Geforce 3 Replacement Suggestions

[Prince of Persia]

Last week my computer kept turning on, and rebooting in a repeating cycle even before getting to bios. I thought it was a Power Supply problem, but after 50 bucks found out it wasn't. Finally swapped out the vid card witha friends and the computer finally booted to windows!!!! ARGH!

So now i'm looking for a video card that will be somewhat near or above the geforce 3 capabilities.
Is the Radeon 9200 128mb equivalent to the geforce3, I can't seem to find any benchmarks for comparison on 9200?

I want to spend 50-80 bucks, so I was wondering what everybody here thinks! Thanks for any info.

-POP

 

[Wiktor]

Get a GF4200 - much like your GF3 but faster, no compatibility problems etc.

 

[Dman877]

Originally posted by: Wiktor
Get a GF4200 - much like your GF3 but faster, no compatibility problems etc.

It's also in your price range. As for ATI cards, the 9100/9200 series are pretty poor performers, you won't notice much improvement (if any) over your GF3. I wouldn't buy anything less then a 9600 Pro from ATI.

 

[Prince of Persia]

I just looked on anandtech's prices and the cheapest they have is 90 something, anyone point me somewhere else for this card to be cheaper?

 

[imported_raybay]

Are you certain you didn't have a virus. One of the Sasser varients will cause what you described.

The Radeon 9200 is an acceptable replacement, as is the GForce 4200, or a number of others.

 

[Dman877]

Pricewatch is your friend Look at the Ti4200 64 meg, the 128 isn't worth it imo.

I happen to have a gainward GF3 for sale (does 270/580 if I recall) you can have for 30$ (shipping is included unless you live in China or something).

 

[Prince of Persia]

Can somebody explain the Sasser virus, to make sure that's not my problem?

Because my computer initially had trouble booting up, and it took several tries to do it. After a week of that, it just completely died, in the sense that whenever I turned it on it wouldn't even make it past the bios screen (It would show the cpu, freeze then restart). When I swapped the video card, then I was fully able to boot to windows.

Thanks for any info, I've been out of the loop for ages due to finals so I don't know what's going on these days.

 

[johnjkr1]

You can pick up a 9600xt for under $100 on ebay, or a used 4200ti for $60

 

[Bucksnort]

Check for and remove sasser virus

 

[PanzerIV]

Originally posted by: Prince of Persia
Last week my computer kept turning on, and rebooting in a repeating cycle even before getting to bios. I thought it was a Power Supply problem, but after 50 bucks found out it wasn't. Finally swapped out the vid card witha friends and the computer finally booted to windows!!!! ARGH!

So now i'm looking for a video card that will be somewhat near or above the geforce 3 capabilities.
Is the Radeon 9200 128mb equivalent to the geforce3, I can't seem to find any benchmarks for comparison on 9200?

I want to spend 50-80 bucks, so I was wondering what everybody here thinks! Thanks for any info.

-POP

If you're not afraid of refurbs check into Newegg's refurb section. I purchased several refurbed cards there for significantly less than what they go for new. That way you get more card for the money. My Sapphire 9600 is working like a charm and it was a refurb that I bought about a month ago for about $74 shipped.

 

[edmundoab]

Originally posted by: Wiktor
Get a GF4200 - much like your GF3 but faster, no compatibility problems etc.

yeah I was going to suggest the same card.
unless you want a DX9 compatible card.. then I'd go for the ATis....

 

[ElFenix]

9200 is the same card as a 9000 (just agp8x, a worthless check box feature that screams 'my type R sticker is bigger than yours'). the 9000 is roughly equivalent to an 8500, which is about the same as a gf3.