I'm updating my GFX card, please help me.

[jessman1988]

Hey, I know that a GeForce 3 is the recommended card for Project 64, but the best I can find on short notice is a $64 GeForce 2 XM or whatever it's called. It supports GPU and it has 64mb on it, and since I don't have an AGP slot, this is the cheapest and best card I can find. Can someone tell me if this card supports OpenGL 1.2, and if I'll get even remotely better results than with my S3 Graphics ProSavage. I know nothing about 3D FX and this is the ONLY card I can get my hands on. It's on Layaway right now, and I wanna know if it's worth it. PLEASE help me, as I'm getting very frustraited.

 

[dnrobs]

seems like we been here before youre specs are very modern ,agp has been around for 5 years or so ide be amazed if you didnt have an agp port to be honest i cant think of k7 motherboards without them.i may be wrong tho hopefully someone can come along and give you an 100 percent answer.geoforce cards arnt 3dfx but direct draw.you have had several answers to your posts try doing some research rather than continually repeating questions
feel free to correct me if im wrong tho

 

[jessman1988]

Please listen to me. I just want to know if a GeForce 2 will make n64 games look or play the LEAST bit better. No one is helping, and you didn't even answer my question. Also, I wanted to know if any new games out there support GeForce 2, because my GFX card can't even play new games! I know that a GeForce 2 is old, but I'm only asking if it'll be enough to enjoy n64 emulation!

 

[fivefeet8]

Also, I wanted to know if any new games out there support GeForce 2, because my GFX card can't even play new games! I know that a GeForce 2 is old, but I'm only asking if it'll be enough to enjoy n64 emulation!

Most of the newer games still will run on Geforce2's with a lot of the graphical effects disabled. Mainly Pixel shader effects. Some PC games that are out now will not run on anything less than a Dx8 video card though. In those games, your geforce2mx will not run them. Silent Hill 3 PC is an example.

For N64 emulation though, the card will do fine with the right plugins and config. It will do a lot better than your S3 card.

 

[jessman1988]

Thank YOU so much for being a truely helpful person. Because I live in Alaska, I'll easily be able to buy $200+ GFX card when I get my yearly Dividend/Permenant fund check, but meanwhile, I just had a couple more questions. First of all, are there any newer GeForce cards out there which are for PCI? (NOT AGP) Does the GF2 support OpenGL 1.2? Also, will a GeForce2 play games including Max Payne, GTA3, Midnight Club 2, etc. at all? If not, what new games can play with a GF2? And finally, will a GeForce2 play Zelda at a 1024x768 resolution without MAJOR slowdown? (if you look at my other system specs, this SHOULD be possible). My current card barely plays games at a constant 60FPS at 640x480! Thanks again, and please, someone reply for a final time, so I can be assured.


P.S. Isn't an S3 ProSavage a DX8 GFX card? And how come a GF2 isn't either? If my current card can use DX9 GFX, then how come a GF2 can't use DX8? Sorry if I sound like a n00b...

 

[co_p3rth]

well, i still use my geforce2, and currently, it can play zelda at full speed on 1024x768 resolution and with most other games, i guess it's support opengl 1.2, not sure tho, it can play max payne 2, since i played it now,most new games still playable juat like fivefeet8 said. well, it plays fifa2004,nba live 2004, worms3d(is this new?),GTA3 and vice city is fully playable, midnight club2 also, so no worry mate

 

[Clements]

And finally, will a GeForce2 play Zelda at a 1024x768 resolution without MAJOR slowdown? (if you look at my other system specs, this SHOULD be possible). My current card barely plays games at a constant 60FPS at 640x480! Thanks again, and please, someone reply for a final time, so I can be assured.

Easily. You might be able to get no slowdown at 1280 X 1024 with the right config. You'll get over 80fps in Zelda if you turn the limiter off (that's what I got with my MX card, although I had the GeForce4 MX440 which is just a faster GeForce2 MX essentially).

P.S. Isn't an S3 ProSavage a DX8 GFX card? And how come a GF2 isn't either? If my current card can use DX9 GFX, then how come a GF2 can't use DX8? Sorry if I sound like a n00b...

The GF2 isn't DX8 because it isn't a very good card, just a cheap budget card. Saying that, it's far better than any Savage card you can buy. The DX features only really matter in PC games. And the GeForce2 MX supports OpenGL 1.2. The MX cards are below spec because they lack a small collection of features that Jabo's plugin requires. That's why it says GeForce3, but don't be put off, I can name only one glitch that occurs with certain MX cards, so you'll be fine.

 

[jessman1988]

So, Clements, you're saying that games like Conker won't have the white head glitch, and Zelda games should have properly colored fairies and the action icon will be readable with a GF2, and Mario's head actually won't be black? I'm not expecting to get FLAWLESS results with this temporary solution card, but as long as I can play games at a high res without the above glitches, I'll be EXTREMELY happy. Thank you very much for your helpfulness as not many people tend to care about the little guy, lol. You've risen my hopes, and I just hope that SOME pc games out there will work with this decision I'm making. Thanks again for everything, and I hope to be as helpful as you in these forums some day.

P.S.I'm sorry for asking ANOTHER question, but I've never installed a GFX card before. The closest I've done is installing RAM. Is a card as simple to install as RAM if you know where it goes? Also, if I have more than one slot, can/do I take out my old card and replace it with my new one, or do I just install the GF2 in the second slot? And FINALLY, if I install the GF2 in a secondary slot, how do I select it for pc games/emulation? I'm worried that my games will still MAKE me use the S3 card instead of the GF2. Thanks again, and I don't intentionally try to be a pest.

P.P.S. Your smiling avatar may frighten small children, but you're an awsome help, ha ha ha. (j/k man, I respect you.)

 

[co_p3rth]

dunno bout conkers, but zelda, mario,and most of other games will have nice gfx, fairies has correct display, mario head is normal red it's very good for ur temp. gfx card so i say, for zelda,mario64 or kart, and mario party, its flawless tho no need to worry hehe

 

[dukenukem]

You will never see that white crap again for project64,i know because i bought a geforce2mx200 pci and it works great for n64 and psx emulation,fixed the whit link and other errors due to my crappy integrated 4meg agp ati rage pro turbo.

 

[jessman1988]

YAY! There's others like me out there! You guys BOTH have GF2 cards!!!!!! And co_p3rth, you have the EXACT card that I'm going to pick up!!!! (Sorry about the overexcitement but you guys have made so FRIGGIN' HAPPY!!!!)I just wanna ask you guys ONE thing: what semi-new and popular games are there that you guys know of that work with a GF2? Thanks again everyone, because I NEVER thought so many people would help me out!

P.S. dukenukem, your pc can play n64 games good? I remember having a 466MHZ Celeron, and it couldn't do squat! That GF2 must be SOME card, huh?

 

[co_p3rth]

YAY! There's others like me out there! You guys BOTH have GF2 cards!!!!!! (sorry about my overexcitement, but I'm SO FRIGGIN' HAPPY!) I just wanna ask you guys ONE thing: what semi-new and popular games are there that you guys know of that work with a GF2? Thanks again everyone, because I NEVER thought so many people would help me out!

hey, i told u already lol (but mine is agp, not much different i guess ?)
list of my games that works great:
GTA 3 and Vice City
FIFA 2004
NBA live 2004
Worms3d
Max Payne 2
sims series
and so on...
oh yeah, age of mythology the titans and C&C generals (Zero hour) works also

 

[Trotterwatch]

An FX 5200 PCI is available too, which whilst not a top of the range card, should prove better than a GF2 PCI. With some luck they'll be in the same price range.

If not yeah the GF2 PCI will be fine for N64 emulation, for PC games though it'll be left wanting on all but low resolutions/detail levels (older games will be fine on higher resolutions).

P.S.I'm sorry for asking ANOTHER question, but I've never installed a GFX card before. The closest I've done is installing RAM. Is a card as simple to install as RAM if you know where it goes?

Much more simple IMO... and that's saying something, hehe

 

[co_p3rth]

yup, it's very simple, if u're using AGP, there's one slot that has a (brown colour?) sorry 4 my english, it's easier than RAM tho, or just the same

 

[Smiff]

i haven't read the whole thread but i wouldn't get below a GF3 for N64 emulation... looking slightly ahead WRT video plugins pixel shaders and blend modes.

 

[Doomulation]

Installing a gfx card is very simple. In this case it's pci, you put it into one of the pci slots of push it down until it stucks. It's not much more than that and I guess I needn't tell you to be careful since you've installed memory before.

 

[jessman1988]

co_p3rth, are you SURE that your GF2 is an AGP? Because you have a GF2MX 400 64MB, and that's exactly what my PCI is gonna be. And how come some of you say emulation is GREAT with a GF2 while others say it's not good enough? I'm confused. And also, how can one of you say that GTA3 and Max Payne 2 runs great, while some of you say I'll have to play it at a low res? I'm really getting mixed feelings when you guys all say different things...Can someone clear this up so I won't be left guessing how it's going to work?

Last thing, I still don't know how to use my new GFX card once it's installed. I'd like to keep my old card in for some reason, but if I put the GF2 in the second slot, how do I use it with games/emulation? Will my pc MAKE me use my S3, or will I be able to configure my default GFX card? I've never even used a secondary card before, and just want to know what to expect one it's installed. Also, will it hurt anything if I DO take out my old card and replace it with my new old? Thanks again everyone for replying, but so many different people responded that I can't personally thank all of you, lol.

 

[jessman1988]

well, i still use my geforce2, and currently, it can play zelda at full speed on 1024x768 resolution and with most other games, i guess it's support opengl 1.2, not sure tho, it can play max payne 2, since i played it now,most new games still playable juat like fivefeet8 said. well, it plays fifa2004,nba live 2004, worms3d(is this new?),GTA3 and vice city is fully playable, midnight club2 also, so no worry mate

co_p3rth, I'm sorry for asking the pc games question twice, but I JUST saw this post. (For some reason I missed it, lol)

 

[RJARRRPCGP]

Thank YOU so much for being a truely helpful person. Because I live in Alaska, I'll easily be able to buy $200+ GFX card when I get my yearly Dividend/Permenant fund check, but meanwhile, I just had a couple more questions. First of all, are there any newer GeForce cards out there which are for PCI? (NOT AGP) Does the GF2 support OpenGL 1.2? Also, will a GeForce2 play games including Max Payne, GTA3, Midnight Club 2, etc. at all? If not, what new games can play with a GF2? And finally, will a GeForce2 play Zelda at a 1024x768 resolution without MAJOR slowdown? (if you look at my other system specs, this SHOULD be possible). My current card barely plays games at a constant 60FPS at 640x480! Thanks again, and please, someone reply for a final time, so I can be assured.


P.S. Isn't an S3 ProSavage a DX8 GFX card? And how come a GF2 isn't either? If my current card can use DX9 GFX, then how come a GF2 can't use DX8? Sorry if I sound like a n00b...

Yes, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time won't have any major slowdowns at 1024x768, with a GeForce2 MX as long as the processor is at least 700 mhz.

 

[jessman1988]

Thanks for the reply, but that question has already been answered
two-fold. I just need help on clearing the air. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, some people say that a GF2 is great for n64 emulation, and many pc games, while others say that it's horrible. Can someone PLEASE tell me what is true, as it can't be both really good and really bad. I'm just gonna buy this card and use it until I can afford a MUCH better PCI card. It's not like it would be easy to get an AGP slot installed.

Also, can someone PLEASE answer this? I don't know what to do once I get my card. I can install it no problem, but please, just read this whole thing.

Last thing, I still don't know how to use my new GFX card once it's installed. I'd like to keep my old card in for some reason, but if I put the GF2 in the second slot, how do I use it with games/emulation? Will my pc MAKE me use my S3, or will I be able to configure my default GFX card? I've never even used a secondary card before, and just want to know what to expect one it's installed. Also, will it hurt anything if I DO take out my old card and replace it with my new old? Thanks again everyone for replying, but so many different people responded that I can't personally thank all of you, lol.