Aluminium ITX Cube + VIA Epia C3 800 + 'The Best PCI graphics card available'?

[barn]

Hi.

Firstly, could I ask what is currently the best/fastest PCI 3D graphics card based solution? The GeForce 4 MX? I have seen these cards available as PCI cards which can be obtained relatively cheap with TV-Out.

Specifically the Gainward GeForce4 PowerPack! Pro/450 TV/PCI (GeForce4 MX 420) for £67.05 inc VAT. This seems to be the fastest PCI card I can find thats still available - any better solutions?

I am open to chipset vendors (e.g. ATI etc).

I am thinking of purchasing the above set up - I am not a hardcore gamer or anything so how do you think this system might hold up playing some of the current games as examples?

Is it even possible to do this? Is there an option in the BIOS on the Epia motherboards to disable the VGA?

The reason I am thinking this solution as opposed to a new P4 Shuttle or the upcoming SN40 is down to price so I don't mind sacrificing performance for price.

Again - I am not a hardcore gamer - I would just like the ability to play some newish games, listen to mp3s, watch divx (perhaps via the TV-out), and browse the web.

Thanks for any help.

-b

[ 03 September 2002: Message edited by: barn ]

[Thomas @ Kustom]

Hi Barn,
Welcome to the forums.

The setup you suggest, well, to be honest the C3 isn't really up to much, the processor would be a bottle neck.

I realise that you're not a hardcore gamer, but the processor still has to be able to draw the objects in a particular scene, and I think that with the complexity of some of the newer games, you might find that it's going to crawl no matter what.

If I get time I'll setup a test rig for this OK? Rather than you watse money on something which isn't realy what you need.

[PJ Matthews]

Dedication from the Kustom crew me thinks.

[barn]

Nice offer. :-)

Although I don't actually have the money at the moment to buy anything so don't put yourself out.

I'm thinking that maybe it would be better to save my money while we all wait for the Shuttle SN40's to be released. I think one of these would be better suited to what I want from it.

Oh, and it would be an excuse to shell out for a new AMD Thoroughbred chip :-)

Thanks again - if anyone has anything to add, please do.

[PJ Matthews]

Please remember that a new version of the Epia is due in October - the Epia M. It will feature processors of 633 - 800 and a follow up 1 gig model. It features better graphics, DDR memory, a floppy controller and more.

PJ