Is it worth shelling out $400 for the Geforce 3?
Written: Oct 12 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Power of the GeForce 3 Chipset = Blazing framerates in gaming, Next-gen technoligy.
Cons: Price is too high. Supported games are not yet created.
The Bottom Line: Great product, worth the buy, but IS NOT worth $400. Wait for the price to drop, and for more games to be supported.
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| NRay7882's Full Review: VisionTek GeForce3, (64 MB) AGP Video Card |
A true PC gamer knows that it is impossiable, unless you have a VERY well paying job, to keep your computer in tip-top shape by upgrading hardware. Heck, even basic computer consumers can know this. It's well known that the newest technoligy costs a pretty penny, but within months, that price can be 3/4 of what it was, maybe even 1/2. This is due to the fact that new hardware is being created every day. In comes the newest on the Video Card line - The NVidia GeForce 3 chip.
So, what's so special about the GeForce 3? Well, it has more features built into this 2-inch by 2-inch chip that you would believe. If I told you that the GF3 was capable of displaying DX8 styled programmable pixel & vertex shaders, the nfiniteFX engine support, and high-res anti-aliasing support, you would probably slap yourself silly. So let me break down exactly what all that means.
DX8 is simply Direct X Version 8, a Microsoft program used to work with your video card, and improve how programs, such as 3D games, appear. DX8 has a new system - Pixel & Vertex shader Programmability. What that means, is that now video game makers can design game more to their liking, rather than being restricted by using their own Transform & Lighting (T&L) engines for their games. This feature allows the detail and realistic looks of games to take a step closer to looking like reality.
As for the nfiniteFX engine, this is merely the technoligy IN the GF3 chip that allows it to work its magic, almost like the MMX technoligy in a Pentium Processor. High-Resolution Anti-Aliasing is a built in system that makes graphics appear less "jaggy" on screen. It helps to take away the brick-looking corners from images, and replaces it with smooth, lifelike lines.
So, now you ask, "Ok, so is all that cool stuff worth my $400 bucks?!" To be honest: NO. I will not lie to you folks. I have in my machine right now, a Gillemont Hercules 3D Prophet III Video card, which has the GF3 chip on it. I only bought it because I built a "dream machine", a computer with the most recent parts on the market. If you were to by the Geforce 2, or Geforce 2 MX graphics board, maybe even a Voodoo 4500, or 5, you would get the same performance from it that you would get from the GF3. "Why?" you ask? Simply because the GF3 chip excels past the other cards ONLY when you are playing a game that supports the nfiniteFX technoligy.
IN A NUTSHELL: $400 is alot of money for a computer part. You realize you can buy a 19" moniter with that much money? Stick to the Geforce 2's or another preferred card that has a tag of $250 or under until more games are supported by the GF3.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 400
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Epinions.com ID:
NRay7882
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Member: Nick
Location: Staten Island, NY
Reviews written: 17
Trusted by: 1 member
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