Why should I install a video card?

[Ronin]

I have a K7SEM motherboard with the video built onto it. I also have a Voodoo3 video card from my old computer, and I'm wondering if I should install it. How would this video card benefit me?

[AlienDyne]

Do you know what VGA card is the integrated one?

[Ronin]

Yes. I have a SiS730S integrated video adapter.

[Ronin]

Yes, I have a SiS730S integrated vga.

[AlienDyne]

Well, if I had to choose between SiS730S and Voodoo3 I would leave it as it is.

SiS730 supports 128bit 2d/3D graphics, delivers AGP 4X performance and provides DVD-encoding. In addition, it is a new product. Voodoo is at least 2-3 years old, it was a good VGA card with a powerful chipset but I think it's not worth the trouble. It would worth it if we were talking about a graphics cardn with a GeForce chipset on.

good luck!

[giggsy7]

I have an sis 650 chip on my mobo. The built-in graphics are 32mb memory. I did a Mark2000 benchmark on the pc with the sis and scored 1996. I installed a Geforce MX 400 with 32mb. The score went up to 4500! I think this supports Aliendyne`s comment. Try the benchmark test on both cards. It gives an unbiased answer.
You can download it at Madonion.com

[Six Eyed Smily]

the voodoo 3 is actually roughly the same speed, if not a bit faster than the geforce 2 mx 400.

i have tried both on exactly the same pc, running a number of different games/benchmarks/applications

[Outcoded]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Six Eyed Smily:
<strong>the voodoo 3 is actually roughly the same speed, if not a bit faster than the geforce 2 mx 400.

i have tried both on exactly the same pc, running a number of different games/benchmarks/applications</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The GeForce should kick a$$.

My main machine has a Voodoo 3500 in, its slightly faster than a 3000, and not really amazing by modern standards, might as well stick with the SiS.

[Stalemate]

If you do want to use the Voodoo card, there's always the possibility of overclocking the GPU to make it perform "faster". Just be careful to not overdo it and consider fan cooling it.

I've replaced my Voodoo 3 3000 16Mb with a GeForce 2 MX400 64Mb a few months ago, and I have to admit there's not much difference.

If it came to be a toss-up between an onboard graphics controller or a dedicated 3D card like the Voodoo, whether PCI or AGP, I'd go with the Voodoo without hesitation.

[BaconDog]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by a d e p t:
[QB]I've replaced my Voodoo 3 3000 16Mb with a GeForce 2 MX400 64Mb a few months ago, and I have to admit there's not much difference.[QB]</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Try playing an FPS online, the difference between a 16 meg card and a 64 meg card is very noticable.

[confus-ed]

Is the vodoo PCI? Then you could have dual display?

And can you have two agp cards at once? I dunno, I doubt it, but I've not tried, on-boards go off ...

[+Daemon+]

I would never run onboard video, one it doesnt have 3d accel. Another thing it gets its memory from your main systems memory. So if you have 128mb ram the video card will take up to 64 mb of it. You can change the amount in the bios.

Id run a nice under $100 agp card. it will help with your computer performance