GeForce 2 Differences

[cluthu]

Hello all. Seeing as how it's taking a good deal of work to get my aging Voodoo 3500 to work well anymore, I figured it'd be time to upgrade.

Seeing as how I don't have the cash for a GeForce 3 and find the MX series rather lacking, I was wondering if anyone could answer a question of mine about the GTS Pro series. Namely, what the difference between the different manufacturers are. I've noticed that some rather stock/unbranded versions sell for considerably less than something like the Gladiac yet seem nearly identical so far as their specs go. Just what is it (besides the brand being stamped on the box) that makes different versions of the same card so varied in price? Can anyone shed any light on this?

[Gam3rX]

it differs from the board design
eg: Creative ->usually stick with the reference board
Asus,Leadtek etc->have some slight enhancements such as tv in ,tv out ,3d glass etc

[cluthu]

>have some slight enhancements such as tv in ,tv out
The rather barebones card I was looking at provided TV Out, which was one of the only features I'd really require, seeing as how I have a PCI card that already does TV In. From past postings I've seen that so long as you have a GeForce-based card you can use the Detonator drivers. Am I making a correct observation?

[Adair]

yes all geforces use the Detonators. actually I think all nvidia chip cards use them. I know TNTs and Geforces use them at least.

[404]

Detonator

a driver made by nVidia in order to be use with nVidia series of cards. From the range of Riva TNT to the very latest GeForce 3.

as in other word; All in One drivers - a neat and cool name isn't it? Detonator and the best is, its small, and fast as hell :rockets:

[Gam3rX]

it's called Unified Driver Architecture

[Ryos]

Basically the differences revolve around clocked speed, included software, features (like the highly coveted tv out, etc.), and even reliability. I would personally check out a site like anandtech.com and look at the comparisons of various cards before plunking down some money for a possible dud.

[RZetlin]

Originally posted by Ryos
Basically the differences revolve around clocked speed, included software, features (like the highly coveted tv out, etc.), and even reliability. I would personally check out a site like anandtech.com and look at the comparisons of various cards before plunking down some money for a possible dud.

Also try http://www.sharkyextreme.com/ for benchmarking and reviews.

[cluthu]

After a bit of price checking, I decided to reconsider the MX series. Though, as was previously posted, there's web sites available that have ratings and such, I place a good deal of value on first hand experience.

Anywho, I'd like to know if anyone might have some tips regarding to the MX series of cards. Anything to avoid? Recommendations? How might a typical MX card compare to the 3dfx 3500TV (clocked at 200Mhz) I have now?

I'm sorry if I'm asking quite a bit, but I'd hate to spend good money on something terrible

[404]

The following list is with the cheapest and slowest cards first, and the most expensive and fastest cards last.

- GeForce 256 SDR - Runs at 120mhz core / 166mhz memory.
- GeForce 256 DDR - The same as a GeForce 256 SDR except it uses DDR memory.
- GeForce2 MX - May be SDR or DDR, but they are both roughly the same speed because with the MX DDR memory has to run in 64-bit mode as opposed to SDR which runs at 128-bit mode. Runs at 175mhz core / 166mhz memory and does not require a fan on the heatsink.
- GeForce2 GTS (DDR) - Runs at 200mhz core / 166mhz memory.
- GeForce2 Pro (DDR) - The same as a GeForce2 GTS, except it runs at 200mhz core / 200mhz memory.
- GeForce2 Ultra (DDR) - The same as a GeForce2 GTS, except it runs at 250mhz core / 230mhz memory.
- GeForce3 - Runs at 200mhz core / 230mhz memory.

as quoted from http://geforcefaq.com/

You can't compare MX series to V33500 (for 32 bit exp), just cant do that.
Some good cards for MX are : ELSA, Leadtek Winfast, ASUS, GUILLEMOT (Hercules), and some others...

MX is Good, nothing 2 avoid, except the MX 200 series. Else is Good. Except if you have more money, then Go for GF 2 Ultra

[404]

- GeForce3 - Runs at 200mhz core / 230mhz memory

Dont get fooled and think that GF3 is stay at the same speed as GF2 Ultra. Well it's not.

GF2 Ultra uses 0.18 micron architecture
GF3 uses 0.13 (same as Transmeta Crusoe) micron architecture = faster, less heat, less power consumption.

[cluthu]

Thanks for all the info, 404.

[Dan]

I have a Leadtek GeForce 2 MX, with active cooling. I bumped up the CPU/Memory Bus to 210mhz. The scores i achive are on par with the GeForce 2 GTS...

But dont get me wrong, the GTS is a better card, with 4 rendering pipleines instead of 2. But in all actuallity, rarely does any 3d card use more than 2 pipelines, except in extreme circumstances... That how the MX series can sometimes perform as well as a GTS..

But on the other hand, if your into overclocking, and you got a GTS card, you could mark up the perfomance the same i have done with my MX card..

i have a hercules 3d prophet 2 mx, it has tv-out (svideo) and 32mb....unfortunately I haven't been able to compare it a lot with others but for me it performs great.

[cluthu]

>I bumped up the CPU/Memory Bus
How does one overclock a MX board, if you don't mind my asking? Can it be done through software (as is the case with my 3500) or do you have to set jumpers?

[Dan]

All software my friend.. if you find a video card still using jumpers, you might want to donate it to a musem...