Re: Recommended video cards

On Fri, 13 Oct 2000 00:11:41 -0400, Patrick Murphy <[email hidden]> wrote: >I am getting ready to upgrade an old system with an Athlon processor, >MB, and am looking for suggestions for a video card. I will be playing >GPL, Viper Racing, Quake, and Blood2. I am trying to keep the price >down, so I am looking at the GeForce MX2. Any opinions? >Pat M I went with the GeForce MX2. I'm EXTREMELY pleased. (That's an understatement) I kind of sort of wish it had a TV-out, but I'm dealing with it. I tried the VooDoo 3 and returned it. I'm much happier with the GeForce MX2.

> Can you tell me what the advantages of Geforce2 MX compared with aGeforce1? > I believe the Geforce1 is a bit faster (or am i wrong? The geforce2 MX and the geforce1 with SDRAM are about equal in performance, but the geforce2 MX doesn't get as hot and has eliminated some minor issues with the first generation of geforce cards as it is based on the second generation GPU. So yes, the geforce1, especially the DDR RAM models, might be a bit faster in some games (thanks to it's larger Data interface), but i'd still go for a MX simply because it is a newer revision of essentially the same hardware concept.

> Just last weekend I tried GPL with Geforce2 GTS 64MB. It ran absolutely > beautifully at 1600x1200 resolution with all details, textured etc. > turned to max. I'm running a P2-400 system with 384MB of memory. > Everything I tried ran at full 36fps. It was horrible going back to > my sub 30fps Voodoo2-SLI setup... You haven't tried running with a full field of cars then. GPL will run best on a V3, V4 or V5. Everything else doesn't compare. The geforce cards can run training mode or small fields without dropping below 36fps, but 12 or more cars on the grid will cause stuttering even on the most powerful machines. Keep in mind that for some hardcore GPL fans, even the drop from 36fps to 32 fps is unacceptable for competitive online play. Also, the creator of this thread specifically asked about the Geforce2 MX because of its low price. The Geforce 2 GTS 64mb isn't exactly a value card. ;-)

I am getting ready to upgrade an old system with an Athlon processor, MB, and am looking for suggestions for a video card. I will be playing GPL, Viper Racing, Quake, and Blood2. I am trying to keep the price down, so I am looking at the GeForce MX2. Any opinions? Pat M

The Geforce2 MX might not be a bad choice, but lots of older games (like GPL) run better with GLIDE support. I recommend you to look at the Voodoo 4 4500 also, as this card is about the same price and speed as the Geforce MX, but has Glide support, superior 2xFSAA, superior 2D image quality and far less compatibility issues than the nVidia based cards. The only thing missing is a Hardware T&L unit, which only very few games support (especially not the ones you've mentioned). I'd go for the Geforce2 MX if: - you want to play in higher resolutions than 1280x1024 - you insist on 32bit color in 3D games - you don't care about Anti Aliasing - you can accept that GPL is running less than perfect - you don't run your windows Desktop higher than 1024x768 and accept a pretty average 2D image quality (this also depends on the manufacturer, but I wouldn't recommend ELSA if you want good 2D. My experience with the Erazor X was devastating in that area) on the other Hand consider the V4 if: - you don't notice the difference between 22bit or 32bit color - you want FSAA - you want GPL running absolutely perfect - you play older games - you want Matrox level 2D image quality even at Desktop resolutions of 1600x1200. cheers, Alexander

I love my GeForce2 MX !

Can you tell me what the advantages of Geforce2 MX compared with a Geforce1? I believe the Geforce1 is a bit faster (or am i wrong? Thanks, JMB Alexander Marx <[email hidden]> schreef in berichtnieuws 8s6a82$42d$03$[email hidden]... > The Geforce2 MX might not be a bad choice, but lots of older games (like > GPL) run better with GLIDE support. I recommend you to look at the Voodoo4 > 4500 also, as this card is about the same price and speed as the GeforceMX,

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> but has Glide support, superior 2xFSAA, superior 2D image quality and far > less compatibility issues than the nVidia based cards. The only thing > missing is a Hardware T&L unit, which only very few games support > (especially not the ones you've mentioned). > > I'd go for the Geforce2 MX if: > - you want to play in higher resolutions than 1280x1024 > - you insist on 32bit color in 3D games > - you don't care about Anti Aliasing > - you can accept that GPL is running less than perfect > - you don't run your windows Desktop higher than 1024x768 and accept a > pretty average 2D image quality (this also depends on the manufacturer,

but > I wouldn't recommend ELSA if you want good 2D. My experience with theErazor

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> X was devastating in that area) > > on the other Hand consider the V4 if: > - you don't notice the difference between 22bit or 32bit color > - you want FSAA > - you want GPL running absolutely perfect > - you play older games > - you want Matrox level 2D image quality even at Desktop resolutions of > 1600x1200. > > cheers, > Alexander > >

In article <8s6a82$42d$03$[email hidden]>, Alexander Marx wrote: >The Geforce2 MX might not be a bad choice, but lots of older games (like >GPL) run better with GLIDE support. I recommend you to look at the Voodoo 4 > >on the other Hand consider the V4 if: >- you want GPL running absolutely perfect Just last weekend I tried GPL with Geforce2 GTS 64MB. It ran absolutely beautifully at 1600x1200 resolution with all details, textured etc. turned to max. I'm running a P2-400 system with 384MB of memory. Everything I tried ran at full 36fps. It was horrible going back to my sub 30fps Voodoo2-SLI setup... So Geforce is a great choise for GPL. All you need is the D3D patch and you're set to go. -Jari -- {~._.~} o Jari Ketola - if.iki@alotek - ICQ 7557999 - +358-50-3080693 ( Y ) : The University of Oulu Department of Electrical Engineering ()~*~() : Game&Watch - DVD - B5 - PSX - TV - http://www.AfterDawn.com (_)-(_) . [ View my DVD Collection on-line at http://tazty.com/dvd ]

speaking of reviews, there's a decent, unbiased review of the V4 4500 up at http://firingsquad.gamers.com/hardware/v44500/default.asp.

I would not recommend the V4, there's a review of it at http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/reviews/video/3dfx_voodoo4_4500_agp and to be honest, it gets thoroughly panned. The MX (which I just bought yesterday) is a damn good card, and you can overclock them to outperform the GF1 with no problem. I'm using a Hercules Prophet MX because they come with the fastest ram, 5.5ns. As for GPL, there's a Direct 3D patch for it at the papyrus homepage (www.papy.com) and it runs fine on my PC with the MX (my old card was a V3 3k). I've already overclocked it to 210/205 (core/mem) and thats without a fan. There's a tennmax fan on it's way. Oh, and I was playing around with the FSAA on the MX last night and it's not that bad, and will run at reasonable speeds. And one final note, When I removed the V3, I also removed 2 fans from my system, and with the MX my case temperature is 29 Degrees C compared to 35 with the V3 and fans. Once I put the tennmax fan on I expect more of a drop. Good luck in your choice (mx mx mx mx :) David C (R4) "Alexander Marx" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8s6a82$42d$03$[email hidden]... > The Geforce2 MX might not be a bad choice, but lots of older games (like > GPL) run better with GLIDE support. I recommend you to look at the Voodoo4 > 4500 also, as this card is about the same price and speed as the GeforceMX,

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> but has Glide support, superior 2xFSAA, superior 2D image quality and far > less compatibility issues than the nVidia based cards. The only thing > missing is a Hardware T&L unit, which only very few games support > (especially not the ones you've mentioned). > > I'd go for the Geforce2 MX if: > - you want to play in higher resolutions than 1280x1024 > - you insist on 32bit color in 3D games > - you don't care about Anti Aliasing > - you can accept that GPL is running less than perfect > - you don't run your windows Desktop higher than 1024x768 and accept a > pretty average 2D image quality (this also depends on the manufacturer,

but > I wouldn't recommend ELSA if you want good 2D. My experience with theErazor

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> X was devastating in that area) > > on the other Hand consider the V4 if: > - you don't notice the difference between 22bit or 32bit color > - you want FSAA > - you want GPL running absolutely perfect > - you play older games > - you want Matrox level 2D image quality even at Desktop resolutions of > 1600x1200. > > cheers, > Alexander > >

I've tried GPL with my MX, full field of cars, starting from the back of the grid. For about 2 seconds the fps drops to 25, then shoots back up to 36 and never drops back. Considering GP3 never goes above 25 fps (ignoring the fps hack) that's not bad. And it's only for a couple of secs anyway. David C "Alexander Marx" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8s80gd$g5p$07$[email hidden]...

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> > Just last weekend I tried GPL with Geforce2 GTS 64MB. It ran absolutely > > beautifully at 1600x1200 resolution with all details, textured etc. > > turned to max. I'm running a P2-400 system with 384MB of memory. > > Everything I tried ran at full 36fps. It was horrible going back to > > my sub 30fps Voodoo2-SLI setup... > > You haven't tried running with a full field of cars then. > GPL will run best on a V3, V4 or V5. Everything else doesn't compare. The > geforce cards can run training mode or small fields without dropping below > 36fps, but 12 or more cars on the grid will cause stuttering even on the > most powerful machines. Keep in mind that for some hardcore GPL fans, even > the drop from 36fps to 32 fps is unacceptable for competitive online play. > > Also, the creator of this thread specifically asked about the Geforce2 MX > because of its low price. The Geforce 2 GTS 64mb isn't exactly a value

card. > ;-) > >

>will be playing >GPL, Viper Racing, Quake, and Blood2. I am trying to keep the price >down, so I am looking at the GeForce MX2. The best solution since you want to play GPL and Viper Racing too would be to get a voodoo based card since these games run best on Voodoo (I believe Viper requires Voodoo)...Otherwise get a GeForceMX in tandem with a 12 mb voodoo 2 card, which cost about $29.00 now. That way you can run all the new games without sacrificing compatibility with the older ones that you like.

Viper does NOT require a Voodoo card. > The best solution since you want to play GPL and Viper Racing toowould be to > get a voodoo based card since these games run best on Voodoo (Ibelieve Viper > requires Voodoo)...Otherwise get a GeForceMX in tandem with a 12 mbvoodoo 2 > card, which cost about $29.00 now. That way you can run all the newgames > without sacrificing compatibility with the older ones that you like. > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.