HOW often do you buy new video cards+more about vid cards...

How often do you buy new video cards?
Also what video card do you have right now?
Also what program do you use to overclock video cards?

I have a Geforce 4 mx440 now and it dosent seem that bad. I read this review that the geforce 4 mx440 is only 10% slower than the G4 Ti4200 if the resolution is kept at a steady 1024x768 (resolution) in most games right now like UT2003. This isnt bad seeing that the Geforce 4 mx440 is much cheaper than the ti4200.

I also notice that the 16-bit is not any different to 32-bit but that 32-bit makes my computer run slower. oOo:

Give any suggestions about video cards here. What difference is between 64mb and 128mb in video cards. Which date would you advise me to change video cards, like getting the geforce 4ti4600. When will it be cheapest but also the best enough?

Thx.

geRV · 10-22-2002, 04:46 AM

Last vid card i bought was almost a year ago, the radeon 8500 and its still going strong. You buy video cards as you need them, if games run well on settings you use on your current card theres no real need to upgrade as fast as possible.

Theres a load of overclocking programs for gfx cards, powerstrip is one of them.

Theres some difference between 64,b and 128mb cards. The memory on your graphcs cards is all for texture handling. any given texture in a game has a fileseize and the size of this file is the amount of memory it take sfrom the graphics card to process it, for example a 1meg tecture in a game will take up 1 meg of memory on your graphics card. 64mb of ram is really the minimum these days, 128mb of ram allows for higher res textures since the card has more memory to process them.

Games like doom 3 will require 80mb of textures in any given scene on high detail so if you have a 64mb graphics card then its not gonna look as good and will most likely chug your system with hard disk accesing to use space for the textures. The "nv-30" is supposed to be out before christmas, if thats the case then the ti-4600 cards will drop in price and you can pick up one for cheap.

As for 16\32 bit there is a difference 32 bit colours are better defined than 16 bit, play something like moh:aa in 16 bit then switch to 32 and you will see the difference.

SoLiDUS · 10-22-2002, 05:01 AM

I buy new hardware when the power demand exceeds my acceptable output
rate. Presently, my Geforce2 GTS 32meg SDR video card more than handles
the games we have out at the moment, at a 1024x768 resolution on mid to
high quality. When the video card can't handle the games at those specific
settings anymore, I'll consider buying the best new card I can find in stores.

Of course, we could already have the best hardware but the industry seems
to be making an incredible amount of money by way of perpetual upgrades
so I guess I'm stuck without super-duper-mega-awesome-virtual-reality-3d
games ...

cry:

10-22-2002, 11:26 AM

I got my new video card, because I thought the old one just wasn't working right. Turns out it was just XP that was fucking up on me, so I probably need to redownload a copy of it.

Anyway, I'm not taking the card back even though I really dont NEED it, the performance of the card has got me to actually keep the thing or get another one online at the same price. Games just look ALOT better when you've got the settings turned up, and I actually have enjoyed BATTLEFIELD alot more now that the game doesn't lag on me, and I can get the full experience. Same with medal of honor.

P.S. - For those saying BATTLE looks "old school" - I'd suggest you take some look at pics from those with good graphics cards, and you'll see that's not the case. And theres nothing funnier than seeing a Nazis face move, it looks like he has to sneeze.

Anywho, I think teh decision to buy really comes down to personal tastes. The MX cards can work like a dog and satisfy someones desire to play the current crop of games at low settings - but there are those out there who just NEED to have that sharper image quality, and will then invest in a more powerful graphics card. If you can afford it, or if you can find it for a REALLY good price online (there are SEVERAL so-called "generic" brand of vid cards liscnesed through nVidia, that have received VERY high marks for their performance. For 100 less than "retail", I'll take that one thank you very much.

10-22-2002, 12:19 PM

ed have you checked your power supply. one time my comp would freeze up a lot but only in games. and i couldn't figure it out i tried different video cards. and it still did it i though it could be my mother board so i brought it in and had it benched marked and it passed. so i was told that a video card need a certain voltage to work right or they will freeze comp. turns out when a load was put on my video card it drew to many volts for my power supply because it was old. got a new 430 watt power and never a lock up again just a thought. i have xp and no problems. with the nvida detonator drivers.

[]PanZeR · 10-22-2002, 02:35 PM

haven't bought one yet happy:

newbieassulted · 10-22-2002, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerard

Last vid card i bought was almost a year ago, the radeon 8500 and its still going strong. You buy video cards as you need them, if games run well on settings you use on your current card theres no real need to upgrade as fast as possible.

Theres a load of overclocking programs for gfx cards, powerstrip is one of them.

Theres some difference between 64,b and 128mb cards. The memory on your graphcs cards is all for texture handling. any given texture in a game has a fileseize and the size of this file is the amount of memory it take sfrom the graphics card to process it, for example a 1meg tecture in a game will take up 1 meg of memory on your graphics card. 64mb of ram is really the minimum these days, 128mb of ram allows for higher res textures since the card has more memory to process them.

Games like doom 3 will require 80mb of textures in any given scene on high detail so if you have a 64mb graphics card then its not gonna look as good and will most likely chug your system with hard disk accesing to use space for the textures. The "nv-30" is supposed to be out before christmas, if thats the case then the ti-4600 cards will drop in price and you can pick up one for cheap.

As for 16\32 bit there is a difference 32 bit colours are better defined than 16 bit, play something like moh:aa in 16 bit then switch to 32 and you will see the difference.

im not a uber geek but i THINK i understand that...

geRV · 10-22-2002, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbieassulted

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerard

Last vid card i bought was almost a year ago, the radeon 8500 and its still going strong. You buy video cards as you need them, if games run well on settings you use on your current card theres no real need to upgrade as fast as possible.

Theres a load of overclocking programs for gfx cards, powerstrip is one of them.

Theres some difference between 64,b and 128mb cards. The memory on your graphcs cards is all for texture handling. any given texture in a game has a fileseize and the size of this file is the amount of memory it take sfrom the graphics card to process it, for example a 1meg tecture in a game will take up 1 meg of memory on your graphics card. 64mb of ram is really the minimum these days, 128mb of ram allows for higher res textures since the card has more memory to process them.

Games like doom 3 will require 80mb of textures in any given scene on high detail so if you have a 64mb graphics card then its not gonna look as good and will most likely chug your system with hard disk accesing to use space for the textures. The "nv-30" is supposed to be out before christmas, if thats the case then the ti-4600 cards will drop in price and you can pick up one for cheap.

As for 16\32 bit there is a difference 32 bit colours are better defined than 16 bit, play something like moh:aa in 16 bit then switch to 32 and you will see the difference.

im not a uber geek but i THINK i understand that...

biggrin:

Milla · 10-22-2002, 03:35 PM

I hated the GF4 MX400 i had it, it was THE biggest piece of crap out there. My GF3 TI500 dominated that MX440 hake:

10-22-2002, 03:40 PM

i have used my geforce 2mx400 for about 2 years now. im planning on buying the geforce4 ti 4400, they're becoming cheaper

intrestedviewer · 10-22-2002, 04:02 PM

i have a geforce 3 ti 200, most games run smoth on max but some lag a bit. Ill probably buy a new card once nvidia starts selling its nv30

10-23-2002, 02:01 AM

I'll replace my Geforce 4 mx440 if a games starts to lag like a bitch. Like Doom even at medium settings. But I'm not sure casue my video card is like only 3 monts old. I'll get it after July most probably.

10-23-2002, 02:04 AM

Damn, video cards are like the most annoying, expensive thing ever. I will have to wait like 6 months to earn enough money to get the Geforce 4 ti4600. By then it will be obselete due to a faster Geforce 5491841.... or wutever.

absolute · 10-23-2002, 09:24 AM

How often do you buy new video cards?
As soon as they start becoming obsolete (around every second or third generation)
Also what video card do you have right now?
128MB Visiontech GeForce4 Ti4600
Also what program do you use to overclock video cards?
Powerstrip

I went from a 64MB GeForce2 Pro to a 128MB ti4600 5-6 months ago and WOW! The difference was immediate. I could turn up all the detail settings in mohaa to max and I had 4x antialiasing on and my framerates were still around 100. (antialiasing really reduces performance but it makes a huge difference IMO)

but -sighs- I reformatted my main harddrive and now my graphics card won't work. I asked around on an overclocking forum i go to and the same thing happened to a few people. They had to get better PSU's... the ti4600 needs a 350w to run. Mine is -ashamed- only 300

so until then i'm stuck with my nicely overclocked geforce 2 pro.

oh yes, for those who haven't attempted to overclock their cards. It does make a noticeable difference on lower end cards geforce 440mx and down. I do recommend trying it but first be sure to replace the stock fan. I have a crystal orb on my geforce 2. ..and i wanna get one of these for my ti4600
http://www.thermaltake.com/products/chi ... oolmod.htm
nice nice nice..would match the neon light tube in my case

10-23-2002, 01:11 PM

I went from a GeForce2 MX, the budget card for Ghetto-Gamers, to the GeForce4 4200 from LeadTEK and yes the differnce IS immediate. VERY immediate. A game like BATTLEFIELD, looks absolutely AMAZING with the detail all the way up. I'd suggest grabbing a plane, flying around, and taking snapshots to see how gorgeous this thing is. It really is impressive.

So, it is true, that a video card will totally enhance someones enjoyment of a game, and I would suggest to anyone who has the funds, or who can get the funds to set aside maybe 20 bucks each week or so, and get on Pricewatch.com and grab a GeForce4 Ti for 150 bucks or so. You wont regret it.