PII 400, Video card upgrade?

[funked]

I have a 400 MHz processor and a TNT2 Ultra.  Can I expect any increase in game performance with a new video card?

I'm going to upgrade to a 1.2 GHz+ system within three months.  But since the video cards are getting cheaper I thought I might try one to tide me over until then.  

Any advice or suggestions are welcome!

[SKurj]

GF2 MX might do ya just fine Funked, a 32mb model is cheap these days, in the states likely less than $100, and it will run circles around your antique TNT.

SKurj

[whels1]

 

Originally posted by SKurj:
GF2 MX might do ya just fine Funked, a 32mb model is cheap these days, in the states likely less than $100, and it will run circles around your antique TNT.

SKurj

yep if ur gona keep the 400 cpu then
MX is as high as id go. if ur gona
upgrade cpu near future, id get a
full GF2 32 or 64 ddr.

whels

[funked]

Any recommendations on a particular brand, or are they all pretty much built to the reference design?

[Staga]

Hercules/Guillemot or Leadtek. There could be more but these are good choices. They might cost little more than "NoName"-cards. We have a slogan "You can buy cheap and good but not in same packet"  .

Basic design is same but quality of parts used in manufacturing changes which is seen in picture quality.

[funked]

You guys rock.  
I'll probably buy the MX now and get the quick fix.  Then when I build the new beast I will drop the MX into a system I'm building for my Mom.  

[Skuzzy]

funked,..did not get to test a 400 cpu, but i have a comparison of the MX in 4 other cpus. http://www.benchdata.com/gf2_mx/

I used the Hercules cards as they are really about the best designs I have seen using a GF2 chip.  Loads of heat sinks and a pretty good fan for the main chip.

Hope that helps.

------------------
Roy "Skuzzy" Neese
President, AppLink Corp.
http://www.applink.net
skuzzy@applink.net

[bloom25]

I think it is unlikely that an upgrade from a TNt2 Ultra to a Gf2 Mx would yield a very large performance boost with only a 400 Mhz processor.  You'd be lucky to pick up 3 or 4 fps.  I'd probably try overclocking the TNT2 card first, defraging the HD, overclocking the processor FSB, etc.

A Tnt2 Ultra should still be able to deliver very good FPS in AH with a P2 400.  If you aren't getting around 35 - 45 fps in flight something is wrong.  I've had a V770 Ultra for over a year now, and for most of that time it was running on a 400 then 466 celeron.  I think you're up against the CPU wall here Funked.  a TNT2 Ultra shouldn't become the bottleneck until about 600 Mhz or so.



------------------
bloom25
(Formerly of the)
THUNDERBIRDS

[Ripsnort]

FUnked, all the advice above is valid, my 550 reached it max FR (bottle neck is now CPU, which will be cured on Sat with new PIII800 chip) with the GeForce II "Pro", about $171 bucks, the Geforce II MX is about $90 bucks, but if you're going to go to a 1 Gig or higher, I'd suggest going with the GeForce II GTX or Pro, the Pro allows you to overclock, but is the same price as the GTX.

I got mine at: http://www.pricewatch.com/

And very happy with it, amazing how smooth the FR is now going thru the smoking ruins or Bishrook fields.  

[funked]

Well I ordered a 32MB Geforce2 MX board and I'll give it a whirl.  Even if it sucks, I can just put it in my mom's machine.  She doesn't need that much power but I want to be able to play games when I visit.    

When I build my 1.X GHz machine I'll probably spring for the latest & greatest.

[This message has been edited by funked (edited 03-29-2001).]

[-ammo-]

you won't be disappointed in the FR increase Mine more than doubled on my P3 500 machine. I bought a GF2 MX 32