Which Video Card for a lowend system

[Guest]

I've got an AMD K62 400 on a Diamond Micronics C200 Mobo with 128 100mhz RAM and an ATI 4 meg graphics card, so I want to upgrade card because I would like to play a few 3d games. I'm running Windows 2000 because I use it a lot for development work and I like the stability I get with it. I dont want to spend any more than £90 (about $120). Has any one got any suggestions on this. I've heard that the Radeon drivers for win2k have a massive performance hit over the win9x ones.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by jasonhilll on 05/04/01 03:54 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[rcf84]

ATi radeon LE is a good buy. Only $75 US. Goto pricewatch.com to look at prices. ATi win2k he improved alot first drivers i couldn't play direct3d games only opengl. With new drivers i can any direct3d and really no proformace in my mind. Radeon is you choice. Also up the processor to 550 K6-2+ before its to late.

The only nice Intel guy.

 

[noko]

There are a number of people with K6-2s at <A HREF="http://Rage3d.com" target="_new">http://Rage3d.com</A>
Some had troubles with the Radeon others didn't so I recommend you pose the question there in the General forum. Be real specific about your setup, the more specific the more responses you will get. The LE is by far the best deal for the money, as long as it will work in your system. A T&L card is really the ticket for you. Still the cpu does has a very dramatic effect, looking at Madonion database and plugging in a K6-2 350-550mhz range, 1024x768x32 value the fastest cards for your setup believe it or not, is a Nvidia GF2 mx chipset. Which even beat many of the GF2 chipsets. You can do the same for 3dMark2000 as well as 3dMark2001. I recommend the MX, MX400 and NOT THE MX200 for your system. If you know you will be upgrading to a faster cpu setup as in a Duron system 600mhz or faster then get the LE, because in that system it will be faster. Also with your K62-400 (I had one too, also a K6-3) the ATI card will play flawless DVD using around 45% cpu usage. The Nvidia mx card will use around 80-90% and in software mode only your cpu will not be able to play back a DVD with anykind of smooth quality. Still the Radeon LE is a good card especially if you want to watch DVDs on your computer. DVD drives can be have for less than $50 now days.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by noko on 05/04/01 11:27 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Guest]

Cheers guys.
I've had a look at pricewatch.com and found the prices over there do not match up with the prices in the UK. The best price I can get a ATI AGP Radeon 32MB SDRam Tv-O OEM card for here is £87 ($124) and the Geforce MX 400's are similiar prices.