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**Sirotnikov** · July 9, 2003, 20:28

I really need a new card. I have an old old 8 MB MAtrox Millenium G200 AGP....

**Kassiopeia** · July 9, 2003, 20:29

ok i don't need advice on upgrading motherboard and stuff.

Good, good, I was just worried that you were thinking that you could put a P4 on a P2 motherboard.

Under 500, I'd say Radeon 9100. Between 128 and 64 megs it's a bit tricky, 128MB would be good if you don't intend to upgrade from that for quite a while, 64 megs if you are going to get a newer 128 meg card like a R9700 in the approximate future, i.e. 2004 - 2005.

**Sirotnikov** · July 9, 2003, 20:33

geForce is considered all that in Israel.

Why would you recommend Radeon?

And by which manufacturer?

My dad seems to think it's a big difference. (he works as an R&D engineer in a high tech company, and his office neighbour is the system and admin who's also responsible for the hardware)

My dad is clueless though as to the effects of different 2D and 3D thingies

**Sirotnikov** · July 9, 2003, 20:35

Good, good, I was just worried that you were thinking that you could put a P4 on a P2 motherboard.

I was until my dad slapped some sense into me

He used to know more about PC hardware, but not since he's been busy in R&D.

**Kassiopeia** · July 9, 2003, 20:46

Why would you recommend Radeon?

Of the listed cards, that's the one below 500 shekels and is still a pretty decent piece of work. It was originally the 8500 but the 9000 was so slow that they renamed it to 9100, but I digress. Of the same price range, I suppose the GF FX 5200 might be a possibility, but what I've heard from the FX cards hasn't been too encouraging. I'm getting a R9100 at 64MB myself in a few weeks. If I had more money I'd probably get a GF Ti 4200.

And by which manufacturer?

Doesn't really matter, Radeon chips are manufactured by only two or three different companies and the differences are not big and meaningful usually only to overclockers. Btw, 9100 Limited Edition is a bit slower than the 'plain' 9100. The Sapphire cards listed ought to be good.

I was until my dad slapped some sense into me

Way to go Siro's dad! My dad tries to suggest me all these retail computers that cost a fortune and have stuff like an integrated modem and hoots of programs we won't need... I myself didn't know lots about modern hardware until last January when I started to do research for an upgrade.

**Panag** · July 9, 2003, 20:51

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
geForce is considered all that in Israel.

Why would you recommend Radeon?

And by which manufacturer?

My dad seems to think it's a big difference. (he works as an R&D engineer in a high tech company, and his office neighbour is the system and admin who's also responsible for the hardware)

My dad is clueless though as to the effects of different 2D and 3D thingies

hi ,

go for geforce , its also a question about warranty and all , ....

manuf ,

, check some internet sites in Israel , stumbled a couple weeks ago on a site that resells items from insurance fraud and such , with limited warranty , but good

, should be in the "index"

have a nice morning

**Sirotnikov** · July 9, 2003, 21:07

Kass - can you suggest a good site to start learning?

Panag - what's the "index" ?

**General Ludd** · July 9, 2003, 21:30

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
Kass - can you suggest a good site to start learning?

You're already there.

Just go to the manufacturer sites then read and compare the different models, when you come across a feature that you do not know, ask apolyton. That's what I always do.

**Kassiopeia** · July 9, 2003, 21:38

can you suggest a good site to start learning?

Mostly I've been reading what the users and buyers think, i.e. computer hardware related forums (Finnish ones mostly), but those always require a certain filter since there are "ATi Fanatics" and "NVidiots" and whoever who are far from objective. A good and pretty neutral source would be http://www.tomshardware.com .

Here for instance are the cards mentioned here in a test on high-end machines. The Ti 4200 is quite decent, and the R9100 isn't too shoddy either considering the difference in price. Tests aren't the set word of god though and you will find someone able to dispute any results, whether they have a point or not is tough to decide if you don't know much about the fundamentals (like me). This is why I try to read lots of opinions and strike a balance between them.

**Edan** · July 9, 2003, 22:14

I've had a number of ATI cards. In my experience, ATIs cards tend to be pretty good, but their drivers and software usually leaves a lot to be desired (although they have gotten better, IMO).

**Urban Ranger** · July 10, 2003, 01:55

Are any of the ATI cards DirectX 9 ones?

**FrostyBoy** · July 10, 2003, 02:03

Originally posted by Skanky Burns
A good rule of thumb is to aviod any graphics cards with MX in their name.

What's wrong with MX cards? I've got a Geforce 2 MX, I've had it for 2 years, not one problem from it at all. Come to think of it, that's the only piece of hardware I have had that has actually never caused a problem.

**Rasbelin** · July 10, 2003, 02:41

UR,

nope.

Siro,

I suggest that you buy a very cheap graphics accelerator right now and buy a better one later on with the new system.

**Jon Miller** · July 10, 2003, 03:01

the geforce 2 mx was good

all the other mx's are crap

the ati's are the top of the line right now (and the best are direct x 9 cards)

Jon Miller

**Skanky Burns** · July 10, 2003, 05:53

MX is generally an order of magnitude below its equivalent siblings.

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