Suggestion for PCI gaming card ?

[VJ]

Hello,

Perhaps a weird question, but I'd like to upgrade my system a little (the G200 just isn't enough for gaming, and I'd like a TV-out feature - not present on the Millenium G200 and it seems a bit of a "lost upgrade" now).

I thought about buying a new AGP videocard, but as I intend to upgrade my system somewhere next year (approx. 3rd quarter), I am considering either a decent AGP card now, or a good PCI card now and a new AGP card next year (hopefully matrox ?). The soundcard is also in need of upgrade, but this seems less important...

The upgrade will most likely be a dual-processor (I use it as workstation), either AMD or P4 (if that will be available...).

I thought about a Kyro2 PCI videocard, but there is no PCI-version that offers TV-out.... (see http://us.hercules.com/support/kyro_faq.php3#1 )
Any alternatives ?

What would you guys do ?
(current config : see below)


Jörg


Pentium II-450, 384 MB SDRAM
Matrox Millenium G200
Adaptec 2940 UW
IBM Ultrastar 36LZX (10K, LVD, 18 GB)
Quantum Atlas 10K (10K, LVD, 9 GB)
Plextor 4220i (internal SCSI)
Adaptec 2906
Agfa Snapscan 1236s
Iomega Zip 250
3com 3c900 combo
Creative Labs AWE32 (isa sound card)

[Schorsch]

Jörg,

if I got your question right you already have a motherboard with an AGP slot - is that correct? If yes, I wouldn't spend a single second on thinking about a PCI card because today AGP cards are cheaper than their PCI counterparts. For example, Alternate (a big German internet store) has the Asus V7100 Pro Pure (based on the GeForce 2 MX-400) in both versions. The AGP version comes at 209 DM while the PCI version costs 249 DM - so I think this should be an easy decision.

The other question is: should you get a good AGP card now or buy a cheaper card and wait for something better (by Matrox) in the future? That's a much more difficult question. The problem is that all rumours about the next Matrox chip are pure speculation at the moment. In my opinion, buying a cheap card now only to replace it in 10 or 11 months is a waste of money so I'd probably get a good AGP card now - the Radeon 8500 should be still doing fine when you get to upgrade your system.

Georg

PS: By the way - I also still use my G200

[VJ]

if I got your question right you already have a motherboard with an AGP slot

Yes, that is correct (mainboard is a Shuttle HOT 661). The PCI versions tend to be more expensive, I forgot about that, but it is true...

I figured I could use the PCI-card after the upgrade (or in my second computer, to replace my Mystique 220), but come to think of it, in both cases it probably is not such a good solution. Use in upgrade: within 10 months, almost every AGP card will outperform virtually any PCI card currently available. Use in second computer: this machine is a Pentium 166, so gaming is already impossible (I use it as an xclient with a 14" as a second display), so the Mystique is sufficiant...

So I have to agree with you : purchase of a PCI-card (for my purpose) is not the way to go...

The question therefore is as you state it : good or mediocre AGP-card... Well, I do value 2D quality... I think I'll just keep my G200 for the time being...


Jörg

[Gurm]

If you wanna play games, a Radeon is just fine. 2D is pretty darn good (not up to Matrox standards, true... but...) and 3D is nice. The drivers are a bit tweaky - just use the latest Omega driverset and you should be fine.

- Gurm

P.S. Did I mention that 64MB Radeons are cheap as anything nowadays?

[VJ]

Computerhardware is never cheap here in Belgium...

Thanks for the hint !


Jörg