Dear Lord I'm In Over My Head

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2003-12-16 05:55pm

Ok, here's the story. I have the crappiest video card ever (Nvidia Riva TNT1). It came with the computer and tragically never left.

Now with Christmas around the corner, I'm getting Medal of Honor: Allied Assualt, and the video card I have now doesn't cut it. With $50 to play with, what's the best video card I can get?

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-12-16 06:34pm

Youre Joking.

Add another $100 to the price, and you'd be able to get a decent card
that will be able to play most games at a decent level of detail smoothly.

GrandMasterTerwynn · Post by **GrandMasterTerwynn** » 2003-12-16 06:49pm

Darth Garden Gnome wrote:Ok, here's the story. I have the crappiest video card ever (Nvidia Riva TNT1). It came with the computer and tragically never left.

Now with Christmas around the corner, I'm getting Medal of Honor: Allied Assualt, and the video card I have now doesn't cut it. With $50 to play with, what's the best video card I can get?

You might pick up a GeForce2 or GeForce3 for that price. If you're lucky, you might even find a GeForce4 MX series. I'm assuming you want reasonably new.

Now bear in mind that all of these (with the exception of the GeForce 4 MX) are very uninspired performers. Especially if you plan to play newer games with them. My advice, if you have to spend less than fifty bucks is to get a GeForce 3 or keep your eyes open for a GeForce4 MX card (most recent absolute bargain basement card from nVidia.) Cards in the bargain dungeon from ATI include the Radeon 9000 and the Radeon 7500.

That, or save your money, wait till you get a hundred bucks and pick up a GeForce FX 5200, or a Radeon 9200. Mind you, compared to a higher end card, they still suck, but they're better than that TNT/TNT2 you have now. Hell, my GeForce2 MX400 is better than what you've got now . . . and I'm looking seriously for an upgrade!

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2003-12-16 06:58pm

Whatever you do, do NOT get anything that says MX on it!! It's like buying the midlevel card two generations back. GF4 MX=GF2. GF2 MX=TNT2. Get the picture?

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2003-12-16 07:01pm

You'd be very lucky to get a GF2 or GF3 Ti200 (or Ti500 if you're really lucky) for that price.

GrandMasterTerwynn · Post by **GrandMasterTerwynn** » 2003-12-16 07:16pm

Einhander Sn0m4n wrote:Whatever you do, do NOT get anything that says MX on it!! It's like buying the midlevel card two generations back. GF4 MX=GF2. GF2 MX=TNT2. Get the picture?

Unfortunately for the gnome, he only has fifty bucks to spend, which just about restricts him to MX cards and the like. Which is why he should save up until he gets a hundred bucks so he can at least pick up a current-generation value card.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-12-16 08:05pm

Find a good computer liquidator or used-parts outlet near your house. You'll never be able to buy anything good in a shrink-wrapped box for $50.

PS. You might also want to ask your dad if he knows anybody at work who's a computer expert. People like that tend to go through computer parts like there's no tomorrow, and will often give away old junk parts for a song. For example, I have an old GeForce2 GTS 32MB card laying around collecting dust.

Exonerate · Post by **Exonerate** » 2003-12-16 09:44pm

If you're lucky, you might be able to grab a GeForce3 or 4 right after Christmas...

On a related note, I saw an Radeon 9700 for sale for $80 right after Thanksgiving... Pity they were sold out by the time I got there.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-12-16 10:18pm

Pricewatch has a GeForce FX 5200 128MB card for $56. I'm not a huge fan of the 5200's, but they play games adaquately and at your pricepoint I think it is the best you can do.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-12-16 10:22pm

Einhander Sn0m4n wrote:Whatever you do, do NOT get anything that says MX on it!! It's like buying the midlevel card two generations back. GF4 MX=GF2. GF2 MX=TNT2. Get the picture?

Although you are correct about the GF4 MX, the GF2 MX was NOT a TNT2 core at all. It has the same T&L engine as the GF2 GTS, it simply used SDR memory and less pixel pipes (much like the modern GF FX 5600 vs. 5900).

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2003-12-17 12:43am

GrandMasterTerwynn wrote:
Darth Garden Gnome wrote:Ok, here's the story. I have the crappiest video card ever (Nvidia Riva TNT1). It came with the computer and tragically never left.

Now with Christmas around the corner, I'm getting Medal of Honor: Allied Assualt, and the video card I have now doesn't cut it. With $50 to play with, what's the best video card I can get?
You might pick up a GeForce2 or GeForce3 for that price. If you're lucky, you might even find a GeForce4 MX series. I'm assuming you want reasonably new.

Now bear in mind that all of these (with the exception of the GeForce 4 MX) are very uninspired performers. Especially if you plan to play newer games with them. My advice, if you have to spend less than fifty bucks is to get a GeForce 3 or keep your eyes open for a GeForce4 MX card (most recent absolute bargain basement card from nVidia.) Cards in the bargain dungeon from ATI include the Radeon 9000 and the Radeon 7500.

That, or save your money, wait till you get a hundred bucks and pick up a GeForce FX 5200, or a Radeon 9200. Mind you, compared to a higher end card, they still suck, but they're better than that TNT/TNT2 you have now. Hell, my GeForce2 MX400 is better than what you've got now . . . and I'm looking seriously for an upgrade!

Don't let the name fool you. A GeForce 3 will outperform a GeForce 4 MX any day of the week. I suspect a GeForce 2 GTS or Ultra will, too.

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2003-12-17 11:57am

The Kernel wrote:
Einhander Sn0m4n wrote:Whatever you do, do NOT get anything that says MX on it!! It's like buying the midlevel card two generations back. GF4 MX=GF2. GF2 MX=TNT2. Get the picture?
Although you are correct about the GF4 MX, the GF2 MX was NOT a TNT2 core at all. It has the same T&L engine as the GF2 GTS, it simply used SDR memory and less pixel pipes (much like the modern GF FX 5600 vs. 5900).

Oh ok.

Well it still feels like a TNT-core here (I have a GF2 MX100) when I play Quake 3 (and yes, I have most of the eye candy turned off anyway). It's so bad I hardly ever play Quake any more.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-12-17 12:01pm

Einhander Sn0m4n wrote:
The Kernel wrote:
Einhander Sn0m4n wrote:Whatever you do, do NOT get anything that says MX on it!! It's like buying the midlevel card two generations back. GF4 MX=GF2. GF2 MX=TNT2. Get the picture?
Although you are correct about the GF4 MX, the GF2 MX was NOT a TNT2 core at all. It has the same T&L engine as the GF2 GTS, it simply used SDR memory and less pixel pipes (much like the modern GF FX 5600 vs. 5900).
Oh ok.

Well it still feels like a TNT-core here (I have a GF2 MX100) when I play Quake 3 (and yes, I have most of the eye candy turned off anyway). It's so bad I hardly ever play Quake any more.

The MX100 has a 64-bit SDR memory interface (which is similar to that of a TNT2). Sorry

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2003-12-17 12:18pm

The Kernel wrote:
Einhander Sn0m4n wrote:
The Kernel wrote: Although you are correct about the GF4 MX, the GF2 MX was NOT a TNT2 core at all. It has the same T&L engine as the GF2 GTS, it simply used SDR memory and less pixel pipes (much like the modern GF FX 5600 vs. 5900).
Oh ok.

Well it still feels like a TNT-core here (I have a GF2 MX100) when I play Quake 3 (and yes, I have most of the eye candy turned off anyway). It's so bad I hardly ever play Quake any more.
The MX100 has a 64-bit SDR memory interface (which is similar to that of a TNT2). Sorry

Hmm that explains that.

P.S. thanks for the you-know-what.

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2003-12-17 04:10pm

I'd sell you my ATI rage 128 pro w/ 16 megs of memory for that *snicker* BAH HA HA!!!

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-12-17 08:50pm

GF4Ti4200 on Pricewatch for $70. If you can spare the extra twenty bucks, it is a fine card.

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2003-12-17 09:18pm

Howedar wrote:GF4Ti4200 on Pricewatch for $70. If you can spare the extra twenty bucks, it is a fine card.

What can I expect from a GF4Ti4600 mounted in a 400MHz Pent2 with 192 megs RAM? ~60FPS at 1152x864x32bit in Default Quake 3?

EDIT: I fully intend on replacing the RAM with 256megs of PC800 (or whatever'll fit in the same slots that PC133 uses) sometime within the next couple months.

SPOOFE · Post by **SPOOFE** » 2003-12-17 10:39pm

A GeForce 3 will outperform a GeForce 4 MX any day of the week.

And cost more. I'd be surprised if you find a GeForce4 MX-440 for much more than $50. Hell, Newegg has one for $47, and I've seen 'em on sale at the local Fry's for $20 (with a mail-in rebate, anyway).

HOWEVER, they also have GeForce FX 5200 128mb cards starting at $63, so I would greatly recommend those to the OP. Just scrimp and save your lunch money for a week (or, hell, go donate a pint of blood).

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-12-17 11:17pm

Einhander Sn0m4n wrote: What can I expect from a GF4Ti4600 mounted in a 400MHz Pent2 with 192 megs RAM? ~60FPS at 1152x864x32bit in Default Quake 3?

You should be able to max out at 1600x1200 at 60fps with the 4600 in Quake 3, even with the 400MHz PII. Quake 3 likes bandwidth and CPU cycles a lot, but not nearly as much as it like a nice fast GPU with loads of graphics bandwidth.

EDIT: I fully intend on replacing the RAM with 256megs of PC800 (or whatever'll fit in the same slots that PC133 uses) sometime within the next couple months.

PC800 is RDRAM and requires a seperate board. Just get PC133, it's as cheap as shit now anyways.

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2003-12-25 04:16am

Thanks for the suggestions on the cards everyone, now onto stage two of my problem: EVERYTHING ELSE.

There are people you can hire to install this junk right? I went to PC Doctor to figure out how to do this, but after being bombarded with things like "drivers" and "wizards" and whatever I gave up.

And what the heck are S-Video Cables? I went to PriceWatch as per The Kernel's advice and found a good deal on the suggested card, but the selling company had S-Video Cables as part of the deal for $15. In laymans terms, could someone kindly explain to me what these do? The Internet, in all its expansive glory, has yielded nothing in this regard.

Oh, and Merry Christmas ya'll.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-12-25 05:09am

Darth Garden Gnome wrote:Thanks for the suggestions on the cards everyone, now onto stage two of my problem: EVERYTHING ELSE.

There are people you can hire to install this junk right? I went to PC Doctor to figure out how to do this, but after being bombarded with things like "drivers" and "wizards" and whatever I gave up.

And what the heck are S-Video Cables? I went to PriceWatch as per The Kernel's advice and found a good deal on the suggested card, but the selling company had S-Video Cables as part of the deal for $15. In laymans terms, could someone kindly explain to me what these do? The Internet, in all its expansive glory, has yielded nothing in this regard.

Oh, and Merry Christmas ya'll.

Hey dude,

Okay, here's the scoop. First off, an s-video cable is only needed if you intend to hook it to a TV. Still, most video cards should come with one and I wouldn't recommend doing business with a Pricewatch vendor that wants to charge you for it (especially if it is mandatory). You have to realize that most of the shit on Pricewatch is extremely price competative, so you have to go through and make sure there are no catches. If they try to tack on extras or charge too much for shipping, just move on.

Now as to installation, forget getting someone else to do it. Video card installs are one of the easiest things in the world to do. All that you need to do is pop the side of your case off, undo one screw, pull the old card out, put the new card in, screw the screw back in and power on the PC. You also need to install drivers, but that isn't a big deal at all to anyone that knows the least bit about a PC. Save yourself the trouble and do it yourself. If you need more help, PM me, but don't pay anyone to do this for you. Spend the extra money on a better card (at this price point, you can get a LOT for an extra $20).

Speaking of which, I would really recommend a GeForce 5700 or Radeon 9600 if you can afford it. The FX 5200 is leagues better then the TNT, but like I said you are in price sensitive territory here and a 5700 nets you 2-3x the performance of the 5200. Even a GeForce 4 4200 would be an excellent buy for someone like you (and would still give 2x the performance of the 5200). Make sure you shop around and come back here and tell us what you decide BEFORE you purchase to make sure you get the right thing. There are a few cards out there that might have stripped down memory pipes or some other bullshit that they try to pass off as full flegged cards.

Anyways, that's about all I can think of right now. Good luck.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-12-25 05:14am

Here I found this for you:

Link

GameVE is an excellent Pricewatch vendor and this price is outstanding for what you are getting. It's an older card, but if you are commited to spending < $100, you can't get any better then this. It's a GeForce4 4200 128MB card for only $90. Spend the extra money dude, this card is worth it and will last you for some time.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-12-25 05:24am

If you just can't spend $90, here's a link (also from GameVE) for a GeForce 5200 Chaintech card for $66 (remember, free shipping on both cards).

Link

I recommend the more expensive one of course, but its your wallet. Either is an acceptable choice from a trusted internet vendor.

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2003-12-25 07:51am

Here you go, Dude! Scrounge up 16 more dollars from mom or dad, and score you a decent 128MB Card.

4 hours left on this one! it's a bit dated, but it'll work for ya, methinks.

ATI Radeon 7200 again, a bit dated, but it'll work for now.

Here's an ATI 9200 59.95 good card, here, looks like.

Bad part about all of these is I think only the last one supports T&L, which most newer games (As I understand it) Require to run properly.

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2003-12-26 03:49pm

Thanks The Kernel for the advice.

OK, now here's new story for ya. The Riva TNT is usable for the game (although I still will be getting a new one) even though it didn't say so on the website, only in the manual.

Now my inquiry is this, what does it mean when an error message appears, when booting up a game, and it says:

"nVidia OpenGL driver
Driver component sizes mis-match".

I've been all over the Internet looking for answers but so far I've got nothing. Any help ya'll can offer would be much obliged.

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Dear Lord I'm In Over My Head

Dear Lord I'm In Over My Head

Re: Best Video Card One Might Purchase for $50

Re: Best Video Card One Might Purchase for $50