Please help this novice

FuelCellTrainer · Sep 28, 2004, 07:34 PM

I have a mad dog geforce 2 video card that seems to lock up when I run anything that uses directx 8.1 or requires a 3D card. I replaced it with the cheap oem card that came with an older system, and the performance it a bit better, but it still won't run current games for my kids. Can someone give me the scoop on a decent, current, video card to replace these with that won't break the bank yet will stop my kids looking at me with the "you blew it, Dad" eyes?

**MIG-31** · Sep 28, 2004, 07:36 PM

does help a little to give us a budget to work with.

and do you want to stick with nvidia.

and also what system you have.

FuelCellTrainer · Sep 28, 2004, 08:35 PM

I have a Syntax 266A Motherboard, 1.67 GHz AMD. My wallet would like to stay <$100 if possible

Nacht · Sep 29, 2004, 12:59 AM

i assume you have agp? probably 4x?

you might want around the 64MB 4x AGP geforce4 ti series...or the equivalent of an ATi. getting the less amount of memory and slower agp bus will save you some money too.

Wiredzero · Sep 29, 2004, 09:16 AM

Best advice I can give for shopping for a new videocard:

http://www.pricewatch.com

FuelCellTrainer · Sep 29, 2004, 03:35 PM

Thanks for the info. I called the company I bought the PC from and he says he has had no compatibility problems with the same card. I'm wondering if I have something configured wrong. The reviews I have seen for the card aren't that stellar. I have uninstalled and re-run the installation to no avail. I will buy another if I need to, but if it's something I have configured incorrectly I would rather save the $$$.

FuelCellTrainer · Sep 29, 2004, 04:05 PM

I have found the following: What do you guys think?

1. Radeon 9250, AGP, 128MB, 8.0 G/Sec, 400 Mhz RAMDAC - $65.95
2. Apollo Bloody Monster 3 NVIDIA GeForce FX2500 4x AGP 128MB - $52.75

Wiredzero · Sep 29, 2004, 08:35 PM

The radeon's "okay"...although it won't be much of a gaming videocard, and you might be a little dissapointed with it's performance. The GeForce3's don't even do DirectX9 Support, do they? :P

I think these two (mentioned below) would probably be to your liking, although they'll probably cost a couple bucks more.

Rosewill ATi Radeon 9600
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...164-023&DEPA=0

ASUS nVidia GeForceFX 5200
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...121-150&depa=0

Both would seem like dreams compared to the performance of your old card. They both price around the same. While the nVidia would probably be more stable, the ATi would have the better performance of the two I've mentioned. (Just bein' fair n' givin' it to ya straight.)

FuelCellTrainer · Sep 29, 2004, 08:41 PM

Thanks again. My AGP is 1x/2x/4x. Are these both compatible? I thought I had seen something about Radeon having problems with the SYNTAX mb's

Wiredzero · Sep 29, 2004, 08:46 PM

It's very possible that the Radeon won't like that perticular motherboard because of it's chipset. I had a similar problem when I had my hands on a 9500 Pro and tried to plug it into a Shuttle AK31A Motherboard (has a VIA chipset)

Might be best to go with the nVidia one, considering you already know that nVidia cards work with your machine.

FuelCellTrainer · Sep 29, 2004, 08:50 PM

One more question then I'll quit ... any insight on what the problem might be with my Mad Dog Nvidia Geforce 2 might be? When I try to run some games, the screen goes black....

Wiredzero · Sep 30, 2004, 06:05 AM

My best guess would be...is that with as old as the GeForce2 is...that the drivers that will work with it are REALLY limited...and my best guess would be is that the GPU on it probably decided that it was just "it's time."

'Machines are built by humans. Humans are imperfect beings, why should we expect machines to be perfect?'

~~HawK~~ · Sep 30, 2004, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiredzero

It's very possible that the Radeon won't like that perticular motherboard because of it's chipset. I had a similar problem when I had my hands on a 9500 Pro and tried to plug it into a Shuttle AK31A Motherboard (has a VIA chipset)

Might be best to go with the nVidia one, considering you already know that nVidia cards work with your machine.

My mom got the same Mobo and she's runnin a 9700 with no problem.

If you do not want the 9600 or 9550, why not try and find a NV GF44(6)00
but my bet is you'd like the 9600

Sep 28, 2004, 07:34 PM	#1
FuelCellTrainer DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Please help this novice I have a mad dog geforce 2 video card that seems to lock up when I run anything that uses directx 8.1 or requires a 3D card. I replaced it with the cheap oem card that came with an older system, and the performance it a bit better, but it still won't run current games for my kids. Can someone give me the scoop on a decent, current, video card to replace these with that won't break the bank yet will stop my kids looking at me with the "you blew it, Dad" eyes?

Sep 28, 2004, 07:36 PM	#2
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,818 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	does help a little to give us a budget to work with. and do you want to stick with nvidia. and also what system you have. __________________ Please Post Your News Submissions Here

Sep 29, 2004, 09:16 AM	#5
Wiredzero HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The other side of the screen. Posts: 156 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Best advice I can give for shopping for a new videocard: http://www.pricewatch.com __________________

Sep 29, 2004, 03:35 PM	Thread Starter #6
FuelCellTrainer DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Thanks Thanks for the info. I called the company I bought the PC from and he says he has had no compatibility problems with the same card. I'm wondering if I have something configured wrong. The reviews I have seen for the card aren't that stellar. I have uninstalled and re-run the installation to no avail. I will buy another if I need to, but if it's something I have configured incorrectly I would rather save the $$$.

Sep 29, 2004, 08:35 PM	#8
Wiredzero HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The other side of the screen. Posts: 156 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	The radeon's "okay"...although it won't be much of a gaming videocard, and you might be a little dissapointed with it's performance. The GeForce3's don't even do DirectX9 Support, do they? :P I think these two (mentioned below) would probably be to your liking, although they'll probably cost a couple bucks more. Rosewill ATi Radeon 9600 http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...164-023&DEPA=0 ASUS nVidia GeForceFX 5200 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...121-150&depa=0 Both would seem like dreams compared to the performance of your old card. They both price around the same. While the nVidia would probably be more stable, the ATi would have the better performance of the two I've mentioned. (Just bein' fair n' givin' it to ya straight.) __________________

Sep 28, 2004, 08:35 PM	Thread Starter #3
FuelCellTrainer DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	I have a Syntax 266A Motherboard, 1.67 GHz AMD. My wallet would like to stay <$100 if possible

Sep 29, 2004, 12:59 AM	#4
Nacht ein Krieger Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clemson Uni Posts: 3,127 Rep Power: 0	i assume you have agp? probably 4x? you might want around the 64MB 4x AGP geforce4 ti series...or the equivalent of an ATi. getting the less amount of memory and slower agp bus will save you some money too.

Sep 29, 2004, 04:05 PM	Thread Starter #7
FuelCellTrainer DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	I have found the following: What do you guys think? 1. Radeon 9250, AGP, 128MB, 8.0 G/Sec, 400 Mhz RAMDAC - $65.95 2. Apollo Bloody Monster 3 NVIDIA GeForce FX2500 4x AGP 128MB - $52.75

Sep 29, 2004, 08:41 PM	Thread Starter #9
FuelCellTrainer DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Thanks Thanks again. My AGP is 1x/2x/4x. Are these both compatible? I thought I had seen something about Radeon having problems with the SYNTAX mb's

Sep 29, 2004, 08:46 PM	#10
Wiredzero HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The other side of the screen. Posts: 156 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	It's very possible that the Radeon won't like that perticular motherboard because of it's chipset. I had a similar problem when I had my hands on a 9500 Pro and tried to plug it into a Shuttle AK31A Motherboard (has a VIA chipset) Might be best to go with the nVidia one, considering you already know that nVidia cards work with your machine. __________________

Sep 29, 2004, 08:50 PM	Thread Starter #11
FuelCellTrainer DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	One more question then I'll quit ... any insight on what the problem might be with my Mad Dog Nvidia Geforce 2 might be? When I try to run some games, the screen goes black....

Sep 30, 2004, 06:05 AM	#12
Wiredzero HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The other side of the screen. Posts: 156 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	My best guess would be...is that with as old as the GeForce2 is...that the drivers that will work with it are REALLY limited...and my best guess would be is that the GPU on it probably decided that it was just "it's time." 'Machines are built by humans. Humans are imperfect beings, why should we expect machines to be perfect?' __________________