Top spec PCI graphics card for 200MHz Pentium (ASUS P55TP4XE)

[GP]

I'm trying to extend the useful life of my 200MHz Pentium ASUS P55TP4XE with 128Mb RAM.
I was looking at installing a high spec graphics card and currently am looking at the 3dfx Voodoo3 2000 (or 3000) PCI card. Any opinions or advice would be greatly welcomed. Thanks.

[Jkayo]

Too fast a card will slow down your machine. a good card for slow machines, or so ive read, is the diamond stealth 3 S540. its about $130

[UKLee]

GP,

I think Jkayo's idea of a Stealth 3 S540 is a good idea, but another possible inexpensive solution (bearing in mind you will need 2 or 3 spare PCI slots for this) would be to go for a Voodoo 2 12MB to handle your 3D games, and have a separate card for 2D - a decent 2D card can be bought really cheaply these days (I'd recommend the STB Velocity 128), and with this method you could even have a second Voodoo2 and use SLI mode on them with your separate 2D card, because Voodoo 2 cards are pretty cheap compared to what they used to cost.

Bear in mind that with your CPU, using V2s is probably the best performance conscious option - as Jkayo said, you won't get the best out of a card like a Voodoo 3 3000.

[This message has been edited by UKLee (edited 01-18-2000).]

[GP]

The Stealth 3 S540 gets totally burnt on Epinions.com due to driver problems and lack of support so I think I'll give it a miss. I'm still thinking of the 3dfx Voodoo3 2000 PCI but am wondering if the system will get bogged down.

[Eli]

I don't think it's that the system will get bogged down (Accelerators are designed to take pressure off of the processor, remember?), but in an older system a newer card won't even come close to it's full potential. If you have a good 2D card I'd recommend a single Voodoo 2, or maybe even a pair in SLI. If you just have a lousy little 2D card (Like a one or two meg card), I'd go for the V3 2000 PCI. Plus you could transfer it to a new system down the road.

[seti]

Slow systems hold fast cards down....they are just waiting for the cpu to complete it's part of the job. A fast card won't bog you system at all.

Some cards handle slow cpu's better than others....from what I remember I belive 3dfx cards do it better than most.

I'd take Eli's suggestions.

[oblivion]

voodoo3 3000
tnt2 pci
those are the fastest pci video cards
and the voodoo is less CPU dependant then the tnt2 ( a good thing for a 200mhz machine)

[GP]

Thanks for your replies. I'm taking a punt on the 3dfx Voodoo3 2000 PCI as a compromise on price vs speed etc. Hopefully it will keep me ticking over until we see the ASUS 820 chipset motherboards out here at a reasonable price (Australia). Cheers for now!

[Toro 45]

Gp, I think you made a good choice on the V3 2000, I'm using 2 of them now in my computers. The minimum system requirements show a 90mhz.CPU. Although I would'nt put one in a 90mhz system I've been wondering how well how well it would work in computer around 200mhz. Please post & let us know how you like it http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
Toro

[Wilan Wong]

If you have a decent 2D card (no less than 4mb) then I would certainly go for the Voodoo2 for the price and perfromance. If you have a weak 2d card (1mb or 2mb), then I would have to say go for a Voodoo3 2000 PCI or AGP. I don't recommend that you don't go and buy the top spec cards like Voodoo3 3000 or TNT2, just a complete waste of money.