video card question

[Rzeractor]

I am wondering, even though i have a slowish PC, if I get a Geforce 4 Ti 4200, will i be able to run all n64 roms at about 50-60fps?

 

[2bzy4ne1]

the case is usually that the video card is the bottleneck for the cpu and vice versa. Getting a new video card won't help much (except for eye candy) unless you have a fast cpu to come with it.

 

[David_Hayter]

Come on

the case is usually that the video card is the bottleneck for the cpu and vice versa. Getting a new video card won't help much (except for eye candy) unless you have a fast cpu to come with it.

Ya dude dont have a pretty bad PC at all (ok, lets say it aint the latest thing, but...), but i dont know why ya asking that question, just run the emus and see by yerself!!!
Good luck
:devil:

 

[Rzeractor]

so, if I get a GF4 ti with this cpu i won't get any performance increase?

 

[cooliscool]

From what u have now? Not at all.

From an integrated POS? Hell yes.

 

[Rzeractor]

hmm, thats odd.
I thought if I get a more powerful video card, I would get better frame rates in games.

 

[james.miller]

it might make a very small difference, but n64 emulation is very cpu dependand. upgrading the cpu is the best way.

after the gf2 series there isnt as much difference as you would think

 

[StonedConker]

It will make a huge difference on the speed believe me.I was with a pentium 3 at 450 and since 5 hours i've updated everything(motherboard,ram,Cpu1800xp).The only thing i kept from basic hardware is the Voodoo3.Of course the speed is now at full speed but i cannot say that i'm amazed.The surething is that a geforce4 titanium can surely do the work,trust me.

 

[Rzeractor]

so for n64 emulation I would need to get a faster CPU, but for non emulation things, a better video card is the option?

 

[StonedConker]

so for n64 emulation I would need to get a faster CPU, but for non emulation things, a better video card is the option?

I would say the opposite

 

[james.miller]

It will make a huge difference on the speed believe me.I was with a pentium 3 at 450 and since 5 hours i've updated everything(motherboard,ram,Cpu1800xp).The only thing i kept from basic hardware is the Voodoo3.Of course the speed is now at full speed but i cannot say that i'm amazed.The surething is that a geforce4 titanium can surely do the work,trust me.

well then how do you know what component made a difference? answer is - you dont


Rzeractor - a faster cpu would be the best choice for emulation, yes. as for regular gaming, id sugest upgrading both

 

[Rzeractor]

hmm, I think I will have to try before I buy.
But I went to nVidia and it analysed my computer:
My card was on 100%
GF2 ultra was 142%
GF3 was 228%
GF4 was 292%

well, that site said if I get a GF4, it would run way faster.

 

[james.miller]

I would say the opposite

no trust me.


my xp1800 is maxed out at 100% constantly in parts of perfect dark. with that in mind, how come turning on 4x aa only results in a maximum of 5-10fsp drop?

its because the graphics card is more than fast enough, but the cpu is underpowered. To solve then problem - a faster cpu is needed in my case also

 

[james.miller]

hmm, I think I will have to try before I buy.
But I went to nVidia and it analysed my computer:
My card was on 100%
GF2 ultra was 142%
GF3 was 228%
GF4 was 292%

well, that site said if I get a GF4, it would run way faster.

you will regret it if you get a ti4200 without upgrading your cpu., because your cpu will be an extreame bottleneck

 

[Rzeractor]

damn
I think I will have to try before I buy would be the best option.

 

[james.miller]

the ti4200's are great cards and will serve you well, but you wont be getting anywhere near the level of performance that a gf4 ti4200 coupled with say an xp1600 or a p4 2.4.b

 

[james.miller]

ive just realised youve got a gf4 420.

remember that ive got a gf4 440 and its allready more than fast enough.

heres a graph show you how the gf4 ti4200 scale:
http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1650&p=3

taken from the site:

The true GeForce4 cards exhibit a remarkably different pattern as they demand higher speed CPUs to unlock their potential. With a slow enough CPU you’d be getting more for your money if you went with a GeForce4 MX than a GeForce4.

your p3 IS one of those slow cpu's

 

[Rzeractor]

I don't expect a HUGE performance increase, I just want most/all games to run smooth(ish) at full or high detail.

 

[james.miller]

take another look at what i posted

"....With a slow enough CPU you’d be getting more for your money if you went with a GeForce4 MX than a GeForce4."


you allready have a gf4 420mx. you wont see any increase in performance unless you get a better cpu (and a new motherboard and ram)

it's that simple

 

[Rzeractor]

i have a GF2 mx400, i just realised i put 420...
oops


but, on that graph, look at the difference with high detail
for the first cpu, the Ti is way above the Mx
considering that, I will get quite a bit performance increase if I get a GF4 Ti 4200.
I will eventually overclock/buy a faster CPU though.