Author Topic: Need help finding a good graphics card. (Read 387 times)

Beefcake · « **on:** October 25, 2003, 11:33:26 PM »

I need recomendations for good Video card for my comp. Right now I have a GeForce 4 MX420 and I'd like to replace it with a better Geforce Card. (Yes I know the Gf4MX420 is not the best card but it came standard with the computer and I didn't have the money to replace it...but now I do) Money is still tight though so I'd like to keep the cost below 300 bucks if possible, but if they're some other cards out there that are better but cost more still let me know.

Anyway my basic specs are:

AMD Athlon XP 2400+ (2gig)
1 Gig of 2100 DDR RAM
Windoze XP Home Edition

I'm not very computer literate, so I'd like a card that requires very little work.

Thanks for the help.

zmeg · « **Reply #1 on:** October 26, 2003, 12:02:50 AM »

I have a g4 4200 128M 8x agp & 2400+ w/512M 2100 & I'm getting better fps than anything except ati9800 (only a few fps short of that) make sure you got the latest via 4 in 1 drivers, agp 8x enabled & 45.23 nvidia drivers. Also check for viruses & spyware. you prolly dont need a $400 card.

WhiteHawk · « **Reply #2 on:** October 26, 2003, 09:04:24 AM »

I can tell u this. If you can save your money and get a second to the top of the line card, that would be better than trying to budget for a middle of the road one. Cuz that is a endless drain on money. I kept working my way up the ladder until I got one that would run AH pretty decently. It took 3 tries and cost about 450$ all together. I started with a gf2 mx then gotta gf4 mx 440, then finally asked for advice and gotta gf4 ti4200. That was the second to the gf ti4400 at the time. The gf ti 4200 was leaps and bounds better than the 440 mx. So be patient and ask around, check websites and prices, cuz if you get the one you need the first time, you will come out ahead as far as money goes.

PS I have a monster 3d card for sale..cheap:lol

BB Gun · « **Reply #3 on:** October 26, 2003, 08:37:51 PM »

Under 300?

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/SPECA/AA18510.html

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/Spec1/1621651.html (plain 5900 that can be overclocked to near-5900 Ultra speeds)

for 150.00 http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=14-102-291 radeon 9600 Pro

220.00 - http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=14-122-176 another 5900 that can be overclocked.

265.00 http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=14-131-199 another radeon9700Pro

243.00 http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=14-102-292 a radeon9800 NON-pro that can be overclocked to near 9800Pro speeds.

BB

Beefcake · « **Reply #4 on:** October 27, 2003, 08:12:15 AM »

Couple more questions.

I heard that the Geforce FX cards were crap...well some of them anyways. What is the best GF FX card?

Also if I get an ATI card what drivers will I have to delete since I have a Geforce card atm.

BB Gun · « **Reply #5 on:** October 27, 2003, 10:02:07 AM »

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NTM3

Check their performance charts - niether card at the "top end" does badly, but for the same price level (actually, ATI a touch cheaper), with all eyecandy turned on, the ATI still kicks Nvidia's ass.

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=14-102-304 if you want a 9800Pro - 305.00 - only 5.00 past your limit.

No matter what card you get, you'll have to uninstall the old drivers. (get latest reference drivers from nVidia & ATI websites)

Your installation procedure for WinXP will go something like this:

Right click desktop, select "properties", select "settings", select "advanced", select "video card", select "driver", select "uninstall" (am at work at the moment, so series of commands might not be exact, but its close)

Shut down system, check manual for how to disable onboard video if you have onboard video (either jumpre or BIOS, if jumper, short it now, if bios, wait till first restart), or if you have a vid card remove it from the AGP slot, then install your new card into the slot. Restart system, (at this point, if you need to disable onboard video in the BIOS, immediately go to the BIOS to turn it off) Windows will detect new hardware on startup, cancel any automatic driver installation procedure. Then install new reference drivers by hand.

Not sure about nVidia, but the ATI drivers are a .exe file that does everything for you, just start the installation and go.

BB

Beefcake · « **Reply #6 on:** October 28, 2003, 09:27:08 AM »

No offense BB gun but that went right over my head. Don't get me wrong I have a nack for figuring things out but I usually screw up the device in he process. Anything simpler?

(pardon my spelling, can't type)

bloom25 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 28, 2003, 08:09:02 PM »

Most recent nVidia detonator drivers have an uninstaller built in. See if the nVidia Detonator drivers are listed under Add/Remove Software on the control panel. If it isn't there, you can do what BBGun wrote. Or you can go to device manager, find your video card, and use the uninstall driver option.

I'd say the best bang for the buck is either the ATI Radeon 9600 Pro or 9600 XT, which you can find for around $200. If you are really lucky, Circuit City might still have the retail box Radeon 9800 (standard) for $249.99.