radeon9200 or gforce4 --for me

Strap · Post by **Strap** » Sat Aug 09, 2003 7:44 pm

they both cost about the same... so since i need to ditch my trusty old 16mb card for something more... up to date, which is better?
i searched extensively... but i couldn't find anything that compared the 2 against eachother.

(or if there is another graphics card that is better than both of these for around the same price, please suggest it)

thanks

Raymondo · Post by **Raymondo** » Sat Aug 09, 2003 7:49 pm

I'm not sure but I'd say Gforce 4.

Smiley · Post by **Smiley** » Sat Aug 09, 2003 8:18 pm

Erm... GF4 probably.. depends on which version. Otherwise, go for 9500... shouldn't be so damn expensive now...

Spazmo · Post by **Spazmo** » Sat Aug 09, 2003 8:26 pm

The 9500 is better than a GF4, so if it's only a little more expensive, tough it out a bit and wait until you can afford that.

Otherwise, the GF4 is a fine piece of hardware.

Strap · Post by **Strap** » Sat Aug 09, 2003 8:53 pm

by saying that the 9500 is better than the gf4, how is it better? and... does that "betterness" make a difference?

(also, are there any anoying technical issues with either of them? ie, drivers or whatnot)

Smiley · Post by **Smiley** » Sat Aug 09, 2003 10:58 pm

Drivers have seriously improved on ATI's side, and not just from then to now, I mean everytime they release new catalyst drivers, you can feel the difference!...

I have a heat issue on mine though, but I'm about to fix it with a bit of tweaking.

Better = Framerate... that's what it's all about.
Effects and so on aren't all that important, unless you crave small details that suck the power out of your computer. Like I do.

Go to toms hardware guide and check their benchmarks... you'll see the basic differences in framerates and so on.

Ernesto · Post by **Ernesto** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 12:32 am

Framerate is essential. Listen to Smiley.

Strap · Post by **Strap** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 4:24 pm

owch... the 9500 is like twice as much as the gf4... i'm going with the cheaper one.

Killa-Killa · Post by **Killa-Killa** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 4:37 pm

HALT!
First things first! Before you blow 150$ on a video card check these things first:
AGP speed (on motherboard): 1x,2x, or 4x? Dont get one higher than yours, it's a waste of $$$.
Voltage:(cant remember the diferent ones, but I think 1.5 is standard?)
Chokepoint: Where on my maching is it? ie: if you have about an 800mhz CPU, you don't need more than a Gforce 2 Ultra.
Also: what are you lookin' to spend? at 130$, I'd go w/ the 9600 Pro for 8x AGP; I find it to work great on my secondary machine.
EDIT: What GF4 are you talking about? The MX's blow from what I've heard, go with atleast a decent Ti.

Strap · Post by **Strap** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 5:15 pm

what if i have a crappy motherboard, and i am eventually going to upgrade it.
should i buy this? (it's only 85$ btw)
even if i am going to "waste" its abilities until i get a new motherboard?

Mad Max RW · Post by **Mad Max RW** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 5:21 pm

If your current motherboard is kinda old you're gonna have to get a new one for those cards.

Strap · Post by **Strap** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 5:53 pm

bah... new mother board means new cpu and those things arent cheap.

Spazmo · Post by **Spazmo** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 6:41 pm

Strapon2 wrote:bah... new mother board means new cpu and those things arent cheap.

If you're not willing to upgrade, then don't.

Killa-Killa · Post by **Killa-Killa** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:03 pm

What mobo/CPU do you have? IE: model, like (MFR)ECS/VIA (Model)P4VXMS. You would be amazed how cheap a decent mobo+CPU is.

Smiley · Post by **Smiley** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:03 pm

Well that was a positive though spaz, when one's looking for a damn graphics card, he doesn't exactly expect to spend a load on new MB and CPU as well!...

Spazmo · Post by **Spazmo** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:08 pm

Well he actually might. If his mobo and CPU are old enough, their either can't support a newer video card or will really cripple it.

Killa-Killa · Post by **Killa-Killa** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:09 pm

That depends. If he's got an old 800Mhz PIII then he just might. Getting a GF4 for that POS CPU wont doesnt make sense, 'cause hes only got AGP1x.

Strap · Post by **Strap** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:20 pm

mother board=
"soyo" SY-6VBA 133
pentium III, pentium II & celeron processors. Via Apollo Pro133 AGP/PCI motherboard. 66/100/133 MHz Front Side Bus supported. ATX Form Factor.
(if that stuff matters.)
it's a p3 450. (very old :x )
1x32-bit agp slot.

yea... i can't find anything about 4x or whatnot.

Killa-Killa · Post by **Killa-Killa** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:31 pm

So you have an AGP 1x slot. I'd go with a GF 2 at most, more is probobly a waste of money.

ExtremeDrinker · Post by **ExtremeDrinker** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 8:25 pm

I read a bunch of benchmarks on various sites over the 9500 and the Gf4..The general concensus around is that Gf4 is shit.....There are benchmark tests run with the state of the art Gf4 and an older Gf3 Ti series, and the Ti blows it out of the water...

I've got a Gf3 Ti500...I'm happy with it...Lots of good driver updates almost monthly...

I have been shopping around, though, and I've gotta say, I'm very impressed with the Radeon..I had one years ago, and it was beautiful...That was before my computer caught fire (unseated RAM)...

Get the ATi....Best card out there...Even the lower end models are still top notch.