New Video Card

[lpc300]

Hi all,

Have gotten some great advice in the past, so I'm trying again. Am looking to upgrade my video card. Currently have a NVidia TNT2. Works fine for what I do...no real heavy graphics or intense gaming. Generally, I do a lot of surfing and report writing, though, I've started to do some light brochure and web development which is beginning to involve some graphics work. I also will, occasionally, watch DVD's and TV (I/O Magic TV card which I like a lot). One reason that I'm looking to upgrade is to have TV-out capabilities which my current card doesn't. A second is to get superior performance for a possible increase in my graphics/web work. Lastly, I haven't tinkered with my PC in about 3 months and I'm getting the 'itch'. I run a self-built AMD 1.2, DFI mobo, 512 RAM, 16x DVD, 32x12x10 CDRW, 250 Zip, 60gig WD & 40gig WD HDD's, 320w PSU. I like NVidia's and don't think I need to go as high as the Geforce4. Wondering about the Geforce 2's and 3's. What do y'all think? Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

[HAL9000]

If you're into viewing DVD's, I would suggest looking at the ATI Radeons. They have true hardware decoding compared to hardware assisted decoding in the NVidia cards.

[lpc300]

Thanks for the quick reply, Hal. Any compatibility problems with the ATI's and my system? Also, I had some display issues, especially with the Office toolbar, until I dowloaded the updated Nvidia drivers (got numerous memory dumps). Any issues like these I need to be aware of?

Thanks in advance.

[HAL9000]

Well, it always seems like there's something somewhere, but off the top of my head, I don't see why it should be a problem. ATI just released their new Catalyst drivers and so far they have been working quite well (for me anyway).

[morriswindgate]

I use ATI cards in all my computer builds, not only are they quality cards, but when you buy an ATI by ATI you know the quality. NVIDIA on the other hand sells chips to anyone and the quality varies between makers. So if you go the GFORCE route do your homework.

[lpc300]

Any particular Raedon y'all would suggest? I just visited ATI's website. How's the 7500? I really don't need the latest tech...just something solid. BTW any issues with Win2K?

[HAL9000]

I use the ATI All-in-Wonder 7500 and while it's not the latest and greatest, it's no slug either, so I don't hesitate to recommend it.

Take note though, ATI has recenltly started selling their chips to third party manufacturers, so you have to watch if you're getting a "built by ATI" or "powered by ATI" card. If it seems to cheap, it's probably a "powered by ATI" card.

[lpc300]

Thanks for the advice, Hal. Planning for tomorrow. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

[morriswindgate]

If you want to save a little bit of money by going with a powered by ATI card, only use the ones sold on Newegg.com they are by Sapphire Technologies and on the ones I have used are very sturdy and great performing cards. They also keep their drive library upto date.

http://www.sapphiretech.com/

[lpc300]

Thanks morris. newegg is down, right now, but I'll check them out later.

[glc]

I heard last night that PowerDVD software doesn't work with the ATI Catalyst drivers - anyone else seen this?

[HAL9000]

Now you got me curious... I don't use PowerDVD, but I have the software... gimme a minute and I'll check it out.

[HAL9000]

OK... I just installed and ran version 3.0 and it went fine. Mind you, I only ran it for a couple minutes, so I don't know if there are any long term problems while playing a movie. Anyway, the ATI card will come with the Multi Media Center which included a decent DVD player and if you're running WinME or WinXP, they both have DVD playback supported (XP in Media Player, for ME, type DVDPLAY in the RUN command box).

[lil Jimmie]

Glc, Power DVD seems to work fine with the catalyst drivers on my box.

[pam123]

If you have the power DVD from last fall it probably will work.
If you have it from 2000 ( I'm not sure at what date they redid stuff ) it won't.
When ati cards and power DVD first clashed in the summer and fall of 2000, it was one or the other.
That isn't so any longer but those of us who got burned the first time don't want to do the trust thing again.

[lpc300]

Wanted to let y'all know that I went with a GForce4. Got an excellent price on one from Visontek at a computer show. Installed without a hitch, even with the drivers provided. Now I just gotta figure out how to hook it up to my ancient TV for TV-out (need a coax to s-video converter). Thanks for all the advice and help, as usual.

[DragonPyro]

which geforce4 did you get? How much was it? I'm looking for a graphics card too and am trying to price them. Thanks!

[lpc300]

Hi DragonPyro,

Welcome to PCMech. I bought the GeForce4 MX 420. The one I purchased was from Xtasy (Visiontech). Got it for $79 at a computer show. Seen it for $99 at Best Buy and $109 at CompUSA. Came with all the drivers and a version of PowerDVD. Works great.

Hope this helps.

[glc]

The GF4 MX series is really just an updated GF2, but it's just fine for everything but hard core gaming.

[lpc300]

The GF4 MX series is really just an updated GF2, but it's just fine for everything but hard core gaming.

Yeah glc, kinda knew it wasn't top of the line. Pretty happy with it, though, as it beats my old TNT2. Don't do much gaming, anyhow. Thanks for all the feedback, everyone.