Gainward GF4 Ti-4200

[Hans]

We've got a review on GF4 Ti-4200 here:

http://www.overclockers.co.nz/ocnz/vga/gainwardti4200/1.shtml

Comments? Flames?

[Elle T]

Good review, Nice OC,
But..............

*Opens Big Ole Can-O-Rants*
Please stop using a CPU intensive game for benchmarks.
Serious Sam SE/FE are dependent on the processor not graphic card.
*Can Emptyed*

Probley buy a 4200 soon to tie me over till D3 but waiting for more reviews on the different brands.

[Hans]

What else do you want us to use? 3DMark2001 Only?

We are not using Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast or Comanche 4 coz they really are CPU dependent.

Now, tell me where did you got the idea of SS:SE is CPU limited?

From this article: http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.html?i=1608

http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/video/roundups/2002/04/sub200/image004.gif

SS:SE is not CPU limited at all, provided your CPU > 1.3GHz.

BTW, we are thinking ****ing to Return to Castle Wolfenstein though.

[Solid Snake]

I wonder what is the justification behind that.

You've got that for the fan. The justification is that I think that the fans run at a lower voltage ... ~8.4 V I believe. Not sure WHY they did that ... if that is what you mean, but that's why.

DECRESAE

I'm so picky ... but that what happens when you do an English Uni paper...

It might sound a little predandic [paranoid] but I don't think you should 'advertise' that this card will always do the amazing overclock you did. The cards will vary ... and people ... well might complain a tad when they can't get the score you do. Just for safety precautions ......

[KingJackal]

lol - YOU're picky?? :p

Corrections underlined:

Page 1:
With the above said, the Ti-4200 is not for everyone. It costs more than 50% more than a GF4 MX-440. Users with 15-inch monitors may not get the full benefit of a Ti-4200 because they are limited to low resolutions. In addition, not everyone can afford a GF4 Ti-4200.

There are two versions of Ti-4200, they are:

However, the lack of a DVI-I to VGA Adapter is rather annoying as people need to get their own if a second analogue output is required.

You will notice that the Ti-4200 sports very different construction to the Ti-4600. It looks more like the GF3 Ti series. This is done to cut down the manufacturing cost, since this is labelled as a "budget" card. The GPU used in this batch is still at A2 revision. Hopefully we will be getting some A3 revision cards in the near future. It is said that they overclock slightly better than the A2 version. Anyone remember the initial GF3s? It was not until A5 that Nvidia ironed out all of the bugs.

Page 2:
I would like to see Gainward using BGA packaging for the GF4 Ti-4200 but I guess that requires a redesign of the board layout.

As with the case of the GF4 MX-460, Gainward applied an excess amount of thermal grease to mate the GPU and HSF. Remember, the excess amount of thermal grease will DECREASE the efficiency of any heat transfer.

Double up:
Overclocking is carried out with default cooling.

Overclocking is carried out with default cooling.

The highest working speed is 330Core/570Memory. I was not able to push the ?CORE? any higher without random lock ups. This is a remarkable overclock. Once again, Gainward Golden Sample has lived up to its name. I was able to push the core higher than the Chaintech GF4 Ti-4600. What a surprise!!

We refuse to use Quincunx FSAA method since it greatly reduces image quality, especially with text
Are you sure? The quincunx algorithm used on GeForce4 cards is actually DIFFERENT to the 'Quincunx; algorithm used on the GeForce3 cards. It blurs textures far less, AND is faster - it's really not even the same thing as it was on any GeForce3 card.

Page 3:

The GF4 MX-460 is no match for the almighty GF4 Ti-4200, event though they are similarly priced.

However, the improved memory controller found on the GF4 Ti series has the upper hand when FSAA is enabled.

Page 4:

Serious Sam sports a moderately modern game engine, making it one of the prettiest games on the market. It requires a relatively powerful graphics card for smooth gaming.

Due to SS's success, Croteam recently released the successor to Serious Sam, Serious Sam: Second Encounter. This game is said to push PC's graphics cards to the limit.

Page 5:

It would be the ideal choice for the next 6 months or so, before Nvidia release another wave of new products.

Now THAT is picky :D

[SecretSquirrel]

I was going to say pedantic...but you guys are closer to 'anal' ;)

Hans, how come in the Karnak test, the overclocked one in particular, the GF3 outshined the GF4 Ti4200? I mean, it didnt get anywhere like that in any other test, it seemed a bit out of the blue.

[Hans]

I really need to spend sometime to proof read that thing. :o

I've tried quincunx FSAA with a GF4 Ti and I don't like the resutls, in fact hated it. The text stil blurs with this FSAA and I don't like it. :mad:

SecretSquirrel: Opps, that maybe a mistake in Excel, will check it out later tonite.

[KingJackal]

Originally posted by Hans
I've tried quincunx FSAA with a GF4 Ti and I don't like the resutls, in fact hated it. The text stil blurs with this FSAA and I don't like it. :mad:


OK ( bear in mind I haven't had GeForce4 cards long enough to check, and I've never had a GeForce3 card to play with ).

Did you try Quincunx + Anisotropic filtering? That combination produces the best results ( though it may have performance much slower than 2X FSAA ). I know when I had an MX440 I set it to Quincunx and the lowest Aniso setting and left it. In games, I was still able to use the same settings I had used with my GeForce2 MX, only at 32-bit color.

BTW, when you say text, I assume you mean in game menus?

[Hans]

Yes, I did tried Quincunx + Anisotropic filtering. However, the performance hit is quite significant, like you've pointed out. It only fixes the texture blurring but not text.

Text = In game menu, team chat, etc.

[KingJackal]

Originally posted by Hans
Yes, I did tried Quincunx + Anisotropic filtering. However, the performance hit is quite significant, like you've pointed out. It only fixes the texture blurring but not text.

Text = In game menu, team chat, etc.

Ahhh - I see. Yes, I get why that would be a problem. Obviously, FSaa and TEXTURE filtering don't match up.

Everything get's AA'd, but only textures get filtered. Hmmm - well, there's no way around that ( short of using 4X FSAA of course ).

Nothing to do with the review - but does 4XS blur text similarily to Quincunx? Or is it clear like 2X/4X?
( I've never tried - the performance hit will be pretty huge, and you'd really need a Ti just to survive it )

[Hans]

Sorry, I've got any "good" D3D games to try the 4SX FSAA. Nearly all the games I play is OpenGL.

[KingJackal]

:confused:

Is 4XS Direct 3D only?

I know what you mean - most of what I play is OpenGL too.

[Hans]

Yeah, I think so. Coz I read something about that on the net.

[Solid Snake]

How about the good 'ol UT test or something? Possible UT2003 when it comes... that should be a good test benchmark.

[DiscoStu]

Hey Hans, do you use the Beyond 3D SS benching scripts?

[Hans]

Yeah, the UT2003 should be an interesting test. We will look into that when it's released.

Beyond 3D SS?? hm.. I will have a look @ it tonite. Thx Disco.

[DiscoStu]

Some linkage:
http://www.voodooextreme.com/3dpulpit/SeriousSam/SeriousSam.html

[Hans]

thx Disco. :)

[Elle T]

Aquanox & Max Payne look to be good for benchmarks.
Have a look around theres quite a few little benchmarkie programs.