VideoCard question.

Unspeakable Horror · March 14, 2003, 16:39

I have to buy a new vc (the one I had burned because the cooler failed for a while

, it was a gforce1 anyway... ) I saw a GForce 4 mx420 (SE) from XFX for only U$S 70, the cheapest I could find... is it any good? If you can recomend another please do so

What´s the meaning of SE?

NOTE: I can´t afford more than u$s100 and I really need a new one

General Ludd · March 14, 2003, 16:55

I don't know what I'm talking about, but I've heard bad things about the Geforce 4 mx

Asher · March 14, 2003, 16:58

SE is just marketing for that particular board maker...

A GeForce 4 MX420 is being replaced within a couple weeks with the GeForce FX 5200...

The GeForce 4 MX420 is essentially a DirectX 7 part. It can't most DirectX 8 stuff or any DirectX 9 stuff. The GeForce FX 5200 is going to be quite cheap (supposed to retail at $79 when it comes out), and is actually fully DirectX 9 compliant...

alva · March 14, 2003, 17:54

If your not really into 3d games, go for an ATI card. Better 2D quality, better suited for connection to your TV.

My geforce1 has been running for months one end without a fan, are you sure it's kaputchsj ?

Unspeakable Horror · March 15, 2003, 14:28

Alva: well "almost dead " It works for a while and then

Mine also worked for months until a week ago, weird lines started to appear when booting (sp?) and windows refused to run.

Asher: Thanks, but I need the card now

, anyway I don`t think that the new one will be here soon enough...

Osweld: Me too

Thanks to all

I will see what I can do.

Unspeakable Horror · March 17, 2003, 10:47

Anyway what´s the difference between a GForce4MX(u$s70) and a GForce 3 TI# (+u$s125)? Besides the price...

Combat Ingrid · March 17, 2003, 11:24

You can find comparisons between a bunch of different cards here

faded glory · March 17, 2003, 11:40

"I don't know what I'm talking about, but I've heard bad things about the Geforce 4 mx"

Indeed. If you look at a G4mx and a Geforce2 you will notice they are exactly the same infrastructure. You might as well go for a Geforce2 Ti Series. Actually Faster in most tests.

"The GeForce FX 5200 "

Stay away from the FX series for now, It burns to hot, its drivers are VERY glitchy (just wait) and its begining to look alot like 3dfx's VooDoo 5 series a few years back. Yes this particular card is supposed to be the cheaper of the FX series. But I would wait to see how it turns out.

I wouldnt recommend getting an ATI 8500 (talk to asher about the catalyst drivers, as they might still suck.) Or wait for the 9200....9600 or 9800

.

Or hey. I built a system at work that had an SiS Xabre 128. Very Nice, cheap card. Good drivers

Shop here
www.newegg.com

edit: I should add Ive just heard rumors about FX problems. Never actually had one. I think only the 5800 is out in limited numbers anyway.

Asher · March 17, 2003, 17:12

The GeForce FX 5800 and 5800 Ultra are the only ones that run really hot.

The 5200 and 5600 are standard-temperature.

The reason the 5800 run so hot is because they were originally supposed to be 350MHz, but when ATi stole the performance crown they overclocked them and stuck a massive cooler on them so they could just barely overtake them.

faded glory · March 17, 2003, 20:27

ahh so that explains the FX less than stunning performance over the 9700 Pro

. DDR-2, wha???

ATI is the speed king now. But the true money is in Low budget, peasant video cards.

Asher · March 17, 2003, 20:28

NV35 wasn't delayed even though NV30 was...NV35 will replace NV30 in May.

ATI's next major chip is near the end of the year, R400.

NV35 is supposed to be significantly faster. At CeBit it was demoed behind closed doors and a 250MHz NV35 is as fast as a 500MHz NV30 (according to TheReg).

faded glory · March 17, 2003, 20:38

Well hecko. If the 5200 is gonna be out soon. And if its around the 80 dollar range, I will get it. Just not sure if it beats the Ti4200 (no telling yet, no benchmarks)

NV35....I think your being optimistic. See how the FX blows over first

I heard the R400 is already being developed.The reason why there rushing to develop the R400 is becuz Nvidia hands Ati's ass on a platter with the Nv30,Ati could retaliate with the R400.
The only difference between the R400 and R300 is:
Smaller die=From .15 to .13 to macth up with the Nv30
Faster Core=Most likely 350 to 375

ATI is one step ahead. They also have 2 engineering teams

Asher · March 17, 2003, 21:12

Quote:

Originally posted by faded glory
I heard the R400 is already being developed.The reason why there rushing to develop the R400 is becuz Nvidia hands Ati's ass on a platter with the Nv30,Ati could retaliate with the R400.
The only difference between the R400 and R300 is:
Smaller die=From .15 to .13 to macth up with the Nv30
Faster Core=Most likely 350 to 375

You're confusing R400 and R350. R350 is the one that will have 375 or 400MHz core rating, it's the 9800 Pro.

R400's details are tightly under wraps, but Dave Orton (ATI COO) said he's more excited about R400 than he was for R300, which means it's something big.

R350 is their last high end chip until the next cycle at the end of the year.

R350 will compete with NV35 (May).

R400 will compete with NV40 (End of year/early next).

Quote:

ATI is one step ahead. They also have 2 engineering teams

One of which is working on Nintendo's next chip.

Both companies have multiple engineering teams. Technically speaking Nvidia employs more engineers.

NV30, NV31, and NV34 all had their own engineering teams.

Those same teams are now working on NV35, NV36, and NV39...

Unspeakable Horror · March 18, 2003, 10:04

lots of info!
Thanks to all

tinyp3nis · March 18, 2003, 10:48

If you can't wait, Radeon 8500 (now called radeon 9100) is ok card for 100$. I wouldn't worry about card not having directx9. Even directx8 effects are still rare...

Quote:

Well hecko. If the 5200 is gonna be out soon. And if its around the 80 dollar range, I will get it. Just not sure if it beats the Ti4200 (no telling yet, no benchmarks)

I have seen some, 5200 ultra beats ti4200 only in some tests. Can't remember where.

Tom's Hw site said 5200 is going to be 99$ and 5200 149$.

Paul Hanson · March 18, 2003, 11:21

You might as well buy one now. If you keep waiting around for the next big thing with graphics cards (which is always seemingly about a fortnight away), you'll never get around to buying one.

faded glory · March 18, 2003, 12:13

Oh ya. Very few games will even use Direct X 9. Even Doom 3 is Direct X 8. So dont go for the newest...DX 9.1 support. No biggie,

hell, my labtop has an Mach64 mobile video card (4mb). Its DX expired at 6. Still plays Hearts of Iron tho.

Asher · March 18, 2003, 14:25

DirectX 10 ain't out for 2 more years, DirectX 9 will be here to stay for a while.

Provost Harrison · March 18, 2003, 15:04

Yeah, the fan on my GeForce DDR has been dodgy for some time now but there have been no problems...

OneFootInTheGrave · March 18, 2003, 15:21

The best sub 100 usd is either an Radeon 9100 or GF FX 5200 but the 5200 is not available yet and it might not be available in next few weeks

Unspeakable Horror · March 19, 2003, 10:18

TiP: thanks

Paul H and Faded G:
Actually I´m waiting for the money not the card

(If I´m lucky next week :hope: ) and in the meantime I try to find out what to buy.

Provost: I think that that´s what happened to me but here is summer now so...

OneFITG:

Here probably won´t be available for more than that anyway

R8500 = R9100

Provost Harrison · March 19, 2003, 13:43

Yeah, I will be looking at a new system at some point so I will come to you with suggestions...not like I particularly need the advice about construction but just for a thumbs up and a bit of personal experience with certain stuff...I haven't put a computer together for over a year now you see