graphics card?

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Fri Jun 21, 2002 9:27 am

So, aside from the price, what's the difference between this card and this one?

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Sat Jun 22, 2002 3:32 am

Visiontek Xtasy GeForce4 Ti4200 128M DDR DVI TV out AGP - Retail Box, Life time warranty
$219

and

GAINWARD GEFORCE4 4200 64MB DDR 3.5ns FAST DDR MEMORY W/O TV-OUT
$153

The first is Retail, 128 MB, comes from Visiontek the most powerful player in the US market and has TV/out and the lifetime warranty. The second is (most likely) OEM, has 64MB RAM, comes from the less-well-heard-of Gainward, and has no TV/out, nor most likely any warranty apart from the standard 3 month RTB. It is quite a price difference though.

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Sat Jun 22, 2002 5:38 am

Originally posted by Kameleon
The first is Retail, 128 MB, comes from Visiontek the most powerful player in the US market and has TV/out and the lifetime warranty. The second is (most likely) OEM, has 64MB RAM, comes from the less-well-heard-of Gainward, and has no TV/out, nor most likely any warranty apart from the standard 3 month RTB. It is quite a price difference though.

But the chipset is the same and actual performance would be similar for most games currently available, right? The extra $66 pays for a TV-out jack, 64 MB of DDR memory and the name on the box.

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Sat Jun 22, 2002 5:50 am

Originally posted by HighLordDave
But the chipset is the same and actual performance would be similar for most games currently available, right? The extra $66 pays for a TV-out jack, 64 MB of DDR memory and the name on the box.

...and a box. But basically, yeah. If you don't want TV-out and don't care about warranty, then you're paying the $66 for 64 MB of memory, which is rather steep. Don't go entirely on my opinion though, I know nothing about Gainward at all, and the card could be significantly slower, as has been seen with other comparisons of identical cards by different manufacturers.

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Sat Jun 22, 2002 6:05 am

Does it stand to reason that two cards with the same chipset and the same amount of memory would have the same performance? For instance, is there a difference in performance in an Xtasy, a Chaintech, a Gainward and an nVidia card all with the GeForce 4 Ti4200 chipset and 128 MB of memory and the only difference is the price?

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Sat Jun 22, 2002 6:17 am

Originally posted by HighLordDave
Does it stand to reason that two cards with the same chipset and the same amount of memory would have the same performance? For instance, is there a difference in performance in an Xtasy, a Chaintech, a Gainward and an nVidia card all with the GeForce 4 Ti4200 chipset and 128 MB of memory and the only difference is the price?

This is what I'm saying, there have been tests in which certain manufacturers' boards have tested % lower than other identical boards. I'm not very good with finding links, but I'm sure Sleepy could find you a link to a THG test or somewhere.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Sat Jun 22, 2002 12:05 pm

I will find the link when i am on for slightly longer, check anandtech.com; they have reviewed the Gainward card recently.

The 64 to 128 actually seems to make a consistent raise in price, checking up on the general theme and the extra ram increases the price buy 10-30 percent.

The 128MB will be needed for later games and definately needed for games like GTA3 which seem to rely on the increased graphics ram and speed.

<edit> Here is a link that might prove helpful

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Mon Jun 24, 2002 7:06 am

Thanks, guys. Let me ask you one other thing: Maybe it's just me, but I have a hard time shelling out $200+ for a video card. What is the advantage of a GeForce4 Ti card over a GeForce3 Ti? My usual pattern is to keep a computer for 18-24 months before tearing it apart and rebuilding it with new components; will a GeForce3 Ti 500 card (which I can get for about $140) last me for two years?

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Mon Jun 24, 2002 7:12 am

Personally, I'd say the best bet is the high-quality budget version of the best card out there. I bought a Geforce 2 MX almost 18 months ago, an MX200. If I could do that again, I'd go for the MX400, and I'd be happy - I'm still using the card and it's only now starting to struggle. I would recommend a Geforce 4 Ti 4200, but that's just the way I see things as someone with hardly any money.

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Mon Jun 24, 2002 7:33 am

@Kameleon:
Since I can get a GeForce3 Ti 500 ($139) for about the same prices as the Gainward GeForce4 Ti 4200 ($145), each with 64 MB of DDR memory, do you think I would be better off getting the GeForce4 card and running it for two years, since it will probably meet most of my gaming needs in that time span? The argument for the 4400 or 4600 card is that they come with more memory and faster core clock speeds that will be necessary in the future, but the base card is more than adequate for now.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Mon Jun 24, 2002 7:46 am

Originally posted by HighLordDave
@Kameleon:
Since I can get a GeForce3 Ti 500 ($139) for about the same prices as the Gainward GeForce4 Ti 4200 ($145), each with 64 MB of DDR memory, do you think I would be better off getting the GeForce4 card and running it for two years, since it will probably meet most of my gaming needs in that time span?

In a word, Yes. The newer architecture is just better, plus it is more customised for DX8.1, the GF3 is a DX8 system.

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Mon Jun 24, 2002 7:51 am

While it would be cool to have the top GF3, I think you'd get better performance and life out of your card with the GF4 4200. That's only my opinion, and I'm no professional on matters of this ilk. Probably better get the opinion of Sleepy or someone.

EDIT - Oh hello Mr Sleep, good to see you. Glad you agree

ANOTHER EDIT - I also think you should try and spend the few $ more to get a 128 MB version. The difference will be rather sizeable, especially later. I know that I wish I had an MX400 over my MX200, and that would have only cost about £15 extra, which I could have stretched to.

YET ANOTHER EDIT - Just checking, if someone offered you a Geforce 4 MX, you wouldn't touch it with an insulated 10-ft bargepole, yes?

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Mon Jun 24, 2002 7:53 am

Thanks, again, guys; now I just have to figure out what I have to buy my wife so I can slide a new video card by her . . .

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Mon Jun 24, 2002 8:21 am

Originally posted by Kameleon
YET ANOTHER EDIT - Just checking, if someone offered you a Geforce 4 MX, you wouldn't touch it with an insulated 10-ft bargepole, yes?

I would also throw them from the nearest automobile

@HLD, Mills and Boon?

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Mon Jun 24, 2002 8:27 am

Originally posted by Mr Sleep
I would also throw them from the nearest automobile

Skyscraper wouldn't even cover the terrible sin

Just in case anyone else ever reads this thread, a Geforce 4 MX scores considerably worse than a Geforce 3 Ti 200 in many tests, the worst of the GF3's

HLD, a box of chocolates, a bunch of flowers a kiss as soon as she walks in the door and a romantic dinner wouldn't make her suspicious, would it?

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Mon Jun 24, 2002 8:45 am

Originally posted by Kameleon
HLD, a box of chocolates, a bunch of flowers a kiss as soon as she walks in the door and a romantic dinner wouldn't make her suspicious, would it?

I learned my lesson the hard way about that. (This is way off topic but still pretty funny). When I was in college, I worked as a delivery driver for Pizza Hut. Our store was in a strip mall with a 24-hour grocery store and when I worked late, I made a habit out of stopping in at the store and picking up something to eat, then going over to my girlfriend's place. One night, I was leaving with a frozen pizza and a bottle of coke and noticed that there were roses on sale for $1.99. Thinking that it would be a nice thing to do, I picked up two and took them over to my girlfriend's. No reason; just because I thought it would be nice, and because she was always complaining that I never bought her flowers. I got to the door and handed her the flowers, thinking I would be thanked. Instead, the first words out of her mouth were, "What did you do?"

I live by the maxim: It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission. However, my wife tends to get mad if I buy me a lot of stuff without getting her something. Maybe this will be a case where a new video card just shows up on our doorstep . . . I'll tell her that I'm building a new computer for, uh, her . . . and it will just happen to have all of the components in our old computer.

I haven't read anything about the GeForce4 MX cards that would make me want to buy them; it seems like they're just recycled GeForce2 cards with a new paint job that are trying to cash in on the GeForce4 name.

(By the way, I never bought that other girlfriend flowers again).

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Mon Jun 24, 2002 9:04 am

Nice story, HLD

Silver Knight · Post by **Silver Knight** » Mon Jul 08, 2002 1:28 pm

In terms of value, you can't beat the ATI Radeon 8500. There is nothing wrong with their new Catalyst series drivers either, at least under WinXP. I bought mine in the UK and it was £100+ cheaper than the GeForce equivalent (GeF3 Ti500 at the time).

Also be careful if you are using a high level GeForce card with a gigabyte motherboard - there can be serious problems.

High end Nvidia chipsets are just way overpriced.

Further to previous comments on here, beware GeForce 4 cards with a 3 digit number, they are just recycled GeForce2's.

The only difference between the GeForce4 4400 and the 4600, I believe, is the clock speed of the ram.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Mon Jul 08, 2002 3:35 pm

Originally posted by Silver Knight
In terms of value, you can't beat the ATI Radeon 8500. There is nothing wrong with their new Catalyst series drivers either, at least under WinXP. I bought mine in the UK and it was £100+ cheaper than the GeForce equivalent (GeF3 Ti500 at the time).

However now the GeForce ti 4200 is beating the Radeon in nearly every test they take, personally i am still with GeForce, i wish i could get paid some money for this service i provide; pimping out their wares

Check pretty much any good benchmark and you will see the top three are GeForce and the next 2 are ATI

CM · Post by CM » Tue Jul 09, 2002 1:52 am

I am pretty new to the hardware element of things.
I just bought a Gf2 (MX i think).
I dont do much on the computer other than work, surf the net and play games, is it worth it for me to upgrade to a gF4?
How much is the difference in the game play between a GF2 and a GF4?
I can return my graphics card and just pay up to 50 swiss francs more for an upgrade, so money isnt an issue.
I want to know is getting a GF4 worth it for me, since i only use word, IE and games.
Oh yeah i plan on getting NWN, Warcraft 3 and Morrowwind.