new graphics card

hi
I was wondering is GeForce FX 5200 pci,vga 128mb ddr
better than a GeForce4 MX 440 Tv-out 64mb ddr and how do you check if Windows Xp is running on vga

The big question is how to install a new graphics card (but you don'T have to answer that because i know it would that lots of pages to explain).

Ok, first off. The GeForce FX is better than the GeForce 4 MX. Its not actually a very good card. If your after a budget card, go for ATI. nVIDIA do make terrible budget cards (5200 and 5600), but they make good middle and top range cards.

Secondly, XP will always run on VGA graphics. The other graphics mode were in the DOS days which XP doesnt support.

Thirdly, installing the video card isn't all that difficult. Pop the case off and locate your old card (sat in the slightly bigger brown slot). Unscrew the screw, pull the old card out and put the new card in, screwing it back into place. Put the PC back together, boot into Windows and install the drivers when asked, and thats it!

If of course you have an onboard GFX card first, you will have to disable it in the BIOS (press F2 or DEL when it first boots, or whatever key it tells you to press).

Hope this helps

thanx alot Glyn you've been alot of help unforciantly when this site went down I could'nt read this and spent £90 on the new card i followed you and the books instructions and all i need know is a desent driver if there is a better one out there.
I got a driver from the disc that came with the graphics card but think there's better drivers some where

www.nvidia.com - newe drivers every month or so



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Yup, keep checking the nVIDIA site. The drivers they usually supply on the disk are normally quite outdated, and the new 5x.xx drivers from nVIDIA are actually very good.

"nVIDIA do make terrible budget cards (5200 and 5600), but they make good middle and top range cards."

Ooh :S - I'm ready to order a GeForce FX5600 thinking it's a mid-range card...

OK then, what do you recommend? lol - coz I haven't really looked extensively.

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i would recommend to order a nvidia. then put it streight in the bin! get ati

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OK then, what do you recommend? lol - coz I haven't really looked extensively

5700 is the good middle range one (5800 is a vacuum cleaner - avoid), and the 5900 (not ultra) is also pretty damn fast too.

teh thing about nvidia drivers is true, mine shipped with 38.xx, and thats what they stayed at until i upgraded them like 2 weeks ago :P



Sim

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I'd say get an ati but then I'm biased as I have an 9800 from them. Tell you what though. The GeForce4 Ti4600 is still one of the best gfx cards out for any games bar the newest generation of dx9 games.

The latest ATI drivers have minor problems with both Nascar 2003 (look left while in cockpit, most have a strange right-angle thing), and in GPL (when there is high load on the card (IE back of a full grid) some cars, and your cockpit disappear.

The GPL problem doesn't look like it's going ot be fixed anytime soon, so bear that in mind if anyone wants an ATI card.

Ok, first off. The GeForce FX is better than the GeForce 4 MX. Its not actually a very good card. If your after a budget card, go for ATI. nVIDIA do make terrible budget cards (5200 and 5600), but they make good middle and top range cards.

Ive had no problems with my fx 5200. What makes it not so good?

As a budget card, its comparable to the MX 440 - except the mx440 never pretended to be omething it isnt. MX440 is dx7 card, while the 5200 is dx9, but not powerful enough for dx9 games. Its just a bit of a cop out be nvidia.



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She says brief things, her love’s a pony
My love’s subliminal

Yeah. Its better than the GeForce 4 MX though, like you said, that was awful! DX7 card, when the GF3 is DX8 - shocking!

I can safley say, the GeForce 4 MX was really bad. When I upgraded to my ATi Radeon, I had such a massive boost :|




PSN/Xbox 360 ID - Ianwoollam

Thats not what i was saying at all.....I like the mx440, it is flawed by being dx7, but those who own one know it is a lot better than people give it credit for. Unlike the 5200, which tries to pretend its better than it is.



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My love’s subliminal

"The latest ATI drivers have minor problems with both Nascar 2003 (look left while in cockpit, most have a strange right-angle thing), and in GPL (when there is high load on the card (IE back of a full grid) some cars, and your cockpit disappear.

The GPL problem doesn't look like it's going ot be fixed anytime soon, so bear that in mind if anyone wants an ATI card."


i never get that problem


ive had nvidia and ati. although i had a geforce2 then a ati :P i still think ati is better even tho my gf2 was hanging in there with most games

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As a budget card, its comparable to the MX 440 - except the mx440 never pretended to be omething it isnt. MX440 is dx7 card, while the 5200 is dx9, but not powerful enough for dx9 games. Its just a bit of a cop out be nvidia.

I run a Pentium3 933 Mhz, 128 MB of ram plus the geforce fx 5200, and I have had no troubles running directx 9 games.

In fact, the newer the game the better it runs on my system even though the minimum requirements require more PC power than Ive got.

Some games I do have performance problems with but in those cases lowering resolution or graphics dont make much difference in the frame rate. With new games that require dx9 I usually have a steady and fast frame rate.