Best video card to game with---which one?

[kareem]

I've been using a Diamond Voodoo II and Riva TNT both by Diamond on a P5A ASUS moboard driven by a K6:2-350 chip....

I like the Voodoo II a lot better than the Riva TNT. Are there any better cards out now?
Voodoo3 or Riva II?
What do you suggest?

[U-96]

Ah... the old 3dFX vs. nVidia argument....
I love the smell of napalm in the morning!

I think it boils down to:
Voodoo -
GOOD: cheap (recent price drop), fast, compatible with pretty much everything at the moment and in the past, GLide games look great. Drivers are well advanced i.e. mature technology

BAD: technologically dated, GLide support is diminishing, 16bit colour, OpenGL support sucks, can't handle large textures, no true AGP support, reknowned for running at high temperatures (problem in a small case or o/cing)

TNT2 Ultra
GOOD: More advanced tech than Voodoo, superb OpenGL support, 32bit colour, large texture handling, true AGP support

BAD: Expensive (in my opinion), many features not yet generally supported by software eg 32-bit colour, may have compatibility problems with old games - less likely with newer ones, drivers have yet to realise full potential i.e. they may or may not (of course this can be a good point too)

Conclusion:
They are both excellent cards. If you want speed and gameplay now, I would say Voodoo3. It's also cheaper. If you like to fiddle but have a bit more cash or appreciate the finer points of image quality and wish to have a little more future-proofing, go the TNT route. I believe that TNT drivers will also progress to a greater extent than Voodoo ones, so there is also that to consider.

Each card has its fans and detractors, often to the point of insanity. The best way to chose is to go along to a computer store or a friend and see what these things look like when they are running, preferably on the same game, and try all the modes (Glide, D3D, OpenGL whatever) available.

Hope that helps. I'm sure I missed something, but they are great cards and I'm sure you'll be happy with whichever you decide on!

U-96

[Freakout]

I was in your shoes, I decided on the Diamond V770. I love this card, great performance and the picture quality is better than my old V2 was. 32megs of video ram is nice too [img]/forum/smile.gif[/img]

Forgot to mention....My freind has a V3 3000 and spends more time fixing problems than playing games. [img]/forum/frown.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by Freakout (edited 09-30-99).]

[daveleau]

I have run into and read many problems with the TNT2s. I think that is the case with any new card though as it gets its feet wet. I am currently running with a CL Banshee PCI and had many problems because I bought it just after it came out but it is great now. I have tried to run the TNT2 AGP but never got it running. I returned it for a VD3 3000 and have yet to install it because I haven't had time. I think either is going to be a good addition. The VD3s have had better reviews and in some have outperformed the heavier memoried TNT2s.

[Vidfreek]

Well if you can afford a TNT2 Ultra card go for it, it outbeats everything now a days, even the super fast V3 3500, the Ultra can beat it. If you want cheap and good, go with a V3 2000, I got mine for 90 bucks and it can be overclocked really high, I have mine at 175 right now, up from the default speed of 143. Thats quite a jump and Im performing better than mine friends V3 3000, of course he can get his up to 190 or so, but its a little more expensive for it. The Creative labs TNT2 Ultra Card is down to 150 bucks now, thats a good deal, but wait till the new GeForce comes out and it should go down more. I'd stear away from the GeForce right now, the lowest price is going to be 250 bucks for it, and the best one is going to cost 350. Now anyone thats going to spend 350 on a card, even if they can afford it is completely nuts, you know what you can upgrade for that kindof money. I got a whole new motherboard and processor for a 100 bucks less than that, sheesh!!!