Review - MSI G4Ti4200-TP 128MB
Review by Edward Chang, call sign: Big_E
December 27, 2002
The Card:
There are many companies that endorse Nvidia's video chipsets. MSI is one of the many experienced manufacturer's, and is one of the few to have the honor of making the reference design for Nvidia video cards. MSI's Nvidia video card solutions are known for their distinct red PCB.
Physically, their GeForce4 looks identical to any other GeForce4 video card on the market, except for the color and choice of onboard components. It is still a mystery why the GeForce4 Ti4200 was built on a shorter PCB in comparison to the longer PCBs of its brethren: the GeForce4 Ti4400 and Ti4600. Another difference between the GeForce4 Ti4200 and the 4400 and 4600 is the use of conventional TSOP memory chips on the 4200, versus the new BGA memory technology implemented on all the faster video cards. What does this mean? Although the Ti4200 could have been built on the 4600 chassis, Nvidia wished to differentiate a low-end GeForce4 Ti from a high-end GeForce4 Ti. The design of this card also allows manufacturers like MSI to cut costs, thus making the GeForce4 Ti4200 and popular value video card solution.
The MSI GeForce4 Ti 4200 uses a big heatsink-fan configuration. It looks pretty cool. Notice the Nvidia logo in the upper right portion of the above picture. Does this infer that MSI made the reference design for the GeForce4 Ti4200?
The card also uses Hynix (Hyundai) 4-nanosecond TSOP DDR SDRAM. Do the math and we find that this card's memory is already running at the specified 250 MHz.
Overclocking:
Most Nvidia cards are extremely overclock friendly. The MSI G4TI4200-TD is exemplary! Using PowerStrip, our sample overclocked from the default 250/250 to 300/300. This is very impressive for the little engine that could; as one can have Ti4600 performance at the price of a Ti4200.
What's Included:
Bundle Supreme Valuable 10 set 3D Games
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<No
One Lives Forever>
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<Aquanox>
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<Sacrifice>
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 7 in 1 Games Collection ◊ Ballistics Demo ◊ Tom Clancy's Rogue Spear-Black Thorn Demo ◊ Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Demo ◊ Comanche 4 Demo ◊ Fallout Tactics Demo ◊ Swat 3: Close Quarters Battle Demo ◊ Serious Sam: The First Encounter |
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Free bundling cables
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9-pin
Mini-extended connector to 4 port Video connector
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S-Video
extended line (1.8m)
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InterVideo WinProducer/WinCoder Ver2.0
WinProducer Ver2.0 introduction
- Full version, professional Intervideo Video Editing Utility
- Multi-track Video modes and Titling
- Single-track back grounding Audio mode
- Transition & Filter on Overlay Video
- Overlay and Titling on the same time
- Variant video transition effects (Also support Microsoft® DirectX
plug-in effects)
- Picture in Picture effects
- Unparallel Instant preview
- Unparallel Audio/Video preview at the same time
- Unlimited times Undo and Redo trying
- More than 4GB video support
- Make your own admired video memory
- WinXP support ready
- More video transition effects, texting effects, audio effects,
picture-in-picture effects
WinCoder Ver2.0 introduction
- Full version, powerful Intervideo Video Format Transferring Utility
- Real-time (1:1) transfer your DV/D8/V8 signal to standard
MPEG1/MPEG2(VCD/DVD)
- Variant input video format (DV/AVI/MPEG1/MPEG2)
- Variant output video format (AVI/MPEG1/MPEG2)
- Directly output standard VCD title files for home VCD player
- Fastest Off-time transferring between variant video format in the
world
- WinXP support ready
InterVideo WinProducer/WinCoder Professional Users' Pack
- Most surprised feature in the graphic world.
- Special Offer! MPEG4 Video Format Transferring Support!
- You can share your edited video file through wide band networking
easily.
- Built-in CD recording engine from SONIC solution, guarantee the
compatibility with consumer VCD/DVD player.
- Capturing > Editing > Authoring > Burning total solution.
- User friendly interface, support WinXP system.
Bundle MSI DVD
- Infinite Multi-Bookmark, you can replay the favorite frames
easily.
- Unparallel Slow/Fast motion display with non-destroyed audio.
- Multi-language subtitle, up to 4 language display, helpful for
foreign language learning.
- User friendly interface, support WinXP system.
Bundle MSI developed software
MSI Live Update Series ( Live VGA BIOS & Live VGA Driver)
- Automatically online download & update VGA BIOS & Drivers,
reduce the risk of getting the incompatible files, and never have the
trouble on web site searching.
3D! Turbo Experience
- Fancy, Game-looking HTML/Flash Based Tool
- New revolution! MSI is the worldwide first company to propose
the advantage of HTML/Flash based utilities. By leading the new
software trend, MSI devotes to serve the users a fancy, game-
looking utility. Are you ready for the new experience now?
GoodMen
- Automatically release the system memory space, reduce the risk
of system hang-up.
LockBox
- Instantly enter the data lock mode when you must leave your
system for a while.
WMIinfor
- Automatically list the detail system configuration, it helpful for
engineering service people.
Other bundled software
-E-Color
-Adobe Acrobat Reader
-Trend Micro PC-Cillin 2000
-Microsoft® DirectX 8.1
Time to check out the GeForce4 Ti4200's brethren and direct competition.