What AGP4x is better than a Geforce4 Ti4600?

[shizzzon]

I think i might need a new video card because about a couple months ago, the fan on my G4 card went out and i ran the card without a fan not knowing for about 28hrs until the pc started stuttering on the video display which led me to the problem.

I got the OEM replacement HSF for the video card but ever since i have installed it, once per month the monitor will dim and then display scanlines making it hard to read text of course.

I can only assume it's the card.

I run a KVM switch and only this one pc does it. I also run video out from this card but the scanline problem doesnt carry onto the tv. Also, to correct the problem, the pc has to be shut off then turned back on, restarting will still have scanlines during the POST!

So, unless someone knows a solution or an answer other than it's the card, what is a video card that is better than a Geforce4 Ti4600 that is AGP4x since that's what i am limited to and it has to be nvidia chipset.

[SoloCamo]

How much money can you spend, and what are your complete system specs, including PSU.

AGP 8x videocards are backwards compatible with 4x and will work in a 4x slot fine.

[shizzzon]

learn somethin everyday, i always wondered that, and thanks for that little bit of info,

System specs-

Asus 17v266-E/AA mobo
Sempron 2800+
1GB of Corsair
Thermaltake 560w PSU
WinXP Pro SP2.RC2

That should be enough info for ya. Everything else is typical, 2 HDDs, 2 DVDrom drives, some fans, creative audigy, 3Com Nic Card

[SoloCamo]

how much you planning to spend?

[shizzzon]

oops, hehe, hmm, i guess below $400

[SoloCamo]

With slightly under 400 dollars you can get the best agp card available, the X850XT PE but the problem is the cpu would bottleneck it by a good amount. Anything from the x800 and up series from Ati would be a huge jump nonetheless. and the 6600gt is the best midrange card which can be had for around 150 new.

It all depends on how much you game and how long you want this system to last you..

[DanielMsi]

geforce 4ti's were impressive in their day, its a shame that happened. i would o for a 6600gt, youll be happy you did. ITs a great improvement.

[lhsonic]

the 6600GT is a great card for the price, but not for his budget. He can go much higher to even an 6800 which is much better than the 6600GT, he can even shoot for a 6800GT if he so desires.

[johnnyis42]

6800GS have just been released. much faster than the 6600's, 256 bit memory bus at 256 megabytes. and less than 300 bucks to boot.

[bombledmonk]

6800GS have just been released. much faster than the 6600's, 256 bit memory bus at 256 megabytes. and less than 300 bucks to boot.

The AGP versions probably won't be on the shelves until right before or just after Christmas though....

Without upgrading the CPU this are the highest I'd recommend. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102492

A 6800GT would also be a good choice, but they are starting to become more scarce.

And if your planning to upgrade in the future or something you might as well get the best card you can for the money...

[johnnyis42]

hahahahahaha..... i'm an idiot. thanks for the reminder. der

[shizzzon]

wow, that ATI card looks nice.
I do have a question though, you guys say my cpu can bottleneck some of the high end 8xagp cards out there that could work on my mobo, what specs are you going by to assume that?

My 2800 clocks right at the speed of a friends 2.53ghz p4 non HT. We have never had a stutter problem or any graphics problem and the newest games i've played are Painkiller 1 and 2, Doom 3, Call of Duty 2. Never a problem.

I was unaware that my cpu may be sluggish in some of the other newer games, please explain.

[SoloCamo]

what do you mean it clocks right at that speed? a 2800+ doesn't run at 2.5ghz...

What we are saying is that you won't see the cards 100% full potential, but it will still be a huge and worthly upgrade for you.

You couldn't have played a game like Doom3 maxed out with a ti4600 at any decent resolution smoothly (1024 and up), it's just not going to happen, unless you consider less than 15fps smooth?

[shizzzon]

thats my point, a 2800 runs at 2.12 and is equivalent in SiSandra benchmark to my friends 2.53 p4 without HT.

I have played painkiller 1 and 2 and Doom 3 at 800x600 but call of duty 2 at 1024x768.

When i change res on games, i dont notice a difference in quality at all.
And how would i be able to see what FPS the game is playing at?

[SoloCamo]

download FRAPS
http://www.fraps.com/download.php

You don't see a difference in resolutions? Gotta get them eyes checked

[shizzzon]

ok got FRAPS and here are results on that G4 card i have right now-

Playin call of duty 2 at 1024x768 at 70Hz with 4x anti-aliasing.
Benchmark file showed lowest FPS was 41 and highest was 102.

I have never tweaked my card and have never had a grpahics performance problem either.

[SoloCamo]

what settings are you running the game at?

[shizzzon]

res - 1024 x 768
refresh rate - 70Hz
aspect ratio - Auto
Texture Filter - Bilinear
Anti-aliasing - 4x
Rendering Preference - DirectX9.0c
Texture Settings - All set to highest level - EXTRA

Number of Corpses - Large

Sync every frame - NO
Soften smoke edges - NO

[bombledmonk]

res - 1024 x 768
refresh rate - 70Hz
aspect ratio - Auto
Texture Filter - Bilinear
Anti-aliasing - 4x
Rendering Preference - DirectX9.0c
Texture Settings - All set to highest level - EXTRA

Number of Corpses - Large

Sync every frame - NO
Soften smoke edges - NO

Well for one thing, it's not running in DX9, because the 4600 does not support DX9 so your not actually seeing all you "could" with a newer card, that is if you care.

[shizzzon]

r u sure? because i ran a test in DxDiag and it did a test in D7, D8 and D9 and performed all 3 fine.