DDR Radeon vs. GeForce2MX SDR

[ReddogaNate]

Hey everybody,

I've been browsing this board for over a year now but never really had a question. I have taken advantage of all the deals however. Now I need some of your opinions and advice.

I'm in the market for a new video card, my budget is primarily $100 which basically means I can only get an OEM card. I don't need all the whistles and bells of a Retail card anyway. I intend on building a new system sometime late fall but I really want to improve my gaming performance in the meantime. I would however USE THIS CARD until spring next year even in the new system. My current system is the following:

P3 500
128mb PC100
2 45gb Ultra ATA-7200rpm drives
1 16gb 5400rpm drive
Diamond Viper 550 TNT(The reason why I need a new video card)

That's the basic info at least.

I'm looking at the OEM versions of both the Radeon DDR and Hercules 3D Prophet MX. Both I can get for right around $80. I'm leaning towards the Radeon but would like to hear everyone's opinion and or advice.

Also what is the difference in the OEM version of the Radeon and the retail version.

Thanks,
Nate


[Edited by ReddogaNate on 04-11-2001 at 08:34 AM]

[sbp]

What version of the Radeon are you looking at ReddogaNate?

GeForce 2's are less cpu dependent. That means the GeForce needs less of a cpu to get framerates out of it. Most of the reason is due to its T&L engine.
The Radeons win2000 drivers need work.



[Edited by sbp on 04-11-2001 at 10:52 AM]

[ReddogaNate]

I was looking at the Radeon LE. I have heard that you can turn this into a regular Radeon. I basically just want a quick fix that will last at most a year.

[sbp]

The Radeon Le is an oem part. The vast majority of Radeon Le's have no problems with the registry hack to turn it into a regular 32 meg DDR Radeon. http://www.geocities.com/tnaw_xtennis/RadeonLE-H.htm

The Radeon Le is a more feature rich videocard than the MX. Most people who have compared the GeForce 2 MX to a Radeon card say the Radeon has a sharper and better picture quality. I am not one of those people though. :)

The Radeon Le is clocked at 148 Mhz compared to 166Mhz for a 32 meg DDR Radeon. But you can use one of the tweakers found at the below site to help overclock it to the 32 meg DDR Radeon speed.

If your going to get the Radeon check out http://www.rage3d.com/ for its news and forums.

[AmRivlin]

I am debating also... which will do DVD's and Divx best, meaning I can ditch the DVD decoder. Tv out an option either?

[sbp]

Radeons have the best dvd decoding of all videocards. The Radeon LE and 32 meg DDR Radeon do not come with tv output. The 64 meg Radeon and All in Wonder Radeon do have tv output which is the best of all videocards.

Asus's 7100t GeForce MX card comes with a tv output:
http://www.asus.com.tw/Products/Addon/Vga/agpv7100/spec.html
http://www.asus.com.tw/Products/Addon/Vga/7100t.jpg

[Edited by sbp on 04-11-2001 at 07:22 PM]