upgrade graphic card for old computer - Page 2

Eladijaz · 03-17-2003, 08:01 AM

Greetings,
If you want to buy new you could try a TNT2m64 ... they are very good for 2D stuff on a budget. They are sluggish in modern 3D games but your system would be too slow for modern 3D games anyway. Again, if you are buying new, get AGP because it will be cheaper.
The 3D card you suggested the GF2 mx400 has better 3D functionality than the TNT2 cards but you might not be able to tell with only a 266mhz processor.
If you're looking for 2nd hand and would like some card types to look out for you could try something like a TNT based card, 3Dfx banshee, Voodoo 2 or 3 or maybe a Kyro card.

For what use is your system intended and why are you wanting to upgrade your video card?

Regards,
Elad.

wtts0 · 03-17-2003, 09:51 AM

Thanks guys for all your helpful info.I wish to upgrade cos i want to play games like Counter Strike.Also some games i find needs a minimun 8mb to play.Iam not targeting games with great 3D also.

I have a offer of 2 kinds of cards. A Riva TNT2 32mb or the same gForce2Mx 400 32MB/64MB.So which one?

My current S3 4mb card used the VGA slot, so i need some more votes on which type of card(PCI or VGA) should i get?

Also i run though past forums and i notice something about the problem with the power supply?I have a 200watt.is that ok?

Thanks!

Eladijaz · 03-18-2003, 09:29 PM

Greetings again!
For CS get the geforce2 mx400 with 64mb ram if you're happy to pay the bit extra above the price o the tnt2. The Geforce card has hardware transform & lighting and so does more of the graphics work itself and is also generally a faster card - it is 2 generations above the tnt2 in terms of 3d functionality.
I would guess that your 200watt PSu will be ok with this upgrade but I wouldn't guarantee it.
Regards,
Elad.

griobhta · 03-19-2003, 02:22 AM

i'm still not sure you will see much increase with a geforece2mx over a TNT2. I remeber i had a TNT with my old P200MMX and it was too strong for that machine. Would think that the TNT2 would be near the top of the ability for the PII266. Might be worth seeing if you could get an origional geforce. You prob only have AGP1 and early AGP cards showed little or no preformance increase over PCI. So really the cheaper the better with the two.

g

03-19-2003, 02:43 AM

I have to agree with griobhta on this one your problem is going to be the cpu speed so you might want to buy the cheaper of the cards and save yourself some money but if you go with a newer faster card you can always use it in another system if you wish to upgrade and build/buy one.

griobhta · 03-19-2003, 01:15 PM

I would advise against buying a video card with a view to keeping it when you upgrade as buy the time you upgrade it will probably be fairly behind again and you would have wasted your money.

g

DanU · 03-24-2003, 01:02 PM

Sound advice griobhta. Performance is always increasing and prices are always dropping. Buy for what you need now and worry about future performance needs when you get there.

At newegg the cheapest TNT2 is $25, the cheapest radeon is $28 and the cheapest GF2MX is $35. I would go with either the radeon or the GF2MX. Either card will run counterstrike well, with the CPU being the limiting factor.

John Prophet · 03-24-2003, 01:10 PM

Id go to tiger direct and get a gf2 mx200 for $19 after rebates.

JP

wtts0 · 03-26-2003, 08:54 AM

i manage to borrow from my friend a gforce2mx 400 32mb card.
I have installed it and it works fine.I would get this card at the PC fair.By the way, i did notice that once i installed the card, my computer taken longer to finish loading windows 98.Also the card generates more heat. Is these normal?
Many many thanks guys.!

griobhta · 03-26-2003, 03:26 PM

The heat thing i would think is normal. Think how much more that card it doing than your last one.

The slowing down of windows i am not sure on. Might be something to do with drivers for the older card still being about.

g