Recommend graphics card for this system?

On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 17:10:02 -0500, "jeffc"
wrote:
Note that one of the things I don't like about this system is that there is
no integrated memory for the current graphics. It eats 32M of my system
memory that it reserves for graphics use. I'm assuming this will stop when
I stick in a new card.

All modern built-in-graphics suck up system memory. once you add a
REAL card to your system, you get the 32mb back.

-. Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
-. AMD AthlonT XP 2200+ Processor (1.800 GHz) with QuantiSpeedT
architecture
-. VIA KM 266
-. 60 GB HDD
-. 256 MB DDR (PC 2100)
-. 56K* ITU v.92 ready Fax/Modem
-. AC '97 Audio
-. S3 ProSavage8T integrated (1 AGP slot available for upgrade)

Upgrade recommendations:

1 - 256mb MORE RAM at least. Will make ALL the difference in the
world with WinXP-HOG OS.

2 - Buy a REAL sound card, SB-Live, SB-Audigy or Turtle beach... this
will give you another 5-15fps over built-in-audio. If it was an
NFORCE2 chipset, than this would be a NON-issue. $35~75.

3 - dump the modem if you have HiSpeed Interenet.

4 - $80 deliverd : Ti4200-64mb version (Clocked faster than 128
version, even at same clock speed, 1-2 fps faster). DX8 card.

$150 = ATI 9600Pro, $200 = fx5700Ultra (sometimes faster than ATI)
$300 = 5900 Ultra

Don't get ANY 256mb video cards... not worth $5.


--
Remember when real men used Real computers!?
When 512K of video RAM was a lot!

Death to Palladium & WPA!!

On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 14:58:11 GMT
"jeffc" wrote:


"J.Clarke" wrote in message
...

Now let's see, you've recommended the absolute bottom of the nvidia
range and a relatively old ATI with no DirectX9 acceleration that
wasn't all that fast even when it was new. The obvious choice given
the stated requirements would be a Geforce 4 Ti4200, which was a
fast board when it was new and is still a fast board even if it's
not as fast as the latest high end, and has the salient advantage
that it's cheap.

Actually I was leaning toward that card, but I have to admit I'm
confused about the FX line. I thought the FX line was newer, so I
don't really understand why the 5200 is cheaper than the 4200. The
5200 is "better", I assume?

"Newer" does not necessarily mean "better". Nvidia usually has two
families of video processor chip in production. One is built to a
price and is used in their entry-level boards. The other is built to
the highest performance level they can achieve while maintaining
reasonable production yields, and that is used in their midrange and
better boards.

The FX5200 uses this year's "cheap" chip, while the Ti4200 uses last
year's "fast" chip. The result is that while the Ti4200 doesn't have
all the latest and greatest features its performance level is still
significantly higher. And since it's last year's model so to speak and
thus heavily discounted right now that makes it a bargain.


--
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 15:01:06 GMT
"jeffc" wrote:


"Darthy" wrote in message
...

3 - dump the modem if you have HiSpeed Interenet.

I do, but you're suggesting opening up my case and ripping out the
modem? For what purpose? thanks

Uses up a PCI slot and generally ties up an IRQ. If you're not using it
no point in keeping it. OTOH, if you're using it as a fax machine or
for voice mail or whatever then you need to hang on to it.




--
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

"Biz" wrote in message ...
Here are the choices I would recommend.

If DX8 is all you need:
GF4 Ti4200

If you want to take advantage of DX9 games:
GF FX5600
ATi 9600

No need to spend anymore than that....

I second Biz's recommendation. I've got a 2200+ (512MB RAM though) and
I had a Ti4200. When it broke, I did the research and still ended up
with the Ti4200 and 9600 as the best choices in the low-mid end budget
range. A Ti4200 can be found for $83 on newegg.com. $10 more for
DVI/TV-out, or $30 more for a 9600 that will support fancier DirectX 9
shaders to last you a while down the road. Best bang for the buck will
be these two cards in the $80-$130 range.

"J.Clarke" wrote in message
...

Now let's see, you've recommended the absolute bottom of the nvidia
range and a relatively old ATI with no DirectX9 acceleration that wasn't
all that fast even when it was new. The obvious choice given the stated
requirements would be a Geforce 4 Ti4200, which was a fast board when
it was new and is still a fast board even if it's not as fast as the
latest high end, and has the salient advantage that it's cheap.

Actually I was leaning toward that card, but I have to admit I'm confused
about the FX line. I thought the FX line was newer, so I don't really
understand why the 5200 is cheaper than the 4200. The 5200 is "better", I
assume?

"Darthy" wrote in message
...

3 - dump the modem if you have HiSpeed Interenet.

I do, but you're suggesting opening up my case and ripping out the modem?
For what purpose? thanks

On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 14:58:11 GMT, "jeffc" wrote:

I have a 5200 and I'd strongly suggest not getting it. :-) Save for a
better FX card, or get a Ti 4600. When I got mine it was replacing my
aging Voodoo5 card, and I didn't do my research. The FX line is the
newer line, but the 5200 is at the bottom of the FX barrel. It
doesn't perform as well as a Ti4600.
A friend of mine has the exact same PC as I do, (MB, CPU etc) The
only difference is the Video cards. He has a 4600, I have the 5200.
Halo runs MUCH better on his pc, than it does on mine. (using Halo
as an example, since it's new)
Andy

Actually I was leaning toward that card, but I have to admit I'm confused
about the FX line. I thought the FX line was newer, so I don't really
understand why the 5200 is cheaper than the 4200. The 5200 is "better", I
assume?

"Derek Wildstar" wrote in message
news:NeJnb.53661$Fm2.33387@attbi_s04...

"DaveW" wrote in message
news:AaEnb.37473$mZ5.191663@attbi_s54...

NVidia FX 5700 cards are now available. About $200.

If that's his budget, I'll second that.






5700 ultra
third it

"jeffc" wrote in message
. com...

"J.Clarke" wrote in message
...

Now let's see, you've recommended the absolute bottom of the nvidia
range and a relatively old ATI with no DirectX9 acceleration that wasn't
all that fast even when it was new. The obvious choice given the stated
requirements would be a Geforce 4 Ti4200, which was a fast board when
it was new and is still a fast board even if it's not as fast as the
latest high end, and has the salient advantage that it's cheap.

Actually I was leaning toward that card, but I have to admit I'm confused
about the FX line. I thought the FX line was newer, so I don't really
understand why the 5200 is cheaper than the 4200. The 5200 is "better", I
assume?

The 4200 is part of Nvidia's fast Direct X 8.1 chip line up.
The 5200 is a newer chip designed for Direct X 9.0,
but to keep it cheap, speed was sacrificed.

I just got the FX5200 at first I was a little disapointed in the default
clock speeds(same as Mx440). I've got to say though as far as game play
this card is rocking. Image quality great, speedy smooth graphics. Right
now I wouldn't go for the DX8 card. Most games say DX9 on hte box already
and before long they'll be features you can take advantage of. I wonder if
I should have got the Fx5600 a little, it really wasn't much more and would
certainly up my speeds in the benchmarks, but so far this card is rocking
for game play.
Personaly if I would have had a little more money to spend I would have
gone for the FX5600Ultra or the ATI9600Pro.(probably in the new year
sometime.)
I would say with windows Xp an extra 256mb of ram is were the money is.
I had 256 for a long time (sdram too.) The difference with 512 is "amazing"
(I upgraded my cpu at the same time so I can't be more acurate in my
description.)
Anyway if it's a nvidia card your seeking get the FX5600 (Ultra?).
Myself I'll probably try Ati next. Just for a change and because nividia
seems too need new drivers everytime a bunch of new games come out. And the
new drivers seem to be buggy and need technical dentistry to install right.
Have a good one.

"J.Clarke" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 15:01:06 GMT
"jeffc" wrote:


"Darthy" wrote in message
...

3 - dump the modem if you have HiSpeed Interenet.

I do, but you're suggesting opening up my case and ripping out the
modem? For what purpose? thanks

Uses up a PCI slot and generally ties up an IRQ. If you're not using it
no point in keeping it. OTOH, if you're using it as a fax machine or
for voice mail or whatever then you need to hang on to it.




--
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)