GeForce Video Cards ?????

[CurtissP-6EHawk]

I went to my local computer store and purchased a GeForce 4MX 440 64MB card just to get me back playing again till I can oder a better one.

My questions is I noticed it looks as if several manufactures make the GeForce cards along with all kinds of letter designations. For example the 4200 128MB. That one confused my because I thought my 440 was better but it only has 64MB. Also the 440 I have is made by PNY.

I replaced my GeForce2MX because I was getting 9fps in fights on the current CT PTO map. FLying over water I could get about 40fps. With the new card I get 70 over water and 18 close to filds or when it gets "bzy". Im still not happy with it.

WHAT CARD DO I NEED TO HAVE A CONSISTAN FRAMERATE OF AT LEAST 40, bzy or not???????

[bockko]

first of all, what processor and how much memory? Second of all, the mx cards are the lowest performing cards of the bunch. You should take it back if you can. For starters, try the geforce ti4200. It is the slowest of the real gforces, but one can be had for 140-170 dollars and if your cpu is decent it will run ah great.  If you go to nvidia's website you can see relative fill rates and performance spec's. For a bit more $$$, try a ti 4600, but it is up near 300 bucks. And if you are willing to spend $300, buy an ATI 9700 -- it rocks. If you have the patience, try looking on http://www.pricewatch.com, i found a gforce ti4200 card at http://www.googlegear.com for 140...may be cheaper now.

As for the 440, 4400, etc...think mx=slow. 4200 is ok, 4400 better, 4600 best, dollars increase with each one. The amount of memory isnt a big deal in AH. 64 meg of memory is great. 128 is good, but most of that memory will sit unused.

bockk

[CurtissP-6EHawk]

yeah, Im gonna take it back. It is the 440MX and not the Ki-4400 like I thought.

I just ordered a Asylum Geforce4 Ti 4600 128MB AGP $$195.

I have a:

AMD Duron 800
300wt power
soundblaster sound card
sink fan
WD300 hard drive
CTX 19" monitor "status" 800x600, H:94.5khz, V: 144.8hz

[SKurj]

u would be better cancelling the order of the 4600 and spending that money on the fastest cpu you mobo can handle.

With a 440 mx 64mb ddr I get peaks of 120+ fps, and lows probably in the hi 20's in extreme cases.


AH currently is cpu dependent, the 4600 may not give you the results you want with that cpu.  

I'd say get the cpu, keep the 440 mx until AH2 comes out ...

SKurj

[bockko]

cc what skurj said. the duron 800 is more of a problem than an mx card. Contact your computer's vendor and see what the fastest chip you can put in is. If your system is homebuilt then you probably know how fast you can go. Your cpu upgrade will be a direct proportional increase in fps, but the vid card won't as the duron cant keep up with the demands.

[DamPhyno]

Originally posted by CurtissP-6EHawk
yeah, Im gonna take it back. It is the 440MX and not the Ki-4400 like I thought.

I just ordered a Asylum Geforce4 Ti 4600 128MB AGP $$195.

I have a:

AMD Duron 800

That right there is *absolutely* your killer... A new video card will help a mighty small amount...

I have the exact same video card you have, Hawk, and I get *TONS* more frames than you...attributed almost 100% to the fact that my Athlon is twice as fast as yours...since otherwise our systems are the same.

Spend your money on a new MoBo, Processor and RAM - you'll be a happy happy camper...

:Recommendation:
I have the ECS K7S5A MoBo - not much good for overclocking (if you're into that, I'm not), but it's *ROCK* stable (if you're into that - I am!), and cheap! I looked on Pricewatch just now and found a Combo with
Athlon 1600+ for $105.
1700+ for $101.
1800+ for $103.
1900+ for $117.
2000+ for $125.
2100+ for $131.
2200+ for $145.
2400+ for $195.

Throw in 256MB or 512MB of PC2100 RAM and you're ready to rock and roll, even with the GF2 MX card...

If it were my money, I'd get the 2000 combo at this point.

Like I said, I have pretty great framerates - *much* better than the 6FPS you said you were getting the other night...
(Try 50's and 60+'s up high and generally 30's-40's down low with multiple bogeys)

Additionally, the K7S5A will do you just fine for a long time - need a faster processor? Just buy one when the price comes down - the board will support the fastest of the non-Barton core Athlons, which right now is a 3000+ (Sure, if you want to shell out $500 on a processor *ICK*)
When the Athlon 2600 hits $100, I'll upgrade processors (and nothing else) and have a whole new computer again...again

Dam "Always Buy Whatever Costs $100 Right Now, And You'll Be A Happy Camper For A Whole Year" Phyno