Processor + GF3

G

Guest

Guest
Currently im trying to decide if spending the money for a new processor is worth it. I am definately going to get a new video card, either GF3 ti200 or ti500.

The thing is, i have a AMD 1 ghz. athlon processor. Should I upgrade to like an XP 1800+ with a GF3 ti200, or should i grab the ti500?

I'm also very intrested in the New AMD processors coming out later. What do you guys think? Get the ti500 and wait for new AMD's or grab the ti200 with an 1800+?
 

chuck232

Distinguished
Mar 25, 2002
3,430
0
20,780
I'd say you get the GF4 Ti4200 over any of those cards. Maybe a R8500LE 128MB would do pretty nicely too... As for the "new" AMD chips, do you mean Thoroughbred or Hammer. Hammer definitely won't fit in your mobo, and a T-bred may require a mobo flash before it correctly detects it.

My firewall tastes like burning. :eek:
 
G

Guest

Guest
My concern is, is it more important to have a faster processor or a better gf card?

I'm thinking about the 4200 now. :D Looks like a great deal.
 

chuck232

Distinguished
Mar 25, 2002
3,430
0
20,780
Well what kind of work would you be doing? If you're into games and such, a 1GHz proc should be enough for now. Some games like JKII and Commanche4 are extremely taxing on the CPU, which would then require you to upgrade that first. But a GF4 Ti4200 probably scales CPUs the best for a sub-$200 card. At 1GHz, the performance difference between this and some other cards like R8500LE 128MB may not be too much but you seem like you're wanting to upgrade the CPU too sometime soon. That would let you use even more of the Ti4200's power. For video editing and so forth, I'm not really sure. <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1608&p=1" target="_new">Here</A>, <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=1619&p=1" target="_new">here</A>, <A HREF="http://www.hardocp.com/reviews/vidcards/nvidia/gf4ti4200/index.html" target="_new">here</A>, <A HREF="http://www.hardocp.com/reviews/vidcards/nvidia/gf4ti42/index.html" target="_new">here</A>, and <A HREF="http://www6.tomshardware.com/graphic/02q2/020409/index.html" target="_new">here</A> are some nice reviews/previews of the GF4 Ti4200.

My firewall tastes like burning. :eek:
 

eden

Champion
Ya know, you can also trade-in your CPU and pay less for an AXP.
What's your current motherboard?
You should be able to get a cheap-priced XP1800 and some DDR if you don't use that, your system should be nice then. Of course keep in mind that I am saying this on account you will trade-in. Do the same for the card, in the end you can afford an XP1800+Ti4200 upgrade for a very nice price!

--
Luke, I am your father...but due to a bacon-slicing accident, your mother... :lol:
 

lhgpoobaa

Illustrious
Dec 31, 2007
14,462
1
40,780
If your gaming, then a better card will give you more performance than a new cpu, given that you DO have a 1ghz processor allready.

the 4200 or 4400 should keep you quiet for a LONG time :smile:

My Next Performance System!!! - P4 Celleron, 128k cache, SDRAM, Integrated graphics, 5400rpm HDD!
 

chuck232

Distinguished
Mar 25, 2002
3,430
0
20,780
I just found that a GF4 card scales CPUs nicely, and since at 1GHz, the performance difference between it and a R8500/LE isn't much at all, he/she (is VenessaCarlton a female, by looking at the name) might be better off getting a R8500LE 128MB for less than a Ti4200 if he/she is not going to upgrade their CPU soon. For example if I buy that video card now, and in 2 years I upgrade my CPU, I'll probably need a new gfx card again, so why not spend the money on something that works almost as well and that costs less.

My firewall tastes like burning. :eek: <P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Chuck232 on 05/20/02 09:32 AM.</EM></FONT></P>
 

eden

Champion
Damn, the 128MB Radeon 8500 in Canada cost over 200$ more than its 8500 64MB! Geez talk about a ripoff...
IMO the Ti4200 is still the best bargain.

--
Luke, I am your father...but due to a bacon-slicing accident, your mother... :lol:
 

chuck232

Distinguished
Mar 25, 2002
3,430
0
20,780
Yeah here at Futureshop a R8500 128MB is $499 and a 64MB is $329. Crap prices compared to newegg.com or pricewatch.com. Unfortunately Futureshop doesn't sell Ti4200 yet. What's weird is that they sell MX420, MX440, and then straight up to a Ti4600. There definitely aren't many customers for those cards here. And now they took out the R8500 64MB.

My firewall tastes like burning. :eek:
 

AMD_Man

Splendid
Jul 3, 2001
7,376
2
25,780
Lol! Future Shop! Go to Canada Computers man!! If you're in the area, of course. They ALWAYS have crowds of computer enthusiasts buying stuff from them at the lowest prices in Canada.

:wink: <b><i>"A penny saved is a penny earned!"</i></b> :wink:
 

chuck232

Distinguished
Mar 25, 2002
3,430
0
20,780
Unfortunately Futureshop has the lowest prices in my area. There are some small shops, but they only thing they are good for are CPU fans... They even sell R8500 64MB for $449 still, which is more than Futureshop. On PEI, there are like no good shops. I have to go to Moncton for some better deals.

My firewall tastes like burning. :eek:
 

eden

Champion
Well my local shop RBC, has some video card prices below Canada computers. Such as the Ti4600.
You can compare prices if you want, here: <A HREF="http://www.shoprbc.com" target="_new">http://www.shoprbc.com</A>
Each has his or her own good prices.

--
Luke, I am your father...but due to a bacon-slicing accident, your mother... :lol: