Share your advice

[FinalCut]

I have a relatively outdated machine and can't really afford to update the whole thing - I would like to just update the graphics card if it would be beneficial at all.

My current system is a p3 -667 (133 MHz bus; 256 KB level 2 cache) with roughly 650 MB of RAM and a GeForce 256 graphics card (32MB RAM) running win2k pro. I use the system mainly for software development but do game on occassion and use it mostly for FPS.

I want to get a better graphics card but am not sure which to move to or if it is even a good idea.

I have read that with my slower processor it may be a bad idea to upgrade graphics cards as it could actually slow down my FPS - I don't really know if that is true or not though. I am basically looking at cards in the $100 range as money is at a premium right now.

Is there a specific card some of your more knowledgable hardward affeciando's might recommend for my situation? Or should I just keep what I have and wait till my computer can't run any new games and then suffer the cost of building anew? (an option I would prefer to avoid)

Thanks in advance
FinalCut

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

A GF4ti would be just about right. The R9600P is nice but above $100, and very likely overkill on your rig (no diff. than the GF4 probably). Yes in many ways your rig will still hold you back, but you will still do better than the GF256, and there should be a very noticeable boost in performance, even on your slow CPU. And if you only have $100 to spend your very focused on a certain class of card. If you were trying to spend Around $100 and upgrading a system then perhaps resources could be shared to give you different options. But right now, really the GF4ti series seems like a perfect fit.

And upgrading the system will likely mean virtually a whole NEW system in order to get value for money.

Anywhoo that's my two frames worth.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! <A HREF="http://www.redgreen.com" target="_new"><font color=green>RED</font color=green> <font color=red>GREEN</font color=red></A> GA to SK

 

[HardWareBoss]

TI4200 will fit your bill of $100.

 

[FinalCut]

Thanks to both of you - one card I was looking at tonight is the nVidia GeForce FX 5200 AGP 128 MB which I can actually get at BestBuy for around 90 before a 20 rebate.

Is this an equivilent to the TI cards you have mentioned (better/worse?) Or am I going too far beyond what my paltry CPU can handle?

If I had 4-500 I would upgrade everything (RAM,CPU,MB,and Grpahics) but I probably can't do that for a few months at a minimum. And then probably pieces at a time - will I regret buying either of these cards if I can move to an Athlon 2500 CPU? Or will I still be fairly happy for a good while? I obviously don't need top of the line or cutting edge but I don't want to move from one handicapped machine to another should I get lucky and come across some spare cash.

Thanks Again
FinalCut

 

[GeneticWeapon]

one card I was looking at tonight is the nVidia GeForce FX 5200 AGP 128 MB

Buying that card would be a humongous mistake. It is a really poor performer. Dont limit yourself to what Best Buy has, shop around more.

<b>I help because you suck</b>

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

DO NOT BUY AN FX5200! Especially a non-ultra!

Seriously, in 90% of the situations it will be clobbered by even the Lowest GF4ti, and it's more like closer to 99% of the situations you'll be using it in due to your system limitations IMO. And if you move to the Athlo XP????+, I have a feeling that the GF4 will keep better pace. Sure you won't be able to see some of the cool demos out there, but your actual game playing experience should be much better.

Hopefully some of the GF4 owners out there who know better will add their thoughts.

The GF4ti will be better bang for your buck IMO.


EDIT: PS, Listen to the guy who posted above me, he was one of the ones I was hoping would contribute something. Thanks GW!

- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! <A HREF="http://www.redgreen.com" target="_new"><font color=green>RED</font color=green> <font color=red>GREEN</font color=red></A> GA to SK <P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by TheGreatGrapeApe on 10/23/03 08:57 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[GeneticWeapon]

I think that the GeForce 4 Ti is becoming hard to find for most people in the US. Best Buy and Comp USA dont carry them. The closest competitor to the Ti that those stores carry is the Radeon 9100. Compared to the FX5200, I would take the 9100 any day

<b>I help because you suck</b>

 

[FinalCut]

Thank you very much for your help. Im looking into the GeForce ti4200 - it looks like it should meet both my current needs and my future needs (in the future I can afford..)

I figure if my weak little geforce 256 has gotten me here from 1999 then this upgrade should get me through, on video, for a couple years. I will upgrade my MB/CPU/RAM sometime early next year probably.

Thanks again

 

[ccyn]

i reckon don't buy that graphics card yet, as it will not really speed up your system. Wait until you get that athlon.

 

[Grub]

What do you use your computer for? If you don't play 3d games then a new graphics card won't do anything for you (games like Unreal, quake, flight sims, war craft 3). In this case I would think that a processor upgrade would benifit you more. Problem is you are running on a older platform and your 100.00 would be not very well spent. Who wants to shell out 100 bucks for a PIII. If you want a boost in games then for 100 the GeForce 4 TI 4200 is the way to go. Nothing even comes close to the price/performance ratio on older games (DX 8.1 and below). THis would be money well spent, and would keep its resale value much better than a high speed PIII processor.

It's all Bush's fault...all of it...

 

[HardWareBoss]

Good move. Buy the TI4200.