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11-08-2002, 11:37 PM
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#1 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 10
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Need Video Card Help!
I've been planning on getting a new video card to improve FPS in Battlefield 1942. My average FPS I think is like 20 + or -. When I get into big battles, it really starts to get choppy. My system is as follows:
Intel P4 2.00 GHz 512 MB of RAM Video card is a stock Intel that came with my CPU and sucks Windows XP **(Need more info?)** Anyways, my system is fast enough. I wanted to get a nVidia Geforce4 Ti4200. I have looked at www.pricewatch.com and www.newegg.com and have found them as cheap as $109. However, they are made by different manufacturers, and I wanted some opinions on some good manufacturers. Also, some say 4ns or 3.5ns, what does that mean? I am going to ask this for Xmas, but I want to keep the price under $150. I don't need any of the extras, I think, which include TV-OUT (which can connect it to the TV, right?) I just need it strictly for gaming (also I don't need any demos or software that some packages include like games, demos, etc.). Could you give me some recommendations? A lot of people on these boards have gotten Gainward, but the cheapest model is Eagle, for 109 dollars. So, could you give me some tips on how to select which video card manufacturer for the Geforce4 Ti4200? Also, should I order it from www.newegg.com or www.pricewatch.com ? One more question, I don't know how to install these. Does anyone have a webpage that tells me how to? I don't know what my motherboard is, where can I find where the name of it is so I can tell you guys to see if this card is compatible with my CPU? Thanks all, I know it's long, but I have a ton of questions, as you can see. 
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11-08-2002, 11:48 PM
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#2 |
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Professional Cow Tipper
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Enid, OK, U.S.A.
Posts: 2,859
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Hi cmink31, Welcome to the Forums!
Okay, first of all, pricewatch.com doesn't actually sell anything. They are just a site that lists the prices that other sites ARE selling the products for. For example, they may show a video card for $120 at Newegg.com and the same card at Mwave for $125. You have to go to those respective sites to buy them though. Pricewatch just lets you know who's cheapest. As for installation, it's not hard. That new of a motherboard should have an AGP slot since that's pretty much standard anymore. It's hard to miss since it's the longest slot beside the PCI slots and there's only one of 'em. Here's a link to help you get the basics of installing. http://www.pcmech.com/show/video/89/ As for the card being compatible with the cpu, it will be. What kind of memory the video card uses has nothing to do with the cpu or the memory on the mobo. You could be using SDRAM on your mobo and have a video card that uses DDR and it would still work. You just have to make sure your get the right card for the type of slot you have (again, most likely AGP). hth 
__________________
Excellent guess, Kreskin! Wrong...but excellent. *quote from Space Quest 6* |
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11-09-2002, 02:03 AM
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#3 |
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Mondsreitersmann
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Skingrad
Posts: 8,781
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That Ti4200 is a good choice, cmink31. Gainward is one of the top brands.
Be sure to buy a *128 MB DDR* video card, or you won't be able to enjoy Doom 3 when it comes out.
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Darum still, füg' ich mich, wie Gott es will. Nun, so will ich wacker streiten, und sollt' ich den Tod erleiden, stirbt ein braver Reitersmann. |
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11-09-2002, 07:50 AM
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#4 | |
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Member (11 bit)
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Brooklyn Park,Minn.
Posts: 1,864
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Quote:
wolfie welcome!!!!!!! |
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11-09-2002, 11:41 AM
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#5 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 10
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Ok, I'm definitely getting a Ti4200
. Question is, why the 128 over 64 MB? I have looked at tests and the 64 is faster. What is the advantage in having a 128 MB video card? Also, could you guys recommend one from www.pricewatch.com or www.newegg.com , a Ti4200 128 MB? I don't know if I should get the cheapest one on there because who knows if they have warranty or if they're quality, right? For example, I see an Aopen 128 MB Geforce4 Ti4200 for 144 dollars. Then, I see an MSI 128 MB Geforce4 Ti4200 for 160 dollars. Why is MSI 16 dollars more expensive? Again, could you guys point me in the right direction as to which company to buy from? I went to www.bestbuy.com and they sell the same Ti4200 128 MB for 200 dollars. I'm definitely buying over the Internet, not locally. Thanks for all help and thanks for the warm welcome!
Last edited by cmink31; 11-09-2002 at 11:52 AM. |
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11-09-2002, 11:57 AM
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#6 |
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Kickin' it
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 7,723
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I would recommend the 128meg version because it will allow you to play newer games. As games get more and more powerful, the extra memory will allow the card to effectively run those games. Some games in the future like Doom3 require 128 to even run.
Stick with brands like Gainward, EVGA, MSI, Asus and Abit for the card. Here are the 128meg cards at Newegg. They are a little over your $150 budget but they will perform very well. You dont want to skimp on the card by getting a low end brand and then having problems with the card. http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...iption=&page=2 About the 4ns and 3.5ns, that is the speed the memory can be written and read from. The lower the number, the faster the card will run and the better it will perform but dont concern yourself over this , as you really wouldnt notice a difference.
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11-09-2002, 12:00 PM
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#7 | |
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Member (14 bit)
Premium Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: The Great NorthWest
Posts: 12,594
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Quote:
TwoRails 
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11-09-2002, 01:32 PM
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#8 |
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Red Sox Nation
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 2,546
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DoomIII won't run on any current cards anyway, don't worry about it. Everyone will have to upgrade when DoomIII comes out, including me. And I think it's a DX9 game.
Last edited by Alienware_Dude; 11-09-2002 at 01:35 PM. |
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11-09-2002, 02:21 PM
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#9 |
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Mondsreitersmann
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Skingrad
Posts: 8,781
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AFAIK Doom 3 will run with today's cards as long as they have 128 MB. If it's a DX9 game it will still run however some features won't be available.
@ cmink31: go for memory ammount rather than speed. The speed you get from the 64 cards over the 128 ones is only for bragging rights and you will only notice it in 3DMark, not in games. |
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11-09-2002, 02:23 PM
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#10 |
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Red Sox Nation
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 2,546
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NK, I know it will "run", but it won't run, if you get my meaning.
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11-09-2002, 02:33 PM
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#11 |
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Forum Administrator
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Joplin MO
Posts: 37,772
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AOpen is decent - I would not hesitate to buy one.
Make SURE your motherboard has an AGP slot, if you have a micro-ATX board it may not and that will essentially screw you, you will only be able to put a PCI card in which won't be much better than the onboard i845G graphics I *think* you have. The most powerful PCI video cards made now are GF4 MX420's and Radeon 7500's. Is your system a name brand or a custom build? |
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11-09-2002, 07:43 PM
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#12 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 10
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It's a HP.
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11-09-2002, 07:43 PM
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#13 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 10
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And yea, I think that the video card is an Intel 845 something. I get 15 FPS average in Battlefield 1942, hoping that getting the Ti4200 will get me 80-100. It will make a huge difference.
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11-10-2002, 06:08 PM
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#14 |
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Forum Administrator
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Joplin MO
Posts: 37,772
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You have onboard video, not a card. Open the case and make *SURE* you have an AGP slot (and cross reference your manual too) before you think about buying a card. Being an HP, I DOUBT that it has one.
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11-10-2002, 07:43 PM
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#15 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 10
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GLC, I don't know what an AGP slot looks like. How can I find out if this video card will go in my computer? By the way, I have a HP Pavillion 752.
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11-10-2002, 07:47 PM
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#16 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 10
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11-10-2002, 07:48 PM
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#17 |
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Red Sox Nation
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 2,546
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Open up the case, look above the PCI slots. If there is a Brown slot that's set slightly more towards the front of the case then the PCI(white)slots, then you have an AGP slot.
Edit: I guess you do have an AGP slot, but look to make sure. Last edited by Alienware_Dude; 11-10-2002 at 07:52 PM. |
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11-10-2002, 10:43 PM
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#18 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 10
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How do I open the case? I don't want to take out screws and have things drop out and have my CPU get all f***ed up... heh I'm not very good hardware wise with CPU's, I don't even know what overclocking is!
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11-10-2002, 10:58 PM
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#19 |
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Forum Administrator
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Joplin MO
Posts: 37,772
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Which one do you have?
hp pavilion 752 configurable desktop PC hp pavilion 752.no desktop PC hp pavilion 752.se desktop PC hp pavilion 752c desktop PC (US/CAN) hp pavilion 752k desktop PC (ap) hp pavilion 752m desktop PC (la) hp pavilion 752n desktop PC (US/CAN) hp pavilion 752w desktop PC (US/CAN) Have you read your manual? |
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11-10-2002, 11:14 PM
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#20 |
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digitally confused
Premium Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 2,301
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Mink, enter your HP computer model number into the green boxes search engine on the link below and it should tell you which motherboard you have and all
http://www.hp.com/cposupport/sampler...therboard.html |
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11-11-2002, 12:13 AM
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#21 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 10
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GLC, I have a HP Pavilion 752. No weird .no or .se or others. I bought it in the USA. We just bought the CPU, not the monitor, so it could be any of those...
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11-11-2002, 09:43 PM
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#22 |
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Forum Administrator
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Joplin MO
Posts: 37,772
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I just downloaded the manual - and nowhere does it say anything about anything inside the case, much less even how to open the case. I get the IMPRESSION that you do NOT have an AGP slot because the diagram of the back of the case only shows 4 slots, which means a micro-ATX setup. If this is the case, you have bought a proprietary non-upgradeable machine.
You probably should get some advice from an HP service center. |
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