[RoboTECH]

for about $30 or $40 more than the MX, you can get a 32MB GTS.

That's what I'd go with if I were you.

 

[uni1313]

What do you think of the 64 mb videocards? Is it not wiser to buy one of those? The card must be able to run in games on 1027x768 32bit color and all options on maximum (I don't play online as the we have to pay for local calls in Belgium, and they have almost doubled the prices last week). I don't think that I would buy a geforce mx card because it is a budgetcard, I want a card that will last me more than 6 months.

I would like to buy a card that can get the maximum out of my system. When you look at the benchmarks of all the new videocards you see that they use the most powerfull processors (1 Gigaherz or more) to test the cards, would it not be wiser to test them on average systems.
Is there a way to find out which videocard can get the most out of my system.

Uni1313
Belgium

Dell P3 500 mhz
128 MB (100mhz)
TNT2 32 mb Viper770D videocard and a Mpeg decodercard
Soundblaster Live Value

 

[Dark4ng3l]

<< I would like to buy a card that can get the maximum out of my system >>

a Geforce mx will be just as fast as a gts in 1024x768 32 bit color with your cpu. The 64 mb cards are not required since with texture compression you dont need 64 megs.

 

[BFG10K]

The 64 mb cards are not required since with texture compression you dont need 64 megs.

Yes but some poeple dislike the sky problem and minor artifacts associated with texture compression so they choose to turn it off.

uni1313: just buy the best you can afford. Standard advice when buying any computer hardware.

 

[uni1313]

After reading some other posts I have noticed that a lot of people are very satisfied of the performance of the ATI Radeon. While I was first convinced to buy a Geforce2 GTS,I think I will buy a Radeon 64Mb instead. It is not only fps speed that matters. The most important thing of upgrading to a new videocard is better imagequality in 2d en 3d at high resolutions (1024*768). What's the use of buying a superfast card and expensive card that runs very fast in 16bit and lower resolutions?
Is the difference of 80 to 110 fps noticeable (maybe if you play online??).

My system is a Dell P3 500 mhz with 128 mb ram, I am thinking of upgrading it with another 128 mb =>total of 256 mb: Will a videocard run faster with it? What sort of programs, games will run faster.

Uni1313
Belgium

 

[fodd3r]

your 500mhz cpu won't make good use of those high powered cards, i suggest you pick up a radeon 32 meg ddr or sdr with a rebate or go for the geforce mx.