Hi all,

I am currently running a GF4MX440. I am somewhat happy with it when playing UT (50-75PFS), but UT2K3 is a little bit lusggish (about 40 FPS).

Dual monitor is a must, and it can not be too expensive

I thought of getting a TI4200. Any thoughts?

N6

PS: is ATI vs. nVidia like Chevy vs. Ford ?

I'm using an NVIDIA GeForce 3 (the original, with 64 MB DDR; it's between the TI 200 and the TI 500 in performance). it runs UT2003 fine (better than a GeForce 4 MX), and it's in the same class as an ATI Radeon 8500LE / 8500. I'm not sure if dual display is supported on the GeForce 3. what's your price range? a GeForce 4 TI 4200 should be fine (it does dual display and is better than a GF3). looks like a GF4TI4200 is about $100 to $140. do you have any OS requirements (most Radeon 8500s don't do NT4)?

- clemmentine

Thanks for the info. Yes, up to $150 is the right range. I am using Win2K.

N6

That is a difficult question. The dual monitor support is the kicker. If it were me, I would get the least expensive DX-9 card out there. That way, you know that you are good for a few years. I have checked out the Radeons for dual monitor support, and the least expensive is around $200 (US) at Best Buy. Consider the Geforce FX 5200. It is $119 at best buy, and is DX-9 compatible. I do not know about the dual monitor though. I will research and edit.

*EDIT*
PNY GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR PCI Graphics Card
Model: VCGFX52PPB

See the incredible difference that high-quality graphics can make — especially when driven by the nVidia GeForce FX GPU with CineFX engine and 128MB DDR memory. Includes S-video output.

$119.99
PRODUCT FEATURES
128MB DDR memory

nVidia GeForce FX GPU delivers high-resolution graphics at amazing speed

CineFX engine for cinematic effects and true-to-life color

Full 128-bit studio-precision color for realistic image rendering

Architectured for Cg for cutting-edge special effects

Ultrafast anti-aliasing performance with adaptive texture filtering

Digital Vibrance Control 3.0 to digitally adjust color controls and compensate for various lighting conditions

2048 x 1536 maximum resolution (flat-panel support up to 1600 x 1200); nVidia nView multidisplay technology

Optimization and support for DirectX 9.0 and OpenGL 1.4; Vertex Shader 2.0+ and Pixel Shader 2.0+ for DX 9.0

Dual 350MHz RAMDACs

Integrated TV encoder with display functionality up to 1024 x 768 resolution

DVD and HDTV-ready MPEG-2 decoding up to 1920 x 1080i, for full-screen, full-frame-rate video; dual VGA and S-video outputs

This sounds pretty good.
Though it is out of the price range you specified, I can not praise the Ati Radeon 9700 Pro enough. I love mine! I have heard no bad words from anyone else who has one either.

Yea...that 5200 is a solid card... I just wanted more ooomph !! or I would 've kept it instead of taking it back, not too sure about two monitor cababilities though....
Good luck!! Tri :D

Wow, sounds like a bargain. I see they list a dual RAMDAC. Looks like they can do two monitors.

Now I have to compare the GeForce FX 5200 with the TI-4200 and see is I can justify the extra $40.

Hmmm, is the TI4200 DX 9 ?

N6

Thanks for the info. So, you returned it and kept your old card?

N6

I'd go with the TI 4200.

just checked www.pricewatch.com and www.anandtech.com, looks like the GeForce 4 TI 4200 is your best bet (dual display, < $150, good in UT & UT2003).

two things against the GeForce FX 5200:

1) in UT2003, it is only slightly better than a GeForce 4 MX 460 (which is just a tad faster than your MX 440) and significantly worse than a GeForce 4 TI 4200. it only gets to TI 4200 level when anti-aliasing and ansiotropic filtering are turned on. but with those turned on, your frame rate is much less than when they're off. although the GeForce 4 TI 4200 is DirectX 8 and the GeForce FX 5200 is DirectX 9, without any real DX9 games to test with, I'd question the ability of the FX 5200 in a DX9 game.

2) it's a PCI card!!! if it's not AGP, forget it!


go to www.pricewatch.com and you should find several good GF 4 TI 4200 cards in the $130s.

- clemmentine / Trinity.

Holy cow, Clem -- you are Trinity.? LMAO! I thought you were hottie!

Sneaky SOB! :lol:

I did not notice that it was a PCI card. No wonder it is cheap.

you are correct sir, I am Trinity. after I read all the feedback from you guys on the new version of the mutator I put out, I decided that I needed some privacy when I'm on the servers. I tried so hard to not show myself that my game suffered greatly (on Saturday night, I had the worst games I can remember; 2 frags on Morbias followed by 0 on Arcane Temple, and I was really trying to win). I didn't know what I was missing until the end of Malevolence where some guy I'm not familiar with won the game. that's when I realized that it's the 'got it' that I was missing. I'm so used to hitting 'got it' after I'm killed that without it, it completely throws off my timing. :lol if you had looked at my ping, you would have known that I'm not BH. she's got broadband and I'm on 56k dial-up with a 200+ ping. :D

- clemmentine / Trinity.

I have the ti 4200 w/128DDR .It's not the best but it blows away most of the rest. If you get a ti card, be sure to get the 128 because it's faster than the 64 when it comes to todays larger texture games. The 64mb card is actually faster with the older games because the ram is a little quicker. So far, the only thing i can't do with my card is use the new mad onion benchmark and I think now you can buy a Direct X 9 ti card. Good luck.

Thanks for all the great information. I think TI4200 it is.

N6

NO I got the 9800 Pro instead!!!.... :D :D :D I did read today that the Radeon 9000 is a two head Card and a real good Buy at around $120.00
or so!!! ..you might want to look into that ,even though its only direct 8x
Tri

LOLOLOLOL Mah how could I have been Trinity when slayed was playing last night Sorry I haven't been playing much just very tired by night fall

Hottie

Slayed and I have a GEFORCE 4 video card