Which Gaineward GF4 Ti4200 should I get?

[Civic2oo1x]

I'm set on getting the Ti4200 as I don't want to spend an arm and a leg and I don't need the top FPS in my games. I read the review of the Gainward Ti4200 in the new PC Gamer and needed help picking out a good one from newegg. I notice some are 3.3ns and some are 4.0. I have absolutely no idea which is better. And I read in the review that Gainward gives you OC'ing software as well which is definately a big plus. So can someone help me pick one?

GAINWARD/CARDEXPERT GeForce 4 Ti 4200, 3.5ns, 64MB DDR. 1 CRT ONLY No DVI, or TV-Out. Retail. $143
GAINWARD/CARDEXPERT GeForce 4 Ti 4200, 3.5ns, 64MB DDR. $153
GAINWARD/CARDEXPERT GeForce 4 Ti 4200, 4ns, 128MB DDR, Power Pack Golden Sample, $165
GAINWARD/CARDEXPERT GeForce 4 Ti 4200, 3.3ns, 64MB DDR. $168
GAINWARD/CARDEXPERT GeForce 4 Ti 4200, 4ns, 128MB DDR, Power Pack Golden Sample, $187

Thanks a bunch.

 

[AnAndAustin]

Gainward are a fine manu, but manu makes very little diff when it comes to perf, features and o/c'ability. As for o/c'ing sw, forget it, there's 100s of free progs on the net.

As for the RAM type, this is the biggest and best indicator of what o/c'ing the card can do. Quite simply all GF4TI4200 should go from a 250mhz core to around 300mhz. The 4.0ns allows a RAM o/c from 444mhz (128MB or 500mhz for 64MB) to around 550mhz while 3.6ns RAM will usually reach 620mhz! So the only diffs between the 4200-64MB and 4200-128MB is the standard clocks (irrelevant if you plan to o/c) and of course the larger RAM size. So any 4200 card, regardless of RAM size will reach around 300/550 (4.0ns) or 300/620 (3.6ns)! To put 4200 o/c it in perspective 4400 runs at 275/550 and 4600 at 300/650, hence a 4200 running at 275/550 gives identical perf to a true 4400.

In any case you are best to avoid the 4200-64MB cards, even though they usually use 3.6ns whereas 4200-128MB cards tend to use 4.0ns, the higher o/c comes no where near compensating for the lack of RAM, this is evident in some existing games but will become more and more limiting in the very near future. Finding out what type of RAM a 4200-128MB uses is INCREDIBLY difficult, the only cards 4200-128MB cards I know of which state they use faster than 4.0ns RAM is the Suma 4200 Special Edition and the Asus 4200 Deluxe. Both of these cards use the longer PCB design of the 4400 and also the more expensive BGA RAM at 3.3ns speeds (hence they are much more of a 4300 than 4200). The o/c's certainly vary though, Suma SE gets about 300/700 (what you'd expect of 3.3ns BGA RAM) while the Asus Deluxe 'only' (LOL) reaches 300/640, what you'd expect a 'standard' 4200-128MB using cheaper TSOP 3.6ns RAM to reach. Even so, if the Asus Deluxe isn't much more than a regular 4200-128MB it is well worth it for the guaranteed 260/550 clock and an o/c to 4600 speed is not to be sniffed at!

Out of the cards you mention (although I have pointed out there is NO need at all to go Gainward) the 3 64MB cards go out of the window (although they are still far better than GF3TI500 64MB cards) leaving the 2 4200-128MB cards, 'Golden Sample' means nothing if they stick 4.0ns RAM on them so it seems the GAINWARD/CARDEXPERT GeForce 4 Ti 4200, 4ns, 128MB DDR, Power Pack Golden Sample, $165 is the best one to go for, I assume the $187 version comes with VIVO or better bundle for the price, if you need that you could splash out!

 

[AnAndAustin]

Forgot to mention not to worry about faster than 3.6ns RAM on a 4200 unless it uses BGA RAM and the longer 4400 design, 3.3ns would still get you the same o/c as 3.6ns, other factors become limiting for true 4200 cards. Here's some links to show you perf diff, esp why you should get a 4200-128MB card.

FiringSquad

AnAndTech 4200 roundup

In the Firing Squad example, notice that in Commanche4 the 4200-64 (o/c to 285/600) is still slower than the 4200-128 (even at its default of 250/444). When a game can use more than 64MB, you really get hit hard if adequate RAM isn't on the card. The AnAndTech link shows a roundup of 4200 cards and demonstrates that 64MB will become a limitation sooner rather than later, trying to save that $20 now will really hit you hard down the road. As I mentioned previously, 4200-64MB is still a damn fine card, certainly better than GF3TI500 and Rad8500, but 4200-128MB simply makes loads more sense. If you were afraid to o/c then the 128MB is still a wise investment, 4200-128MB at 250/444 is only about 2% slower than 4200-64MB at 250/500, but as already shown, the 64MB card will be hit very hard. HTH!

 

[Mk1980]

Hi all I have 128mb peace, working great at 311mhz core and 570mhz memory, core is about its top, but I am not sure for memory, I wasnt trying anything higher, gainwar Ti4200 128mb is superb card, get it. 64mb in code creatures 11fps, 128mb 4200 28,5 overclocked 24 not overclocked, 128 is for future engines faaaaaaaaaaar more better, also in todays games its sometimes very usefull to own 128mb.
You have good system I have only Athlon C 1333 and 256mb sdram and this is slowing little bit my card,, 8070 3dmarks with 29.42 det. is not awesome, but adequate for sdram system. Good luck with overclocking

 

[r0ck]

GAINWARD/CARDEXPERT GeForce 4 Ti 4200, 4ns, 128MB DDR, Power Pack Golden Sample, $165

i have that one...running @ 300/550

here is my score:

3DMark2001 SE

 

[ant80]

GAINWARD/CARDEXPERT GeForce 4 Ti 4200, 4ns, 128MB DDR, Power Pack Golden Sample, $165

Where did u get that golden sample for $165? Or are u pulling my leg?

 

[AnAndAustin]

I can't understand this obsession some people seem to have with 'Golden Sample' versions of GF4TI4200. If they use the usual 4.0ns then they are never going to achieve a significant o/c when compared to any 4200 card. In the days of the GF3TI200 I seem to remember the 'Golden Sample' cards used faster ns RAM and better cooling etc which did result in some of the best GF3TI200 o/c's, but these 'Golden Sample' 4200 cards seem to be misleadingly named at best. If you can't find a 4200-128MB using the faster 3.6ns on the standard 4200 design with the usual cheaper TSOP RAM then I'd suggest either buying the cheapest 4200 which offers the features you want (VIVO, bundle etc) or else shell out the bit extra for a '4300' designed 4200 with 3.3ns BGA RAM such as the Suma 4200 Special Edition or the Asus 4200 Deluxe. If a good manu like Gainward or Leadtek who are reknowned for good quality builds and IQ aren't much more expensive then they are worth considering, but in my book a 'Golden Sample' should use 3.6ns or else change its name to 'Silver/Bronze Sample with Golden pricing', I guess that wouldn't be as marketable though.

 

[Civic2oo1x]

That's the price on newegg.

 

[HeXeDOSOK]

You might want to concider getting an Asus ti4200. Now..I'm not quite sure where I read this..but Asus is supposedly using the BGA RAM with the longer PCB design (3.3ns) and the best part is it is a 128M card. Now as far as price is concerned..the review that mentioned it stated that it will be sub 200$. Can someone back me up here..cause I completely forgot where I saw that review.

 

[HeXeDOSOK]

AH-HAH...

Sorry for the post above...I found the article explaining the Asus V8420 ti4200 Deluxe. Go here:

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MzMx

This review states that they are using BGA memory and "a larger 8 layer PCB design" which is the same PCB design used for the 4400 and 4600.

Hope this helps...if you don't like Asus or for some reason feel the need to scold me for mentioning another product besides Gainward...then please disregard this message..only here to help.