Attention Hardware Gurus.....Video card Question

My question is mainly aimed towards N2K2 racing and I am seeking some advice from any experts out there who build fast gaming systems for Racing sims. 1.) I have always wondered if a weak video card which has low FPS also affects a car's lap times. Could anyone out there please explain if there is any relationship between Video graphics power and lap times? 2.) I feel I am long overdue for a Video upgrade. I have been using a TNT2 Ultra since the N3 days. What is the best performing Geforce Video card you would recommend in the $150-$175 price range? I can't afford any more money than that right now. My system now is: AMD 1000 Tbird 266fsb (not overclocked) Abit KT7A mb 192 meg pc133 ram TNT2 Ultra 32m video Win98se OS TSW Cup w/spec pots, split axis I am averaging 32-38 fps online with almost all graphics turned on. 15 cars ahead and 3 behind, 8 bit sound...etc Thanks All, Gordo

If your fps drop too much, you lose the ability to control the car well, and your lap times will indeed be slower, but other than that, faster machines can't magically give you faster lap times. For that much money you might be able to afford a GF4 Ti4200, if not at least a GF3 Ti200. -- Biz "Don't touch that please, your primitive intellect wouldn't understand alloys and compositions and,......things with molecular structures,....and the....." - Ash Gordo <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:afiaoo$2sm$[email hidden]... > My question is mainly aimed towards N2K2 racing and I am seeking some advice > from any experts out there who build fast gaming systems for Racing sims. > > 1.) I have always wondered if a weak video card which has low FPS also > affects a car's lap times. > Could anyone out there please explain if there is any relationship between > Video graphics power and lap times? > > 2.) I feel I am long overdue for a Video upgrade. I have been using a TNT2 > Ultra since the N3 days. > What is the best performing Geforce Video card you would recommend in the > $150-$175 price range? > I can't afford any more money than that right now. > > My system now is: AMD 1000 Tbird 266fsb (not overclocked) > Abit KT7A mb > 192 meg pc133 ram > TNT2 Ultra 32m video > Win98se OS > TSW Cup w/spec pots, split axis > I am averaging 32-38 fps online with almost all graphics turned on. 15 cars > ahead and 3 behind, 8 bit sound...etc > > Thanks All, > Gordo > >

I agree on the video card. Stay away from MX cards, they are just slowed down GF cars, and the Gf 4 MX cards are really bad. "Biz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:Fa2T8.66194$[email hidden]... > If your fps drop too much, you lose the ability to control the car well,and your lap times will > indeed be slower, but other than that, faster machines can't magicallygive you faster lap times. > For that much money you might be able to afford a GF4 Ti4200, if not atleast a GF3 Ti200.

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> -- > Biz > > "Don't touch that please, your primitive intellect wouldn't understand > alloys and compositions and,......things with molecular structures,....and > the....." - Ash > > > Gordo <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:afiaoo$2sm$[email hidden]... > > My question is mainly aimed towards N2K2 racing and I am seeking someadvice > > from any experts out there who build fast gaming systems for Racingsims. > > > > 1.) I have always wondered if a weak video card which has low FPS also > > affects a car's lap times. > > Could anyone out there please explain if there is any relationshipbetween > > Video graphics power and lap times? > > > > 2.) I feel I am long overdue for a Video upgrade. I have been using aTNT2 > > Ultra since the N3 days. > > What is the best performing Geforce Video card you would recommend inthe

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> > $150-$175 price range? > > I can't afford any more money than that right now. > > > > My system now is: AMD 1000 Tbird 266fsb (not overclocked) > > Abit KT7A mb > > 192 meg pc133 ram > > TNT2 Ultra 32m video > > Win98se OS > > TSW Cup w/spec pots, split axis > > I am averaging 32-38 fps online with almost all graphics turned on. 15

cars

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> > ahead and 3 behind, 8 bit sound...etc > > > > Thanks All, > > Gordo > > > > > >

While your on the subject of graphics cards, help me out here. I have an HP 566 Celeron, 256megs of ram and an Nvidia MX200 32mb graphics card. I usually get about 30-35 fps in N2K2 with most everything turned off or down. I'm not in a position to replace this system right now. Do you think I will see enough improvement in performance if I replace the graphics card with a PCI 64MB VGA Nvidia Geforce4 MX420 to be worth the price of the card which is about $98. This HP only has PCI slots, no AGP, and I have all the memory added that it will take. Any other suggestions for improving performance? Thanks. "Stuart Becktell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:Ds3T8.65954$[email hidden]...

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> I agree on the video card. Stay away from MX cards, they are just slowed > down GF cars, and the Gf 4 MX cards are really bad. > > "Biz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:Fa2T8.66194$[email hidden]... > > If your fps drop too much, you lose the ability to control the car well, > and your lap times will > > indeed be slower, but other than that, faster machines can't magically > give you faster lap times. > > For that much money you might be able to afford a GF4 Ti4200, if not at > least a GF3 Ti200. > > -- > > Biz > > > > "Don't touch that please, your primitive intellect wouldn't understand > > alloys and compositions and,......things with molecular

structures,....and

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> > the....." - Ash > > > > > > Gordo <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:afiaoo$2sm$[email hidden]... > > > My question is mainly aimed towards N2K2 racing and I am seeking some > advice > > > from any experts out there who build fast gaming systems for Racing > sims. > > > > > > 1.) I have always wondered if a weak video card which has low FPS also > > > affects a car's lap times. > > > Could anyone out there please explain if there is any relationship > between > > > Video graphics power and lap times? > > > > > > 2.) I feel I am long overdue for a Video upgrade. I have been using a > TNT2 > > > Ultra since the N3 days. > > > What is the best performing Geforce Video card you would recommend in > the > > > $150-$175 price range? > > > I can't afford any more money than that right now. > > > > > > My system now is: AMD 1000 Tbird 266fsb (not overclocked) > > > Abit KT7A mb > > > 192 meg pc133 ram > > > TNT2 Ultra 32m video > > > Win98se OS > > > TSW Cup w/spec pots, split axis > > > I am averaging 32-38 fps online with almost all graphics turned on. 15 > cars > > > ahead and 3 behind, 8 bit sound...etc > > > > > > Thanks All, > > > Gordo > > > > > > > > > > > >

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No, you won't find much of an increase in speed. The GeForce 4 MX series is just an uped Geforce 2 MX series card, so you don't get the new features of the Geforce 4. The major problem you have is the processor, and until you can upgrade that, you won't find a good increase in speed in anything. -Stuart Becktell "Jack" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > While your on the subject of graphics cards, help me out here. I have anHP > 566 Celeron, 256megs of ram and an Nvidia MX200 32mb graphics card. I > usually get about 30-35 fps in N2K2 with most everything turned off ordown. > I'm not in a position to replace this system right now. Do you think Iwill > see enough improvement in performance if I replace the graphics card witha > PCI 64MB VGA Nvidia Geforce4 MX420 to be worth the price of the card which > is about $98. This HP only has PCI slots, no AGP, and I have all thememory > added that it will take. Any other suggestions for improving performance? > Thanks.

Thanks everyone for your great advice. I wasnt sure if there was a Geforce4 which I could afford. One last question, do you think my current 32-38 fps is borderline for good quick laps? Is there a chance that a new video card which would boost the fps also improve my lap times due to increased smoothness of framerate? I have heard many reports of over 50fps with geforce cards. "Gordo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:afiaoo$2sm$[email hidden]... > My question is mainly aimed towards N2K2 racing and I am seeking someadvice

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> from any experts out there who build fast gaming systems for Racing sims. > > 1.) I have always wondered if a weak video card which has low FPS also > affects a car's lap times. > Could anyone out there please explain if there is any relationship between > Video graphics power and lap times? > > 2.) I feel I am long overdue for a Video upgrade. I have been using a TNT2 > Ultra since the N3 days. > What is the best performing Geforce Video card you would recommend in the > $150-$175 price range? > I can't afford any more money than that right now. > > My system now is: AMD 1000 Tbird 266fsb (not overclocked) > Abit KT7A mb > 192 meg pc133 ram > TNT2 Ultra 32m video > Win98se OS > TSW Cup w/spec pots, split axis > I am averaging 32-38 fps online with almost all graphics turned on. 15

cars > ahead and 3 behind, 8 bit sound...etc > > Thanks All, > Gordo > >

With N2002 you really won't see much improvement no matter what video card you drop in. Your CPU is seriously underpowered for today's sims. You 'could' get a new vidcard and hopefully upgrade the rest of your system later. But if you go PCI then you once again limit your upgrade path later on. Two ideas to remember for later on. Bargain computers like HP or Compaq are often crap for computer gaming and almost always are very difficult to upgrade. They don't use standard parts and they can't be easily replaced. Good luck... dave henrie "Jack" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > While your on the subject of graphics cards, help me out here. I have anHP > 566 Celeron, 256megs of ram and an Nvidia MX200 32mb graphics card. I > usually get about 30-35 fps in N2K2 with most everything turned off ordown. > I'm not in a position to replace this system right now. Do you think Iwill > see enough improvement in performance if I replace the graphics card witha > PCI 64MB VGA Nvidia Geforce4 MX420 to be worth the price of the card which > is about $98. This HP only has PCI slots, no AGP, and I have all thememory

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> added that it will take. Any other suggestions for improving performance? > Thanks. > "Stuart Becktell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:Ds3T8.65954$[email hidden]... > > I agree on the video card. Stay away from MX cards, they are just slowed > > down GF cars, and the Gf 4 MX cards are really bad. > > > > "Biz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:Fa2T8.66194$[email hidden]... > > > If your fps drop too much, you lose the ability to control the car

well, > > and your lap times will > > > indeed be slower, but other than that, faster machines can't magically > > give you faster lap times. > > > For that much money you might be able to afford a GF4 Ti4200, if notat

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> > least a GF3 Ti200. > > > -- > > > Biz > > > > > > "Don't touch that please, your primitive intellect wouldn't understand > > > alloys and compositions and,......things with molecular > structures,....and > > > the....." - Ash > > > > > > > > > Gordo <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:afiaoo$2sm$[email hidden]... > > > > My question is mainly aimed towards N2K2 racing and I am seeking

some > > advice > > > > from any experts out there who build fast gaming systems for Racing > > sims. > > > > > > > > 1.) I have always wondered if a weak video card which has low FPSalso > > > > affects a car's lap times. > > > > Could anyone out there please explain if there is any relationship > > between > > > > Video graphics power and lap times? > > > > > > > > 2.) I feel I am long overdue for a Video upgrade. I have been usinga > > TNT2 > > > > Ultra since the N3 days. > > > > What is the best performing Geforce Video card you would recommendin

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> > the > > > > $150-$175 price range? > > > > I can't afford any more money than that right now. > > > > > > > > My system now is: AMD 1000 Tbird 266fsb (not overclocked) > > > > Abit KT7A mb > > > > 192 meg pc133 ram > > > > TNT2 Ultra 32m video > > > > Win98se OS > > > > TSW Cup w/spec pots, split axis > > > > I am averaging 32-38 fps online with almost all graphics turned on.

15

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> > cars > > > > ahead and 3 behind, 8 bit sound...etc > > > > > > > > Thanks All, > > > > Gordo > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- > > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.372 / Virus Database: 207 - Release Date: 6/20/02 > >

Jack wrote:

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> While your on the subject of graphics cards, help me out here. I have an HP > 566 Celeron, 256megs of ram and an Nvidia MX200 32mb graphics card. I > usually get about 30-35 fps in N2K2 with most everything turned off or down. > I'm not in a position to replace this system right now. Do you think I will > see enough improvement in performance if I replace the graphics card with a > PCI 64MB VGA Nvidia Geforce4 MX420 to be worth the price of the card which > is about $98. This HP only has PCI slots, no AGP, and I have all the memory > added that it will take. Any other suggestions for improving performance?

Best thing you could do is plug in a faster celeron processor in. And stay away from MX series GeForce cards. -- Fester

>I have an HP 566 Celeron... >Any other suggestions for improving performance? You should be able to overclock that to 850Mhz (or more) quite easily If you know nothing about overclocking, ask at alt.comp.hardware.overclocking or do a web search -- Cheers, Robin ................... `o^=o- http://www.oppositelock.freeserve.co.uk - N�rburgring/GPL

you do not need to upgrade if you are getting 30++fps during the race, with all these cars turn on if you are getting less than 20++fps then video card upgrade might help your lap time as it is, you need wheel or joystick to drive hope you are not using keyboard "Gordo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:afiaoo$2sm$[email hidden]... > My question is mainly aimed towards N2K2 racing and Iam seeking some advice > from any experts out there who build fast gamingsystems for Racing sims. > > 1.) I have always wondered if a weak video card whichhas low FPS also > affects a car's lap times. > Could anyone out there please explain if there is anyrelationship between > Video graphics power and lap times? > > 2.) I feel I am long overdue for a Video upgrade. Ihave been using a TNT2 > Ultra since the N3 days. > What is the best performing Geforce Video card youwould recommend in the > $150-$175 price range? > I can't afford any more money than that right now. > > My system now is: AMD 1000 Tbird 266fsb (notoverclocked) > Abit KT7A mb > 192 meg pc133 ram > TNT2 Ultra 32m video > Win98se OS > TSW Cup w/spec pots,split axis > I am averaging 32-38 fps online with almost allgraphics turned on. 15 cars > ahead and 3 behind, 8 bit sound...etc > > Thanks All, > Gordo > >

I think it can affect lap times - indirectly. Low frame rates makes the game sluggish, which means you are always "Chasing the situation" instead of being on top of it at all times. In this circumstance, you can't possibly be performing at your best behind the wheel, thus lower lap times. -Larry "Gordo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:afiaoo$2sm$[email hidden]... > My question is mainly aimed towards N2K2 racing and I am seeking someadvice

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> from any experts out there who build fast gaming systems for Racing sims. > > 1.) I have always wondered if a weak video card which has low FPS also > affects a car's lap times. > Could anyone out there please explain if there is any relationship between > Video graphics power and lap times? > > 2.) I feel I am long overdue for a Video upgrade. I have been using a TNT2 > Ultra since the N3 days. > What is the best performing Geforce Video card you would recommend in the > $150-$175 price range? > I can't afford any more money than that right now. > > My system now is: AMD 1000 Tbird 266fsb (not overclocked) > Abit KT7A mb > 192 meg pc133 ram > TNT2 Ultra 32m video > Win98se OS > TSW Cup w/spec pots, split axis > I am averaging 32-38 fps online with almost all graphics turned on. 15

cars > ahead and 3 behind, 8 bit sound...etc > > Thanks All, > Gordo > >