is $98 worth it for a MSI G4MX440 card?

[gordita]

my new rig is all setup but is missing the final piece of the puzzle, a.k.a the video card.
mboard is an epox 8RDA+ with 2100+ T'Bred and 512Mb DDR.

I don't know which card to buy.
I do not game at all, just do some web surfing, web development, watch avi's and mpeg's but my gf is a graphic/web designer and occasionally uses my PC for her work.

I definitely need a VGA and a DVI ports bcoz I'm going to buy a LCD this Xmas.

Also, the epox mboard does not take my older V550 viper card, so I sold that off.

I checked out newegg and this

MSI card looks like a good buy.

anyone has any suggestions.

Also, I would like to have the capability for capturing video from VCR/camcorder in the future.

Thanks all

 

[Orbius]

No right now the 8500le or the 9000pro is a much better performing budget card at about the same price.

 

[bgeh]

i'd get the Radeon 9100
it has the DVI, VGA and TV-out ports and provides better performance than the GF4 MX440

 

[gordita]

does it matter if Powercolor or Sapphire or any other branded card ?
any ones I should stay away from?

 

[UncleWai]

definitely don't waste your money.
Head over to the FS forum, there are plenty gf3 ti , r8500, r9000 at sub $100.

 

[BlvdKing]

The NVidia 5200 non-U has been stated to be $79 at launch. It has passive cooling and decent performance, as well as DX 9 compatibility. DX 9 is not important at the moment though.

 

[kylebisme]

were have you seen statistics on the performace of the 5200 BlvdKing?

 

[sash1]

Originally posted by: TheSnowman
were have you seen statistics on the performace of the 5200 BlvdKing?

here

~Aunix

 

[Curley]

If you do get a MX440, make sure you get one with DDR memory. Quite a few MX440 have SDRAM. The card I am most impressed by is the MX460. I keeps up and beats most Geforce 3 cards.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: Curley
If you do get a MX440, make sure you get one with DDR memory. Quite a few MX440 have SDRAM. The card I am most impressed by is the MX460. I keeps up and beats most Geforce 3 cards.

$98 for a GF4 MX440 is definately too much to spend (way too much actually). You can get a Radeon 8500 (9100) or GF3 for considerably less, < $80 for sure.

I'd personally recommend against getting a GF4 MX card, although they are cheap and can be competitive with GF3's at times, they don't support Direct X 8+ features, and as such aren't a great investment for future games at all. I'd stick with GF3/GF4 Radeon 8500/9X00 .

 

[BlvdKing]

The NV 5200 non-U is not a performance monster by any means but it should still beat any GF4 MX, not to mention that it is DX 9 compatible, where as the GF4 MX is not even DX 8 compatible (only DX 7). The passive cooling, low price tag, and decent performance make this a great upgrade for those still using DX 7 cards.

 

[Curley]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024

Originally posted by: Curley
If you do get a MX440, make sure you get one with DDR memory. Quite a few MX440 have SDRAM. The card I am most impressed by is the MX460. I keeps up and beats most Geforce 3 cards.

$98 for a GF4 MX440 is definately too much to spend (way too much actually). You can get a Radeon 8500 (9100) or GF3 for considerably less, < $80 for sure.

I'd personally recommend against getting a GF4 MX card, although they are cheap and can be competitive with GF3's at times, they don't support Direct X 8+ features, and as such aren't a great investment for future games at all. I'd stick with GF3/GF4 Radeon 8500/9X00 .

I understand completely what you are saying, but I have yet to have anyone point out the differences to me as to what is lacking in a video card while playing a game or a side by side comparison. Maybe I am not that critical to fine detail but I have yet to see advanced features in video cards.

This is my opinion and it may be a screwed up opinion because I am running a 9700Pro. Whatever it is I can't see, I don't want to miss.

 

[kylebisme]

the gf3 and 8500 both preform better than the gf4mx in almost any situation, at higher image quality settings the performace gap gets even greater. in other words, don't buy and mx!


ohh ya and thanks for the link Aunix.

 

[Rand]

Originally posted by: fahq
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!! GeForce 5200 is due out soon, cards have already been tested http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,921899,00.asp

This card will be 79 Bucks US!!!! It is also direct X compliant, and abotu as fast as a Ti4200 (about 133 OEM on pricewatch). Wait one month, you will be glad you did!!!

The regular 5200 is hardly likely to match up to the GF4 Ti4200. ET tests the 5200 Ultra which looks to be quite a bit faster then the regular 5200, and is also priced at over $100.
It's the reg. 5200 that's $79.

 

[Frodolives]

Originally posted by: UncleWai
definitely don't waste your money.
Head over to the FS forum, there are plenty gf3 ti , r8500, r9000 at sub $100.

I visit the fs forum here a LOT and that's not necessarily true. People are entitled to ask whatever they wish for their stuff and I respect that, but for "newer" cards like those people seem to be more often asking for prices that I could pay at newgg or mwave etc.

 

[gordita]

well, all this info is great but, even if I do decide to wait for the G5200, will I get this card with a VGA and a DVI input for about $100 ??

and what do I do for a month............right now, I just got a temp radeon 9100pro from CC which I will return in 12 days....

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: UncleWai
definitely don't waste your money.
Head over to the FS forum, there are plenty gf3 ti , r8500, r9000 at sub $100.

a gf3 or radeon 8500 should run 60 to 70 there, much better than what youre looking at

 

[videobruce]

The Sapphire 9100 OEM you can get from Newegg for $73 delivered.
Newer version of the 8500. I have it with a 8RDA and a 2100b.

The MX440's are the low end GeForce 4600's. If you want a nVida get a GeForce3 for less.

 

[Soulkeeper]

i wouldn't even pay 35 bucks for a GF4 mx

 

[blahblah]

Originally posted by: videobruce
The Sapphire 9100 OEM you can get from Newegg for $73 delivered.
Newer version of the 8500. I have it with a 8RDA and a 2100b.

The MX440's are the low end GeForce 4600's. If you want a nVida get a GeForce3 for less.

Actually, the GForce4 MX series are a rehash of the old GForce2 cards. Many people bought this under the mistaking impression that it was faster than GForce3 when it was clearly slower.

As for people recommending the FX5200 cards. One thing you should note is that the card being reviewed is NOT the card that is going to be sold for $79. The FX5200 Ultra has a SRP of $149. And it is slower than Ti4200. (Look at Anand's review)

In fact, we have no idea how the FX5200 (regular) will perform, it should be slower, we just don't know by how much. And to be honest, who knows when it will be available.

If you need a card today and your budget is $100. Try to see if you can still get the Ti4200 from CompuUSa for $99. IF not, you next best bet is either Radeon 8500, 9100 or GForce 3. But don't buy the GF4 MX, they are terriable card for the cost.