X-box, PS2, or latest video card?

[Bill in SD, CA]

My son's 12th. birthday is coming up and I can't decide what to get. While X-box and PS2 will be cheaper initially, until the games and add-ons start , in the long run I'm leaning to the "rad" video card even though I'm running a PII 450 machine. Current card is a Voodoo 3000 which he is telling me is obsolete. Your comments are appreciated.

Thanks, Bill

[Giblet Plus!]

Buy him a new nforce motherboard and athlon xp. The nforce comes with a geforce 2 mx built in, uses ddr, and is about $80. It even has the same dolby digital sound chip as the xbox. You can get an athlon xp 1700 for less than $70, and the ddr for the motherboard would be about $40 for 256 mb. That would be better than just a new videocard, and is easy to upgrade. :)

[RamonGTP]

Well, unless you're going to upgrade the entire computer, i'd go with a PS2. Even with a new video card, your computer won't be able to play the latest/greatest games with a 450mhz processor. And believe it or not in your case, the PS2 would actually have better graphics then the PC would becuase you probably wouldn't be able to use the maximum settings in your PC games. It also depends on what types of games he's into. Nothing beats the PC for first person shooters, but for racing games consoles are unbeatable.

-Ramon

[Giblet Plus!]

PS2 has nothing on what I told Bill to get, and it's about $5 more. :p

[Bizkitkid2001]

I think getting a PS2 or XBOX would be the best two choices. If your son wants to play his songs on the console or play online you should get him an XBOX because to get everything that the XBOX has on the PS2 would cost about $400 more. But if your son is doesn't want to add his own songs or play over the net and just wants the biggest selection of games then go for the PS2.


Have you asked him what he wants?

[Joe Bronie]

I guess it would mostly depend on the type of games he plays. Like what was stated before, getting a new card with your current system wouldn't help all too much. You're better off upgrading your current system. Again, make the choice based on what type of games he enjoys and I'm sure you'll make the right choice.

[Giblet Plus!]

Joe Bronie-
I already told him to get a new system.

I said to put this stuff in his computer:
Nforce motherboard $80
Athlon XP 1700 $70
256mb ddr 2100 $40

at newegg prices :)

[gibsinep]

If I was your son and it was my 12th b-day. :D

I would want a new computer. ;)

[BadBadNeil]

I have a PII400 and with a GF 2 Pro 64MB card and 384MB ram I am able to play most current games although i am midway through piecing together a new system.

I have mafia and play it at middle settings, have played neverwinter nights, dungeon seige, icewind dale II, warcraft III, SOFII, etc.

Only games that don't work (and im sure they would if they'd let me install them) are morrowind and GTA 3 which block my computer from installing because it is below the min requirements.

Although the processor matters a lot so does how much ram and the video card you have.

The TYPES of games however really should influence the decision. If he likes anime type games and fighter games then I'd stick with consoles these games are not so prevalent in PC.

If he likes strategy, FPS games, traditional RPGs, then I'd stick with PC.

Racing is a toss up since they exist for both and wheels exist for both.

Hope this helps.

[germanNiklas]

i got good idea
i like comouter most
but some people here say x box or ps2
other say computer
so hard to decide for u
so why dont u take the GAMECUBE :D

[optic_pro1430]

I don't like the Gamecube, it's mini-dvd Discs are only 1.5gb, compared to the X-Box and PS2's discs which are 4.5GB. I'd go with the X-box or PS2 Bill.

You also get to watch DVDs! :D :D :D

Here are the advantages and disadvantages compared to PS2 and X-Box:

==========
PlayStation 2:
==========
(Advantages)
- DVD ready, no additional kit required
- Controller more easier to use
- 4.5GB Capacity DVD Discs
- Plays Audio CDs as well
- Huge range of games

(Disadvantages)
- Requires Memory Cards
- No HDTV (High Definition Television) support
- No internet capabilities (future upgrade probable)

=====
X-Box:
=====
(Advantages)
- Excellent DVD and Powerful Hardware
- Has inbuilt Hard Disk Drive
- 4 Controller Ports ready
- 4.5 Capacity DVD Discs
- Memory Cards availaible to transfer data if needed
- Plays Audio CDs as well
- Powerful HDTV Support
- Allows you to rip Cd Tracks to the Hard Disk Drive
- Inbuilt Ethernet Card
- Good Range of games

(Disadvantages)
- Requires extra DVD playback kit
- Controller large and bulky, takes time getting used to...

[optic_pro1430]

Also note that the Gamecube has no DVD CAPABILITES or Audio CD Playback CAPABILITES WHATSOEVER! :D

[Bill in SD, CA]

The game he started to complain on was Medal Of Honor. Since then all I hear is what vid cards are going for on ebay. Good input from all of you. I've got until Oct. 14th. to decide.

[gibsinep]

The thing is Bill if you were to buya new video card( and just a new video card) then it would be a huge bottleneck. As your CPU would be much to slow to use its power. So it wouldn't be running at all near its full power.

[fluffycow]

Personally, I would like computer upgrade more, but it really depends on what he likes the most. What does he use more? the computer or the console?
IVE GOT AN IDEA!!!! why not just ask him what he would like better, then you can't screw up.

If plays the computer a lot you should get a video card and system upgrade.

That p2 450 mhz is NOT going to do a new card justice, I would be surprised if the games ran much faster at all. What you really need is a video card and a system upgrade.

Maybe you could give him something smaller for his bday, so he can get some totally **** kicking computer upgrade for Xmas.

Im 14 and Ive been saving for a year and a half for my computer, but boy was it worth it!!!!!

[OpK Chowdy]

optic pro, your name is misleading.

granted gamecube uses 1.5gb mini-dvd discs, that's more then enough space for this console. All consoles have on the fly texture compression/decompression except for the ps2. But, gamecube can also compress information on the disc and there is little or no performance loss when uncompressing the data.

Anyway, Gamecube and X-Box are the best choices for consoles. I'd go with both, although i went with gamecube because of money (or lack therof) and because i live for nintendo's lineup. So just flip a coin for X-Box and Gamecube. PS2 is worthless, overpriced, has dated graphics, and the dvd playback is nothing to gloat about.

Also, on Gamecube's *lack of dvd playback*, this is a good thing in my eyes. Gamecube games are hard to pirate because of the mini disc media and other anti-pirating techniques, keeping prices of legit games low. Also, without dvd playback, the console itself is at a low enough price where Nintendo doesn't lose money for each one they sell, also keeping prices low! And who doesn't have a dvd player or dvd-rom drive anyway?

[RamonGTP]

Adding DVD playback feature to the PS2 or XBOX does not increase the cost of the console... A lot of the games are on DVD format anyway, so the ability to read and play them is already there regardless. It would just be a matter of; will they allow the firmware/OS to allow regular DVD playback??? Hardware wise, everything they need is already incorporated into the console. Before the PS2 was released, SONY was debating weather or not to have a DVD player feature in the PS2... Their delema was that they didn't want PS2 sales to have a negative effect on their DVD player sales. The cost of the system itself would have remained the same ($299) with or without that feature. This is just an FWIW, i know you were reffering to the NGC, in which case it may have increased the cost since nintendo is using a completely different disk format for their games.

-Ramon

[AllGamer]

Considering the Xbos has a GeForce 3
maybe that's a good idea

if it doesn't work out

you can turn it into a cheapo top of the line LINUX BOX!!!! :D

[gibsinep]

Linux!!! wow :rolleyes: ;)

[Giblet Plus!]

Allgamer: Do you think a 12 year old can handle the xbox linux install? It looks pretty tricky to me, and I'm 18 and I play with computers for fun. :t

I'd still recommend the system upgrades I posted earlier. They're under $200, and would give the old computer a little OMPHH. :)

[gibsinep]

Linux is not a boys friend;)

[OpK Chowdy]

the gcn does NOT use a completely different format!!! it uses dvds that are simply SMALLER IN SIZE. analgous to MINI-CD-Rs it's MINI-DVD!



yay 300th post

[Bizkitkid2001]

Yeah, I read somewhere on the gamecubes site that if DVD were on mini disc that the gamecube could read them:t

[Optimus Prime]

ok, listen to giblet's post, i think his option is probably the best one there...

[OpK Chowdy]

Originally posted by Bizkitkid2001
Yeah, I read somewhere on the gamecubes site that if DVD were on mini disc that the gamecube could read them:t

Yes. you are right, but there would have to be software on the mini dvd in order for it to play, as the gamecube doesn't have dvd decoding onboard.

[Bizkitkid2001]

Originally posted by OpK Chowdy


Yes. you are right, but there would have to be software on the mini dvd in order for it to play, as the gamecube doesn't have dvd decoding onboard.



True, but there is another problem. There are no DVD movies on mini disc:p :t

[Witch-Talon]

Tere is!!! Place DVD Disc on cutting board and chop it into mini DVD size with a butcher knife! Simple!:D

Originally posted by Bizkitkid2001




True, but there is another problem. There are no DVD movies on mini disc:p :t

[Bizkitkid2001]

Originally posted by Witch-Talon
Tere is!!! Place DVD Disc on cutting board and chop it into mini DVD size with a butcher knife! Simple!:D




If your talented enough you could only chop off the opening and ending credits:D

[Witch-Talon]

Done thatl. It worked! :) I would take a picture of the dvd but dont have digital camera with me at the moment. Even the opening and ending credit are gone.

Originally posted by Bizkitkid2001



If your talented enough you could only chop off the opening and ending credits:D

[Rocketmech]

Getting back on track..

If its MOHAA , you have the minimum cpu but not the vid card and for decent game play you need the recommended system:
" -700 MHz or faster Pentium III or AMD Athlon processor
-32 MB DirectX 8.0 compatible video card with OpenGL support"
You could get by cheap with a GF2 w/32mb for now but he may get frustrated with online gaming, which is what makes the game "rad" ;) . Next thing he'll want to do is play BF1942, for sure.
Its time to plan at a system upgrade.
The Xbox or PS2 , are great , but lack online gameing for now. Games can be rented for those games you can beat or tire of. But the sports are great to buy to play against friends and you never tire of these.
For my son , who's lucky to have both a good pc and the Xbox, I find he plays both equally and happllly , though lately its been MOHAA and BF1942 . I kind of like MOHAA myself.:p