Which Card ?

[uncle_jimbo]

Which card should I buy ?

[uncle_jimbo]

Oh yes and the GF3 I found was bulk, do you recommend buying bulk products ?

[BipolarBill]

Whenever possible!

[uncle_jimbo]

Isnt the original GeForce3 faster than the Ti200 ?

[BipolarBill]

Not sure. I think that one has DDR and one doesn't. I thought that the Ti used DDR.

[uncle_jimbo]

The original used DDR and is clocked at 200/460, while the Ti200 is clocked 175/400.

3DMark 2001 :

http://www.hardocp.com/images/articles/1011117131BhNGohiL7V_2_1.gif




-- uncle_jimbo

[BipolarBill]

OMG! What a pig that GF3 Ti200 is! Here...let me dispose of that for you. :rolleyes:

[uncle_jimbo]

Ive narrowed it down to the Visiontek GeForce3 (original) and the Ti 200.

[namrak]

Well, since you've narrowed it down to either a GeForce3 classic or a GeForce3 Ti200, its just a coin toss now. You didn't mention anything about the onboard RAM...whether the Ti200 has 128MB or 64MB. That would play a role for me if faced with that scenario. Keep in mind however, if you plan on overclocking your cards, you'll probably end up in the same vicinity of each other.

Peep this...
Elsa GeForce3 is oc'ed to 235/530
Leadtek GeForce3 Ti200 oc'ed to 230/530

My two GF3 cards are pretty comparable. Its a pick'em unless one of the cards has more memory, than I'm likely to go with that one. Otherwise they look pretty much the same to me.

[Jimstep]

On pricewatch (http://www.pricewatch.com), the GeForce3 is $117 and the Ti200 is $94. Since they are relatively close in performance, go with the lower priced card. Either one is a great deal.

[Beeblequix]

Not sure. I think that one has DDR and one doesn't. I thought that the Ti used DDR.
Actually, BipolarBill, they both use DDR (as you probably already gathered).

To be perfectly honest uncle_jimbo, my ti200 doesn't impress me all that much. What I mean by that is that it struggles when enabling antialiasing. And being spoiled rotten by technology, I've opted to sell my ti200 back to my sys integrator and upgrade to a Ti4200 when they get them next week. Some games, like Jedi Knight 2, are exactly what they say--the best reason to own a Geforce 4. Of course, getting a G4xx might be out of reach. These guys have already given sound advice regarding these 3 cards.
B.Quix

[andrercr]

uncle_jimbo, go with Visiontek. I hear this card comes with onboard hardware dvd decoder.

[andrercr]

don't buy the original g3, the ti for some reason is faster. every bench i see on ti i see better benchmark score results than my original g3.

[NDD]

don't buy the original g3, the ti for some reason is faster. every bench i see on ti i see better benchmark score results than my original g3.
That's not true.
Faster clocked card will always be faster. On what basis can you make this statement, andrercr ?! :confused: :mad:

GeForce3 - 200/460
GeForce3 Ti200 - 175/400

Do the Math.

[BipolarBill]

Uh-oh...now you done it! The grinner is steamed. I'm outa here! :eek:

[uncle_jimbo]

GeForce3 (original) - $98
GeForce3 Ti200 - $81

[snowfall]

GeForce3 (original) - $98 GeForce3 Ti200 - $81

the ti for sure
spend the $17 on a good meal:r

[uncle_jimbo]

im leaning towards the original geforce3

[andrercr]

you may be right nd, it's just almost every benchmark i see the ti is faster.

[andrercr]

i have a g3 and my best score is 6215 i see people with less powerful computer than me with the ti getting better results...

[RamonGTP]

Actually most of the benchmarks i've seen have the original GF3 outpacing the Ti200 by a few points... The Ti500 is another matter.

-Ramon

[BipolarBill]

I've said it before - the difference is not worth fighting over. If price is important, the Ti makes sense.

[namrak]

The difference is neglible like Bill mentioned. Most of the benchmarks I've seen as well have the Ti500 ahead of the classic GF3 and then the Ti200 coming in third. Seems to me that this is what the folks over at Nvidia had in mind for their video cards, but seeing as how I don't work for them...

Clock for clock at stock speeds, GF3 is faster than Ti200. When you take into account overclocking, they'll all end up in the same vicinity of each other so with that in mind, the Ti200 (being cheaper) would like the better value for the performance since the percent increase over stock speeds would look much better than the classic.

As ND already mentioned before...
Stock
GeForce3 - 200/460
GeForce3 Ti200 - 175/400

My cards
Elsa GF3 - 235/530 (w/ Crystal Orb, RAM sinks)
Leadtek GF3 Ti200 - 230/530 (w/ stock fan, RAM sinks)
*Your final oc speeds may vary

When you calculate the percentages of overclocking (in my case), the Ti200 is the better value. Let it be known I paid full price for GF3 ($360) and only $220 for Ti200. This is kind of depressing when the prices have dropped so far now. :rolleyes:

[uncle_jimbo]

Im also now thinking about buying a 3d Prophet III Ti200 (Hercules), anyone own this card ?

[BipolarBill]

Basically, a Ti200 is a Ti200. Hercules (Guillemot) makes excellent stuff. You're gonna end up with nVidia Detonator drivers anyway, right?

[uncle_jimbo]

Also Im considering an original 64mb Radeon 8500.

[grimfandango]

RADEON 8500 for 99$.
Its better than the Gf3,GF3ti200.

[Kruzin]

Geforce cards are the best
FOR ME TO POOP ON!

Matrox Parhelia above all others!

"Faster clocked card will always be faster."
Sorry, ND I can't buy into that one. While a Geforce may have higher clock speeds, and will even beat Parhelia in low res, low detail FPS counts in Q3 and 3dmark benches, if you turn up the details, resolution, and turn on AA (esp. in more advanced games like morrowind), the lower clocked parhelia, with it's 512bit GPU and 256bit DDR will trounce any nVidia's 256bit GPU and 128bit DDR.

[BipolarBill]

Oh yeah!? Poopety poop to you too!



:p

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Originally posted by ND

That's not true.
Faster clocked card will always be faster. On what basis can you make this statement, andrercr ?! :confused: :mad:

GeForce3 - 200/460
GeForce3 Ti200 - 175/400

Do the Math.

He's right! I have the original G3 made by VisionTek. It rocks compared to the Ti200. AND it can hit Ti500 speeds if your O'clocking for less cash. The Ti200 has to be O'clocked to hit the Originals speed. I've beeten all tests with similar setups on 3dmark 2001 se with the one dif. being they had the G3ti200(mine nor theres O'clocked). Thats whats great about these compilations of scores, you know when someones full of it-right ND!;)
Get the G3 original,its a no brainer!

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Originally posted by andrercr
i have a g3 and my best score is 6215 i see people with less powerful computer than me with the ti getting better results...
I get up to 6500 it depends on the drivers your useing!;)

[NDD]

Sorry, ND I can't buy into that one.
I was talking about those two GeForce3 cards (the original and the Ti200) only, Kruzin dude :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Kruzin]

Well, that's not how it sounded with the way you worded it :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[NDD]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
don't buy the original g3, the ti for some reason is faster. every bench i see on ti i see better benchmark score results than my original g3.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


That's not true.
Faster clocked card will always be faster. On what basis can you make this statement

I quoted the part where he compares the two GeForce3 cards. Referred to that same part. Worded just fine IMHO :rolleyes: ;)

[uncle_jimbo]

I thint Ive narrowed it down a bit more, I will either get the Hercules 3D Prophet FDX 8500LE (even though I said I would not get it earlier, Im considering it again) or the ATi Radeon 8500, I heard the Hercules 3D Prophet FDX 8500LE is selective of what drivers you use, is this true ?

[MoxManiac]

I would choose the ATI Radeon 8500.

[cheapster]

Interesting thread, UJ and others. I was wrestling with the same dilemma, Radeon 8500LE vs. Geforce 3 vs. Geforce 3 Ti 200. My son and I had our sights set on a Geforce 4 4200 Ti, but I succumbed to the $95 plus shipping Visiontek Geforce 3 from sybercom.com. I briefly considered the Geforce 3 Ti 200 from the same site for $81, but elected to go with the original Geforce 3 due to its' higher core and memory clock and greater memory bandwidth. I still haven't got the guts to try a Radeon 8500LE due to the continuing threads regarding driver problems. I hope they are sorted out now, and some claim they are, but I just don't have the courage to try one to find out. (And if I did buy one only to find out the "naysayers" were right, I would be seriously bummed :( ) Maybe if the price drops to $75 or so I would be willing to gamble. I have had good luck so far with all the Geforce 2 GTS and MX cards I have used, so will probably continue to follow the Nvidia upgrade path. Am expecting my new Visiontek Geforce 3 to arrive sometime next week. Will let you know how it works, Uncle Jimbo.
Chuck

[uncle_jimbo]

I think I will either buy an 8500 clocked at 230/230 ($99) or an 8500 clocked at 275/275 ($116)

[cheapster]

I think I will either buy an 8500 clocked at 230/230 ($99) or an 8500 clocked at 275/275 ($116)

Good Luck, Uncle Jimbo, let us know which one you get and how it works out. May be tempted yet to try a Radeon 8500 of some flavor. In the meantime, looking forward to our new Geforce 3 and the latest Detonator drivers. :D