Graphics Card? Which one should I get for N4

I'm looking to upgrade my graphics card to improve my N4 frame rate (I'm currently getting 20fps with my Diamond Stealth III - 32mg card). I see lots of people post about GeForce, but can anybody give me some advice on which card to get - one that's been around for a bit so the price isn't so high? Here's my current system: PIII - 650 64mg RAM Diamond Stealth III - 32mg Thanks in advance Justin

Justin Chenier wrote: > > I'm looking to upgrade my graphics card to improve my N4 frame rate (I'm > currently getting 20fps with my Diamond Stealth III - 32mg card). I see > lots of people post about GeForce, but can anybody give me some advice > on which card to get - one that's been around for a bit so the price > isn't so high? If price is a concern, look for the GeForce2 MX. For just a little more, you can get better performance from a GeForce2 GTS. Look out on eBay, I got my GTS out there for $150. Good luck. -- Fester

In decreasing order of performance: * GeForce3 * GeForce2 Ultra * GeForce2 Pro * GeForce2 * DDR GeForce * GeForce2 MX * SDR GeForce The disadvantage to the original GeForce is that it consumes more power. Some motherboards and/or power supplies don't like that. You may find a 16 MB GeForce2 MX, probably labeled "OEM"; poor choice. The 64 MB cards are quite expensive. 32 MB is the sweet spot. You'll probably be happiest with a GeForce2 ($180 - $200) or a GeForce2 MX ($100 - $130). One more note on the GeForce2 MX. Creative sells a "DDR" version. That's 64-bit DDR, compared to 128-bit SDR: no improvement. You may find the Voodoo4 or Voodoo5 at fire-sale prices. However, don't expect support from 3dfx or NVIDIA. I've heard that RMAs are not being accepted. Also, the Voodoo5 does not have a universal AGP slot, so it doesn't fit in some P-IV motherboards. I don't know much about the Radeon. The biggest question mark when it comes to ATI is drivers. Perhaps some Radeon N4 user can fill in the blanks. While N4 does sport an improved graphics engine, the CPU is probably more important than the video card. If I were to choose between GeForce3/P-III 650 and GeForce2 MX/P-III 1000, I'd probably choose the latter. Justin Chenier <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted text (10 lines)

>I'm looking to upgrade my graphics card to improve my N4 frame rate (I'm >currently getting 20fps with my Diamond Stealth III - 32mg card). I see >lots of people post about GeForce, but can anybody give me some advice >on which card to get - one that's been around for a bit so the price >isn't so high? > >Here's my current system: >PIII - 650 >64mg RAM >Diamond Stealth III - 32mg

-- Jon Willeke <[email hidden]>

"Jon WillekeIf I were to choose between > GeForce3/P-III 650 and GeForce2 MX/P-III 1000, I'd probably choose the > latter. > Good summary and your conclusion is spot on. dave henrie

"Jon WillekeIf I were to choose between Good summary and your conclusion is spot on. dave henrie

In article <gjPn6.495616$[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted text (8 lines)

> > >"Jon WillekeIf I were to choose between >> GeForce3/P-III 650 and GeForce2 MX/P-III 1000, I'd probably choose the >> latter. >> > Good summary and your conclusion is spot on. >dave henrie

If you're an nVidia fan, that is.

Get an MX and more system ram. J. Janasov Mark Liermann <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:3a9ff884$0$70812$[email hidden]...

Quoted text (14 lines)

> In article <gjPn6.495616$[email hidden]>, > [email hidden] says... > > > > > >"Jon WillekeIf I were to choose between > >> GeForce3/P-III 650 and GeForce2 MX/P-III 1000, I'd probably choose the > >> latter. > >> > > Good summary and your conclusion is spot on. > >dave henrie > > > If you're an nVidia fan, that is. >

I may be offbase here with this question, but (if so) it's because I'm not up on all the latest videocards. While the list provided is extremely useful, can someone provide or suggest specific videocard names to match up with these chipsets? (ie - Annihilator; Prophet; etc.) Or are the cards CLEARLY marked GeForce 2 Ultra, or Pro or whatever on the box? And are there any manufacturer's cards to avoid? One last question: Although performance in racing sims is the top priority, are any better than others with 2D performance -- particularly with regard to image clarity. I do some photo-editing so image clarity (2D) is important to me, as well. Thanks. Jon Willeke wrote:

Quoted text (48 lines)

> In decreasing order of performance: > > * GeForce3 > * GeForce2 Ultra > * GeForce2 Pro > * GeForce2 > * DDR GeForce > * GeForce2 MX > * SDR GeForce > > The disadvantage to the original GeForce is that it consumes more > power. Some motherboards and/or power supplies don't like that. You > may find a 16 MB GeForce2 MX, probably labeled "OEM"; poor choice. > The 64 MB cards are quite expensive. 32 MB is the sweet spot. > > You'll probably be happiest with a GeForce2 ($180 - $200) or a > GeForce2 MX ($100 - $130). One more note on the GeForce2 MX. > Creative sells a "DDR" version. That's 64-bit DDR, compared to > 128-bit SDR: no improvement. > > You may find the Voodoo4 or Voodoo5 at fire-sale prices. However, > don't expect support from 3dfx or NVIDIA. I've heard that RMAs are > not being accepted. Also, the Voodoo5 does not have a universal AGP > slot, so it doesn't fit in some P-IV motherboards. > > I don't know much about the Radeon. The biggest question mark when it > comes to ATI is drivers. Perhaps some Radeon N4 user can fill in the > blanks. > > While N4 does sport an improved graphics engine, the CPU is probably > more important than the video card. If I were to choose between > GeForce3/P-III 650 and GeForce2 MX/P-III 1000, I'd probably choose the > latter. > > Justin Chenier <[email hidden]> wrote: > > >I'm looking to upgrade my graphics card to improve my N4 frame rate (I'm > >currently getting 20fps with my Diamond Stealth III - 32mg card). I see > >lots of people post about GeForce, but can anybody give me some advice > >on which card to get - one that's been around for a bit so the price > >isn't so high? > > > >Here's my current system: > >PIII - 650 > >64mg RAM > >Diamond Stealth III - 32mg > -- > Jon Willeke <[email hidden]>

-- Bert

"J. Janasov" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:97ovdj$4hu$[email hidden]... > Get an MX and more system ram. > > J. Janasov >Exactly. More RAM will offer the biggest improvement.

On Fri, 02 Mar 2001 14:55:12 GMT, [email hidden] (Jon Willeke) wrote: >You may find the Voodoo4 or Voodoo5 at fire-sale prices. However, >don't expect support from 3dfx or NVIDIA. I've heard that RMAs are >not being accepted. This really bugs me. Stores are still selling Voodoo5 cards to consumers when it has no future support and no warranty from 3DFX. Criminal.

I recommend that you peruse the "round-up" or "shoot-out" reviews at tomshardware.com, anandtech.com, sharkyextreme.com, etc. They'll help explain why an Asus V7700 Deluxe costs more than an Annihilator 2. You have to decide whether you need TV-out, a digital connection for an LCD screen, DVD hardware assist, etc. Here are a few models to get you started: GeForce2 Ultra Creative Annihilator 2 Ultra Elsa Gladiac Ultra GeForce2 Asus V7700 (Pure or Deluxe) Creative Annihilator 2 Elsa Gladiac Guillemot/Hercules Prophet II DDR GeForce Asus V6800 Creative Annihilator Pro Elsa Erazor X2 GeForce2 MX Asus V7100 Creative Annihilator 2 MX Elsa Gladiac MX Guillemot/Hercules Prophet II MX SDR GeForce Asus V6600 Creative Annihilator Elsa Erazor X BRH <[email hidden]> wrote: >I may be offbase here with this question, but (if so) it's because I'm not up >on all the latest videocards. While the list provided is extremely useful, >can someone provide or suggest specific videocard names to match up with >these chipsets? (ie - Annihilator; Prophet; etc.) Or are the cards CLEARLY >marked GeForce 2 Ultra, or Pro or whatever on the box? And are there any >manufacturer's cards to avoid?-- Jon Willeke <[email hidden]>

Once again, I should qualify this conclusion as being particular to sims, which seem to have more complex AI and physics. For first-person shooters, like Quake III, it's not as clear cut. At 1024x768x32 and above, a GeForce2 is limited by memory bandwidth--an MX even moreso. That is, your 1.2 GHz Athlon won't be worth much more than an 800 MHz Duron. If your tastes lean in that direction, you may be interested in a GeForce2 Pro (identical to the GeForce2, except for faster memory). "Dave Henrie" <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted text (7 lines)

> >"Jon WillekeIf I were to choose between >> GeForce3/P-III 650 and GeForce2 MX/P-III 1000, I'd probably choose the >> latter. >> > Good summary and your conclusion is spot on. >dave henrie

-- Jon Willeke <[email hidden]>

Another good resource that we just recently posted is at http://www.theuspits.com . Click on the link that says "Uncle Goy sits on the bench.." Goy Larsen did a very nice comparison of several CPU/Vid Card combos using MBTR, NASCAR Heat, and 3DMark 2000- and there are a few surprises. Hope you find it helpful. "BRH" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > I may be offbase here with this question, but (if so) it's because I'm notup > on all the latest videocards. While the list provided is extremelyuseful, > can someone provide or suggest specific videocard names to match up with > these chipsets? (ie - Annihilator; Prophet; etc.) Or are the cardsCLEARLY > marked GeForce 2 Ultra, or Pro or whatever on the box? And are there any > manufacturer's cards to avoid? > > One last question: Although performance in racing sims is the toppriority, > are any better than others with 2D performance -- particularly with regardto > image clarity. I do some photo-editing so image clarity (2D) is importantto

Quoted text (45 lines)

> me, as well. > > Thanks. > > > > Jon Willeke wrote: > > > In decreasing order of performance: > > > > * GeForce3 > > * GeForce2 Ultra > > * GeForce2 Pro > > * GeForce2 > > * DDR GeForce > > * GeForce2 MX > > * SDR GeForce > > > > The disadvantage to the original GeForce is that it consumes more > > power. Some motherboards and/or power supplies don't like that. You > > may find a 16 MB GeForce2 MX, probably labeled "OEM"; poor choice. > > The 64 MB cards are quite expensive. 32 MB is the sweet spot. > > > > You'll probably be happiest with a GeForce2 ($180 - $200) or a > > GeForce2 MX ($100 - $130). One more note on the GeForce2 MX. > > Creative sells a "DDR" version. That's 64-bit DDR, compared to > > 128-bit SDR: no improvement. > > > > You may find the Voodoo4 or Voodoo5 at fire-sale prices. However, > > don't expect support from 3dfx or NVIDIA. I've heard that RMAs are > > not being accepted. Also, the Voodoo5 does not have a universal AGP > > slot, so it doesn't fit in some P-IV motherboards. > > > > I don't know much about the Radeon. The biggest question mark when it > > comes to ATI is drivers. Perhaps some Radeon N4 user can fill in the > > blanks. > > > > While N4 does sport an improved graphics engine, the CPU is probably > > more important than the video card. If I were to choose between > > GeForce3/P-III 650 and GeForce2 MX/P-III 1000, I'd probably choose the > > latter. > > > > Justin Chenier <[email hidden]> wrote: > > > > >I'm looking to upgrade my graphics card to improve my N4 frame rate

(I'm

Quoted text (17 lines)

> > >currently getting 20fps with my Diamond Stealth III - 32mg card). I see > > >lots of people post about GeForce, but can anybody give me some advice > > >on which card to get - one that's been around for a bit so the price > > >isn't so high? > > > > > >Here's my current system: > > >PIII - 650 > > >64mg RAM > > >Diamond Stealth III - 32mg > > -- > > Jon Willeke <[email hidden]> > > -- > Bert > > >

[email hidden] (Mark Liermann) wrote: >> Good summary and your conclusion is spot on. >>dave henrie > >If you're an nVidia fan, that is. If you're a fan of the best price and performance, that is. Joe McGinn _____________________ Radical Entertainment