what graphics card should I get?

[terminalterror]

I have a PIII 700 and 256MB RAM and a TNT2

I am intending to get a new graphics card

I am torn between a Radeon 8500 and an OEM GeForce3 Ti200, or should I wait for Nvidia and ATI's new line up of cards?

What will the GeForce 4MXs be like (the normal GeForce 4s will be out of my price range)

I live in the UK as well, so I have to pay more for my stuff. If I import a card from america, after I have paid shipping and tax (17.5%) on it, it works out about the same price.

 

[Vegito]

the 4mx is running around 135.. seen a few pre-order, might not be real though..

i would wait another few weeks since they drop the price of existing model fast when new model are announced..

 

[terminalterror]

Could somebody tell me about the Geforce4 MX?

Is it a slower version of the Geforce4 or is it a different chipset?

How does it shape up to my current choices (8500/Ti200)?

 

[terminalterror]

could anyone answer my questions about a GeForce 4MX?

the answers can be educated guesses (but please state if they are, dont want to confuse them with reality hehe)

 

[Ryan]

How about a major system upgrade - including video, CPU, and mobo? if you get a state of the art GPU, it'll be crippled by your cpu.

 

[terminalterror]

As much as I would love to do that, one word.......

MONEY

I am just a 16 year old kid, I can only afford to get a new graphics card, but I want a reasonably decent one so I can upgrade just the mobo etc. later and keep the graphics card.

 

[JustinSampson]

I'm extreamly happy with my new Radeon 8500 OEM. Sure the OEM is slightly slower, but I saved myself a hundred bucks and I can simply overclock it a little to get it to retial specs if it bothers me that much.

 

[Ryan]

start saving money! I used to save my lunch money when I was 15 and I bought computer parts. Just save for like 3 months. Trust me, You'll be much happier in the end

 

[OutHouse]

computer gaming did a comarison of the gforce 2Ti, gforceti 200, gforceti 500, radeon 7500, radeon 8500 and gforce3.

the winner was the gforce3ti 500, with the radeon 8500 second but very very close.

 

[OutHouse]

I'm extreamly happy with my new Radeon 8500 OEM. Sure the OEM is slightly slower, but I saved myself a hundred bucks and I can simply overclock it a little to get it to retial specs if it bothers me that much.


Why is the OEM slower than the retail card?

 

[Wallydraigle]

Just get the Radeon. You know you want to.

 

[Mike99C5]

I had a similiar setup as yours...800MHz PIII, 256MB, TNT2. I bought a Gainward GF3 Ti200 Golden Sample from www.newegg.com and couldn't be happier. The results were amazing. The Gainward is an overclocking powerhouse and comes with 3.8ns RAM although the box says 4.0ns. Take the heat sinks off and you'll find 3.8ns in there. The stock Ti200's run at 175core/400mem and the Golden Samples are clocked to 200core/450mem out of the box. Using NVmax I'm currently running at 235core/535mem with zero artifacts. There are others running the Gainward at 250core/560mem with no problems although I didn't want to go that high just to be safe. I think newegg has them for $160 or so shipped. You can't go wrong. I can now run the most graphic intense games (RTWC, Ghost Recon, etc.) with 32 bit textures and all the details MAXED out with great frame rates. I could only image how good this thing would run with an AMD1800 or 1900+ chip.

 

[BD231]

Just an FYI, you shouldent pair old systems with brand new state of the art Video Cards, I wouldent recomend anything above a GF2 Ultra.

 

[MrTux]

<< Just get the Radeon. You know you want to. >>



Yep. I got the crippled Radeon 8500 from newegg, but then I flashed the bios to retail speeds. It's one kick=ar$e card and the visuals are awesome.

 

[microAmp]

<< How about a major system upgrade - including video, CPU, and mobo? if you get a state of the art GPU, it'll be crippled by your cpu. >>



Agreed...

 

[terminalterror]

<<

<< How about a major system upgrade - including video, CPU, and mobo? if you get a state of the art GPU, it'll be crippled by your cpu. >>



Agreed... >>



I have already said this, but I can only afford to upgrade my graphics card at the moment, but intend to up my mobo + processor etc. a bit later. I am wanting a reasonably cutting edge (I don't want anything more than a Ti500, as in not a GeForce4) so I wont have to upgrade my graphics card twice

 

[SnoopyDog]

I know exately what you mean. I am in the same situation (not by being 16 years old) system wise.

I am going for the ATI 8500 or DV as soon as it comes down in price.

Good luck to you.

PS my Danish is better.

SnoopyDog

 

[JustinSampson]

<< Why is the OEM slower than the retail card? >>



Ask ATI! I don't know why, but the OEM runs at 250 (500) and the Retial runs at 275 (550). But overclocking the OEM to retail speeds and beyond is a piece of cake if you really want to.

 

[AA0]

Get the Ti200 or the 8500 OEM, both are around the same price, and both are faster than you need.

The GF4 MX isn't worth waiting for, in my opinion.

 

[Bovinicus]

I think you should wait until the GeForce4 comes out. When it does, buy a GeForce3 Ti200. The Ti200 price should drop significantly. This will happen within the next month and save you some money. If the 8500 drops in price at about the same rate to compete, go with that card. With it's new drivers it performs about the same as the Ti500 for a lot less.

 

[Innoka]

GF3 eats its way through system bandwidth a CPU speed. A GF2 is more appropriate to that slower SDR system. Don't count on the Ti200 dropping much at all, DDR prices have rocketed and graphics card makers are not enjoying it eating their profit margin. They'll probably constrict supply to push prices up.