What video card to get?

gsxr60097 · Post by **gsxr60097** » Sat Aug 10, 2002 3:00 pm

Geforce 440 good enough? I think it is around 150 dollars...Any other suggestions??

BlackJesus666 · Post by **BlackJesus666** » Sat Aug 10, 2002 4:00 pm

??

You mean a Geforce4 MX440 ? Better get a Geforce4 Ti4200...

Should also be around 150$ - 170$ (150€, the cheapest *g*) but much better performance...

Eriks · Post by **Eriks** » Sat Aug 10, 2002 7:38 pm

I have a GeForce 3 Ti 200 and it runs fine. As long as you have enough RAM.

Volcane666 · Post by **Volcane666** » Sun Aug 11, 2002 6:20 am

Originally posted by Eriks
I have a GeForce 3 Ti 200 and it runs fine. As long as you have enough RAM.

Me too.

I ahve 512meg SDRam and a 1Ghz Thunderbird and the game runs fine at high resolutions and all details on/max.

free_fall · Post by **free_fall** » Sun Aug 11, 2002 8:45 am

I had been thinking of upgrading my Voodoo 5 for a while and was torn between the Ti4200 and the Radeon 8500LE. I spent the little bit extra and got the Ti4200 because of the "shiny water" thing.

Well, the shiny water works but the regular water looks much better IMO. Go figure.

The card works well, I guess. I think I'm seeing a little better framerates. But I tell you, my Voodoo 5 was the best, it handled just about everything I threw at it with no problems, including Morrowind. The only recent game that gave me any trouble was Jedi Knight 2.

The only problem I've noticed since installing the Ti4200 is frequent crashing and/or display anomalies with MS Solitaire, of all things! I have never, ever seen Solitaire crash before this. Very bizarre.

smass · Post by **smass** » Sun Aug 11, 2002 8:54 am

I personally feel that the TI 4200 with 64mb ram is the best choice price wise. You can get it for less than $150 online. The 64mb version uses 500mhz memory clock rate - which is faster than the 128mb version and gives the 64mg version better benchmarks across the board.

Check out tomshardware.com - this is one of the best independent testing/benchmarking sites. It is a good idea to check with an independent tester - don't believe in hype - get the the facts.

fallenheart · Post by **fallenheart** » Sun Aug 11, 2002 12:26 pm

That is true 64mb version has better bench mark. Yes, it is due to higher memory clock speed, but you also have to take account that there are no game that take advantage of 128mb ram.
Once the games start using more memory you will be glad you got 128 mb version.
For today, 64 mb version is better buy. However, if you want somthing future proof, go with 128 mb version.

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Sun Aug 11, 2002 4:09 pm

I just built a new computer with the GeForce 4 Ti4200 video card and NWN looks awesome. My other computer has an ATI Rage Fury Pro video card and while the game didn't look bad, it had a tendency to hang during some of the cutscenes and some of the textures looked cartoonish.

My card is a Visiontek Xtasy 128 MB and I paid $198 for it at Wal-Mart. I recommend it.

A buddy of mine plays on an ATI Radeon 8500 and he says he's going to get one of the new Radeon 9700s when they come out. I warned him against this as the 9700 requires an 8x AGP slot, which will probably require you to upgrade your motherboard as well (most boards have 4x AGP). Of course, he'll use this as an excuse to build a new computer.

Mr Flibble · Post by **Mr Flibble** » Mon Aug 12, 2002 9:23 pm

I was originally using a GeForce 256 but have recently upgraded to an Asus V8420 GF4 Ti4200 with 64MB and it runs NWN perfectly. I think right now anything more is simply for the "show factor" and getting the very best there is for the sake of PC specs on paper.

smass · Post by **smass** » Mon Aug 12, 2002 10:09 pm

@ Mr. Flibble - Good point. Spending double for a 4600 card will not make any real difference with todays games. I almost never upgrade to the newest and greatest. Heck - Geforce 3 cards were going for $400 less than a year ago. If you buy a step down from the top you get better value for your money.

Geforce Ti4200 or if you must ATI Radeon 8500 are the best bang for the buck today.

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 6:16 am

Originally posted by smass
If you buy a step down from the top you get better value for your money.

But you don't get as many geek points (if my memory serves me correctly, Mr Flibble got the most of any of us here at GameBanshee . . .)

Some folks, the super-geeks, are willing to pay twice as much for 10-20% of extra performance, which they'll probably never need. I think it's no different that motorheads in high school boasting about who has bored out their Chevy small-block or added nitrous or gotten a special fuel-injection mod chip for their rice-burner.

Personally, while I like to have the best, I am also on a budget (being in "the program" will do that to a guy) that precludes me from getting a GeForce4 Ti 4600 or Radeon 9700, so I had to "settle" for a GeForce4 Ti 4200. On the flip side of that, I am counting on this card getting me through three or four years of rebuilds before I replace it, so I consider it a well-spent $200.

Mr Flibble · Post by **Mr Flibble** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 1:47 pm

Originally posted by HighLordDave

But you don't get as many geek points (if my memory serves me correctly, Mr Flibble got the most of any of us here at GameBanshee . . .)

Oh no! I have shamed myself!

Price is really the deciding factor for me. If you can afford it, get the very besy there is, but they really aren't very good value for money.

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 2:07 pm

Originally posted by Mr Flibble
Oh no! I have shamed myself!

I think Flanders was happy you came along and saved him from having the highest geek point total.