What Video Card for my System

[Fonzie1984]

Hi everyone this is my first post and I wanted to see if I could get some advice as to what video card would be best for my new system.

I am building a system with the ECS K7S5A mobo and a 1.2 GHZ T-Bird. I also have 128 mb of 266mhz DDR Ram. I am looking for a good video card, preferably with a tv-out, in order to perform well in games and dvd playback. I would like to keep the price under $100. So far, I like the Geforce 2 lineup. Any advice on this would be appreciated.

Jim

I have just found a Geforce 2 GTS PRO 32mb DDR with a Tv-out (Retail) for $98 shipped. This is the "House Brand" at Pricewatch.com. Should I go with this card even though it is a generic brand or should I get something different?

[NDD]

Generally, even "noname" GeForce2 Pro cards equiped with 5ns memory which works @200MHz recommended speed, so I wouldn't worry too much. But you might check this out, "noname" brands of many MX cards equiped with "factory overclocked" memory, 7ns memory which works @166MHz instead of 143MHz default, for example.

Best Regards ...

[Fonzie1984]

Thanks for the reply ND. Also, do you know how great the difference is between such cards' performance between say the mx400 and the gts pro.

[Potlicker]

Fonzie, Most of the Gforce boards are just copies of Nvidia reference boards, They all pretty much run the same. Check the warranty and if it don't work out send it back.

[cheapster]

Fonzie, I would suggest you consider picking up your Geforce 2 Pro (or GTS, if you are budget minded from newegg (newegg.com) ) instead of some "no-name" pricewatch etailer. IF you do happen to have any problems with your new card, newegg will be responsive and take care of you. Not all etailers share neweggs solid reputation. I ordered my MSI Geforce 2 GTS from them and was very pleased with the retail card complete with drivers and full version Win DVD software and TV out cable. If you do elect to "roll the dice", please be sure to check out your chosen vendor on resellerratings (resellerratings.com) before you order. Good Luck, Chuck
PS I highly recommend going with at least a GTS over any of the MX cards. You won't regret it. The small difference in cost is well worth the improved performance particularly at higher resolutions.

[Hellmund]

Well the difference from the MX400 to the PRO is that the PRO has 128bit DDR memory clocked at 200mhz. A Mx400 has 64bit 166mhz DDR memory or 128bit SDR memory at 166mhz. The PRO has over double the memory bandwidth which is the main bottleneck for ALL 3dcards. The PRO should be able to run everything for a while yet still at 1024X768.....MX's will quickly become limited as textures increase in size.....for a gamer with a decent monitor it'd definitely be worth it.

[Fonzie1984]

Thanks a lot for the feedback guys. I think I am going to go with a Geforce 2 Pro.

Now, I just have one more question for you cheapster. You said that you like newegg.com a lot and that they stand behind their products. Do you think that their refurbished items are good or should I just go with a new one. I ask this because they have a NEW Geforce 2 Pro 32mb ddr w/tv out and a Refurbished Geforce 2 Pro 64mb ddr w/tv out for about the same price ($100). Which do you think would be a better deal.

[cheapster]

I would be a little leery of the 30 day warranty on the refurbished card. The new retail card sounds like the better deal, IMO. I am unconvinced that there is a "huge" difference in the performance of the 64MB cards vs. the 32 MB cards with the Geforce 2, at least on 17" monitors. I may be mistaken, but I have not noticed any big increase in framerates in the benchmarks I have read. So far I have been too cheap to actually try a 64 mb card.
Chuck
PS After looking at what is currently available from newegg, I would go for either the Leadtek geforce 2 Winfast Pro (32 MB of 5ns DDR ram) for $115 shipped; or the Cardexpert Geforce 2 Pro 64 MB Golden Sample (comes with 4.5 ns ram, should be very overclockable!) for $132 shipped. Heck, either one is very close to what I paid for my vanilla MSI GTS card a few months ago and either one should be significantly better.:(

[Hellmund]

The difference from 32mb - 64mb is not too significant currently, not enough common games/appz have enough detailed textures to fill the framebuffer. I went for a 64mb PRO because I plan on o/cing and keeping the card for a while.....

[Fonzie1984]

Thanks a lot for the info Hellmund and Cheapster. You guys were very helpful. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go for that Leadtek Winfast 32mb card. It sounds like best deal and I should be able to do a little overclocking if I want to.