Cardexpert/Gainward - any opinions?

[shecky981]

anyone have an opinion on Cardexpert GeForce2 MX400 64MB AGP card? its seems pretty cheap and i was curious if its junk or not.

just for reference, im gonna be on a DDR EPox Mobo w/ an athlon XP 1500+ not doing any serious gameing, just some quake, etc....

[mike breck]

Hi shecky981,

According to people I've spoken to in the PC business, Gainward is a very respectable brand and their cards are good quality and reasonably priced.
I had a Cardexpert 32mb and it had no problem coping with Max Payne. So the 64mb version will certainly cope with any games for the foreseeable future.

Of course, it depends on how much you want to spend and what the price difference between an Geoforce2 MX and Geoforce2 GTS or Ultra is in the US. If there is not much difference in price, then you might want to pay a few bucks more for the Ultra which scores nearly twice as much in 3D performance in tests like 3DWinmark 2000 1.1.

However, in the UK the price of GTSs and Ultras are still about twice-three times as much as a MX. So in the UK, at least, the MX is the best bang for buck and still does the required business.

So, unless the price differential is much less in the US, I would say the Gainward should be a good buy.

HTH

[Tiretool]

Gainward makes quality products that will outperform better known video card manufacturer's products consistently (referring to GeForce 3 equipped cards).

On a scale of 1-10 I'd rate them an 8.

[Demosthenes]

I have not seen the MX400, but I have their GeForce3 and have seen others in the GeForce2 series and they all worked well. Their email customer service is non-existant, so if you do have a problem, call them if you can. I never received any email back.

Respectfully,

Demosthenes