Question about GeForce2 GFX Cards, need your opinions?

Hi all, i want a new GFX card, i'm looking for a card to put in my Athlon850 so i can run ALL latest games at 800x600 and 1024x768 at highest possible detail levels with EVERYTHING set to MAX... (is that possible?)
but with so many to choose from, its a hard desision! So i thought i'd ask u guys for an opinion

Heres what i think i want http://www.msicomputer.com/product/v...il/G2TiPro.htm its a GeForce2 Titanium G2Ti PRO-VT(G), i can get it for £122.99...

The thing is its made by MSi... does that matter? i mean u can get GeForce2's made by all sorts of makers, are they all the same inside, with same game playability etc?

I've heard good things about the Creative Geforce2 pro 64, would the card i mentioned be as good as that, better, worst or bassically the same?

Do ALL GeForce Cards work with the Official nVidia Drivers or do i have to use the ones that come with it or an update from specific maker?

If u feel that i could get a better GFX card for the money please say so (must be GeForce sumut or other tho IMO)...

Even if i buy the card i want, is it still going to lag behind a PSX2, or abbliterate it?

BTW: my current card is a TNT2 Pro https://discussions.virtualdr.com/... so will i be amazed with a new card, do u think it will give me what i want?

Many Thanx in Advance for your Advice... sorry for all the different q's, but i'm sure u understand the confusion...

Thx & Regards https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

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Just my opinions from past experience...and guessing. Post back to let others know if our ideas worked!
BACKUP NOW! u can RESTORE your WHOLE HARD DRIVE and be back in minutes after any BIG Mistake!!!

Hi Lotus,

When buying Geforce cards I think the easiest way to work it out is the more you pay the more you get. I'll comment on your questions with the amount of knowledge I have.

Not a great deal of difference between big name manufacturers, some obviously use the chip better than others, but would you notice.

I think it would be a bit better than the Creative. (Post your score when you get it and we will see).

As far as I know they all work with Nvidia drivers, the latest for XP is 23.11

My son has a PSx2 and he says my computers graphic are far better.

I doubt you will be amazed but you will be impressed.

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Backup Boogaloo, you know it makes sense to do.

That looks like a good card...I have a GeForce 2 Ti 500 (Gainward), and I am extremely happy with it.

I don't know much about MSI cards, but I also haven't heard anything bad! https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

The two cards would basically be the same.

Yes, you use the official Nvidia drivers...they are not manufacturer specific.

I'm not sure about the price, as I only know American $, but I picked up my card for $144(with shipping). I have seen GF3 Ti 200 cards for $175-$180, and they are worth the difference in price ONLY if you are a serious gamer(most people can't tell the difference)

And yes, you will be able to tell the difference from the TNT card, but it most likely will not look better than the PS2. Console systems are still better, graphics wise.

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My Computer

Whoa that was quick, Thx Philgo and adam9977, nice one dudes!

From what u both say it sounds worth my while...

just to clarify on a bit u missed that essentially would be the deciding factor in this...

Do u think it will Run latest Games (all types) on Absolute Highest Details @ 1024x768 and still be smother with better FPS than what i get now on my TNT2? That would be the main reason to make me go for it, as if i find i have to back down on details like i do now then i wouldn't be too impressed...

I might concider getting it online as i could probably beat the £122.99 by quite a lot, but not having bought anything online before i wouldn't know who to trust... so...

My main aim is to play games at the highest details and FPS, in that case would i be better off waiting for the prices of the GeForce3 to drop or is the GeForce2 capable of that?

Philgo, 1001 post's, u've been busy, congrats!!! i'll let u know the results, i'll post them in this thread if/when i get 'em!

Many Thx, u guys are great, Regards https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

i just found the Sparkle GeForce 2 Titanium 64MB DDR + TV-out AGP for £89.30 + P&P i guess HERE... Geeeze, so many to choose from... better price, different make... just need to check out features...

Regards https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

Hi again Lotus, I play RTCW at 1024x768 and its as smooth as a baby's bottom.

If you want to buy on line I use http://www.dabs.com/home.asp I can't recommend them enough, I don't think they have that card though, but if you choose another you will get free postage and it will probably arrive the next day.

If you wait for the Geforce3 to drop then Geforce4 will be along, so you can't win.

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Backup Boogaloo, you know it makes sense to do.

Thx again, i've been reading the reviews HERE and have a bit more of a clue now, quite interesting!

...I think as the CPU on my PC is only 850mhz with 2xAGP and 100mhz FSB for the sake of my "relitivly Lame PC" i'll give the GeForce3 a miss as there doesn't seem worthwile improvement, a GeForce2 should do me!

I'll check out that link u posted now!

Thx & Regards https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

A Geforce2 Ti Pro will have no problem with any game out today at 1024x768, 32 bit colour, and all the graphics details turned on (except FSAA...its a beast). Your CPU will be somewhat of a bottleneck, but its fast enough for any game out today.

One of your questions regarded the nVidia detonator drivers and whether they'll work with any Geforce card. The answer is yes.....

...But any special features on the card -- like TV-out, 3d glasses, some special software utilities -- require the manufacturers drivers to work. Detonators will run the display and 3d but cannot to the extra stuff. So if your definitely planning to use detonator drivers buy one of the cards without alot of extra features and save a few bucks.

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ASUS A7V + 1.4ghz Athlon t-bird ,Swiftech MC462a, 512mb (generic) pc133 @143mhz(2-2-2), IBM 75GXP, ASUS Geforce2 GTS, SB-Live5.1,12x10x32 Plexwriter,16x40x Pioneer DVD, Cable, Win98SE

Cheers BadBrain1, Glad to hear what u said... sweet! There was no specific reason i mentioned the detonator drivers, i was just wondering wether they were compatable, thx for the info regarding this i shall bare it in mind...

i been phoning a local shop today, they said they'd have some for me this afternoon... i just phoned them again to check they had it... i was too late, they said they got their delivery, but they are all reserved... hhhmmmmm, i'm gutted... gunna have to ring around for a bit!

Thx & Regards https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

Hi again, just a question for comparison... if i would have been asking the same questions about the "GeForce2 MX 64mb" which is half the price of the "Ti Pro64" would u have answered much differently...

I know they are a bit older and concidering the price difference and availability, i might be happier...

Would the MX64 be up to the job, or would i still find the same lack of FPS as i do now with my TNT2 on Full details due to the lower bandwidth etc?

just curious about other options! and saving cash https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

TIA, Regards https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

Lotus, I originally had a Hercules GeForce2 MX 32meg, on upgrading to a Creative GeForce2 Pro 64 meg my 3Dmark2000 score went up by 3500.
From my rubbish memory it did struggle with some games in high res.

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Backup Boogaloo, you know it makes sense to do.

Cheers, quite a vast difference in Benchmark scores then, i guess the pro is worth the extra...

Been looking around shops and cheapest available is £150 (Creative with less features), ppphhhh, i'm gunna hang on for now - until i can find one for around £100>£125 range, gotta wait for restock or buy off Net, Bristol is real junk/expensive for buying PC peripherals, then again maybe i'll check out the next fair, they're cool!

i hate waiting for sumut i wan't https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

Thx for all your input, at least i know what i need now! Just gotta find someone to sell me one (without ripping me off) https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

Regards https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

Fancy any of these http://www.tekheads.co.uk/products.p...=list&catId=95

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Backup Boogaloo, you know it makes sense to do.

Hi LotusAstra

I don't know if you know about this but heres a link to a £20 voucher for buy.com (UK) they have a range of 3d cards which may be what you are looking for and with £20 off.

Get the voucher link here: http://www.gb.buy.com/promo/Coupon.a...C453622325CB5D

Might help you make your mind up and get it before xmas.. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

Smiffy23

Thx Philgo & Smiffy23! https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

Philgo: yeah some cool prices there, i see they have telephone order too https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ but now i'm in 2 minds as to which to get, the 1 i showed in my link had TV-Out (essential) and TV-in (not essential but cool tho)... i havent been able to find another with the TV-in other than the MSi... The cards with TV-in have a different TV chip "Philips SAA7108E" which has FULL SCREEN TV-Out too rather than the usual black lines around the screen! Which is another reason i want the MSi... If not the card with the Philips chip i would like the one with the "Conexant CX25871-13" chip as it handles resolution of 1024x768 through the TV-Out which none of the others do.... Thas whats giving me the trouble narrowing down the right card for me u see, too much choice! and not enought specs!

Smiffy23: i shall check out your links too... £20 off https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ sounds good to me!!!

I've never used Google so much! https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

Thx & have a Merry Xmas too, Regards https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

I've come to realise that these Titanium Cards are fairly New, Perhaps too new for my wallet concidering little extra performance over the older GeForce 2 Pro or Ultra...

I'm gunna have to hold back on my "want" for better Graphics until i've checked down the Computer fair for an older model, but this is hard as u like to find differences between the models, what TV chips they have etc etc... I'm not usually one for just getting sumut on the spur of the moment (i nearly did! phew)...

Another thing i noted is that the first GeForce3 made is better than all the Geforce 2's currently available....

last time i bought a GFX card it was a Voodoo3-2000 https://discussions.virtualdr.com/, was good at the time and a lot easier to decide! My TNT2 came with the PC... thing have certainally changed since then!

So i'm sort of over my initial quest, i realise that with so many i need to choose wisely, i'll probably end up leaving it till after the new year... any other sugestions are ofcourse are welcome and appreciated...

Thx again & Regards https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

You could always spend the £20 voucher on me https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ I was looking for a new Athlon 1800+ i'll post you my address m8 lol.....

Have a good one...

Smiffy23

lol Smiffy23, i couldn't hold back no longer... just to let ya'll know i've got meself a GeForce3 for £150 from the shop i mentioned yesterday with the out of stock GeForce2 Ti...

Just have to fit it now! hhmmmm! and plan my ghost images so i don't have to take it out again! Well i don't know about that i wanna see it now! Ghost will have to wait!

Thx & Regards https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

[This message has been edited by LotusAstra (edited 12-21-2001).]

Well... so far the card seems ok, but the drivers and software have been giving nothing but grief, i still can't get everything working after 4 hours... i've only played RTCW for 5 mins b4 XP had a BSOD... Win 98 wouldn't install the Driver CD at all (ill' op's and boot fail) thas y i tried XP... gunna have another go with Win98 and nVidia drivers now...

pphhhh, so much grief!

Regards https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

Hi m8

I had a lot of probs with RTCW with BSOD's and hanging etc etc,Philgo gave me the link for the Nvidia updates which made things a lot better but had the occassional hiccup...I used the Win9x/me compatability mode and it now runs perfect with no probs whatsoever.....

Smiffy23

Thx Smiffy23, i tried all the usual drivers under XP and its still the same as with my last card, but i'm not too worried about that, its 98 where i want my games really as i know they were cool b4...

BUT: i've god a few other concerns now... Playing DVD's on the TV... With my TNT2 i had separate adjustments for brightness for TV & Monitor... With this GeForce they are shared... also DVD's look like a Video CD with slight banding on simular shades of colour... Looks like this Philips TV Chip in it is poo...

Also i can get the Vid Capture to find the Device on XP with Movie Maker but not in Win98 with Netmeeting or another Photo app that works with my Webcam, it say "No Device found"

The Game side of it on the monitor is ok but thats not all i bought it for...

Philgo, heres my 3dMark2000 results so far, almost double b4:

Win98 = 4649 DetXP 23.xx
WinXP = 5293 DetXP 21.xx

I haven't got around to comparing like with like yet due to more important issues... but still those results don't compare to your Geforce2pro... 1 thing thas cool is it now run 3Dmark2001 quite smoothish too!

So does anyone have any suggestions to make me happy with it, i'd rather keep my TNT at this rate, the brightness adjustments and banding are a pain in the... the lack of capture i could probably live with if it was the only thing!

TIA & Regards https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

[This message has been edited by LotusAstra (edited 12-22-2001).]

Hi Lotus, I know this obvious to you but is there anything that you could do in your bios, memory settings, optimized defaults and that sort of stuff. Also mobo drivers, I suppose they are already the latest.
If not the 3Dmark Score difference can only down to my CPU and Mobo.
I think if I was you I would also try a Clean install, because I know you can easily revert back with our ghosty friend.

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Backup Boogaloo, you know it makes sense to do.

yeah i was concidering going back to my 1st ever image of 98 or maybe a new clean install to get the drivers and tool on the CD working right... but as for the benchmark results i havent looked into y they're low yet, i'm not aware of any BIOS/MOBO drivers/Tweaks that would help (My BIOS isn't the latest but was OK b4), but i'll have a play with the usual settings in windows, BTW, what is the MOBO+CPU u got those results with? it could explain a lot https://discussions.virtualdr.com/...

Regards https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

Hi all,

do not forget to check if AGP version on the motherboard supports the card's full possibilities.


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It's caused by my Flemishness...

Kind regards, Jaak

Hi jtdoom, my mobo supports AGPx2 and the card is 1x2x4x compatable... would you think it would perform much better in a AGP 4x MOBO rather than mine, i guess it would but question is would it be noticable?

however at this moment, i'm quite impressed with the difference it has made to gameplay/eyecandy etc alltho a MOBO/CPU upgrade is on the cards eventually (AthlonXP1600+, DDR, 266FSB etc)! at present i can set all details to max in every game i've tried and it copes well...

so, more importantly to allow me to keep this card i'd like to get some separate controls for TV-out brightness (and sort out lack of quality) also VidCapture working on Win98... any ideas anyone?

Thx & Regards https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

[This message has been edited by LotusAstra (edited 12-22-2001).]

Right i've sortof got the capture working with Win98, i had to install ulead video studio which came with it (XP didn't need it) BUT the capture only works with Ulead and still not in MS netmeeting etc? https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ (an old Voodoo 3500 i once had captured in anything with that feature!)

i'm getting quite disapointed overall with everything other than Game performance!

Still yet to sort out TV Brightness too!

Hopefully someone has come accross these probs b4 and has a resolution?

Regards https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

Hi Lotus,
I do have exactly what you are hoping to up grade to:

Gigabyte GA-7VTXE KT266A Mobo
512 Megs of Crucial DDR
Athlon XP 1600

I would imagine that with your mobo and CPU you should probably get a bit higher score, but who knows for sure.

Sorry can't help with your other problems.

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Backup Boogaloo, you know it makes sense to do.

no probs Philgo, can't expect u to know everything, thanx for getting back with your sys specs, i reckon that explains the difference... i'm quite confident that this card would be an animal if in your system!

I'm gunna quickly put back the old TNT2 just for a comparison and really check the quality of this TVout chip... out comes the ghost yet again!

Thx https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

lotusastra,

sorry, but I cannot tell.
you are asking the wrong guy.
see, I don't run games.

I think I would not notice difference between 50fps and 68?
or 80 and 120? (whatever)

If I were into graphics rendering, where the capabilities of the card are used, then I would prolly see that a task finished in better time.

but, like I say, you are asking the wrong guy. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
(yestrday I could have put a geforce2 in a win2000 machine, running on an older AGP-1x/2x board, I told them it was wasted money.
the let me plug a guillemot maxigamer cougar in it. They had a poor sis 4Mb card in there.
IMHO, the machine did not require a lot better than this fast TNT2, since it is mainly for office use. I checked which drivers it used after it was set up.
win200 used the NT\ drivers. Also, the driver installation did not install the tweaks and other tools that came on the CD.)

about XP.
isn't that some sort of NT as well?
I know it doesn't let you under the hood all that easily. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

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It's caused by my Flemishness...

Kind regards, Jaak

jtdoom https://discussions.virtualdr.com/, yup XP is based on the NT kernal (NT 5.1 possibly), i like it generally, other than for games!

Well i better get on with this swapping around, thx for the other comments, i know exactly where you're comming from... i'll keep my eyes pealed on this page for any other info...

Thx all https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ Merry Xmas!

go here look at the video card reveiws www.cnet.com i run a gf3 and i have a v5 a radeon 64 ddr and a radeon 64 ddr 8500 ..i buy far think thta the gf3 runs supper fast and i would not waste my money on any other card .due to the fact that video upgrades are always happening any gf3 will caryy u for a while

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i am really stupid!!

Thx inferno207, i've just had a read of those reviews, at least i'm not the only dissapointed one, seems most have the same feelings as me towards it...

however since my last post i've found ways around most my probs with it...

i've dimmed the settings on the monitor and increased brightness in display properties to compensate, so now when i switch to TVout i can see where i'm going https://discussions.virtualdr.com/... that was my main issue with it, quite an obvious workaround really...

The vid capture side of it i'm not too worried about but am still working on it...

i've still yet to do a clean install to see if the stuff supplied on the CD works or not (at present if i load the CD it stops my pc from booting and i have to use ghost to sort it!)

But all in all, i'm so impressed with the gameplay difference i just wanna keep it and put up with its probs, always the way with PC's init, i still haven't decided for sure yet tho!

Regards https://discussions.virtualdr.com/