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2D Graphics Card - Which is best?

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  • Graphics Cards
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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June 26, 2003 3:52:07 PM

Hey people,

I wander if anyone is able to answer this question, I've been looking all over for a definitive answer and cant seem to find one.

I want build a PC and I need the best of both worlds in terms of both 2D and also 3D graphics performance.

The machine will be used for 2D Graphics packages such as Photoshop, Freehand, Fireworks, etc. However, it must also be able to run packages like 3D studio Max, Maya, Bryce, Poser with ease.

Like I said, it needs to be very fast and also 'future proof'.

Can anyone shed any light on this subject please or make any suggestions?

Many Thanks

More about : graphics card

June 26, 2003 4:01:45 PM

ATI and Matrox are your best bet. If it were me, I'd pick up a Matrox Parhelia...I've heard good things about that card and 2D graphics. Of course, it's all up to how much you want to spend. Currently the Parhelia is over 300 bucks. You could probably pick up an ATI card for far less than that. However, I'm not certain what ATI card would be your best bet. I'm sure that someone else will be able to comment on the best ATI card for 2D graphics. And of course you already know that ATI is tops in the market for 3D...The parhelia's are ok with 3D....not the best but not bottom of the barrel either...anyways, anyone care to comment on which ATI card would be the best bet?

Insert_ending_here,
TKS
June 26, 2003 4:03:56 PM

Hmmmm. "Definitive answer".

I'm going to have to go with Nvidia's new QuadroFX 2000.

2d Graphics will probably be good as this is a professional's card.
(Usually Ati has better 2d image quality as a rule, but that's because 3rd party board makers usually use cheap RAMDACs for their cards; the Quattro is an expensive professional card and will have a good RAMDAC)

3d Aplpications like MAX and MAYA; the Quattro can't be beat. Nvidia has magnificent drivers for these applications.

I understand they're coming out with a plugin for MAYA and SOFTIMAGE that uses the Quattro's shaders to show realtime rendered scenes in viewports, with great framerates! That is amazing, from where I'm sitting...

- Cleeve

[EDIT]
Here, check the benchmarks... when it comes to profesisonal 3d applications, Ati's FireGl line just can't stand up to the QuadroFX:
http://www6.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030321/index.htm...

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Radeon 9500 w/256 bit memory bus @ 367/310
AMD AthlonXP 2000+
3dMark03: 3439
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a b U Graphics card
June 26, 2003 6:14:34 PM

The main difference is price. The Quadro line is Expensive. The 2000 is SUPER expensive. For him I'd suggest at most a Quadro 1000 from the proffesional line which is STILL expensive (more than the FireGLx1 still!, and there a cheaper still Z1 which give pretty much fine image quality for his 'tinkering' [no offense or anything darren, but if it wasn't 'tinkering' someone else would be paying for this card, or you wouldn't be asking us]). The only FX I can recommend for reasonable work is the Quadro FX 500 (but I haven't seen street prices on them, actually haven't seen much about them except from PNY)

Money no Object my picks would be; first the 3Dlabs Wildcat 4 7210/7110, THEN the PNY (powered by Nvidia) Quadros 2000/1000, then the FireGL, then the Quadro FX500 or Quadro4s (980 and the 700s only), then the 3Dlabs VP 970 & 870, then the OLDER FireGL 8800 (by which time I'd suggest getting Flamethrower to give you links to Mod other cards into Quadros and FireGLs which would be better than this class and price and below)

If you're on a normal budget (and not financed by someone else) The I would say maybe (a Quadro FX 500 if you can find one depending on price gotta be less than $500US) PNY Quadro 980, FireGLZ1, then 3Dlabs VP series, then consider a Straight up High-end Radeon or FX (avoid the 5800Ultra!); and then a little bit on the SMART money range either the R9500Pro/9600Pro or the FX5600Ultra 256mb. At this point go for price. Even the FX5600Non-Ultra-256mb might be the best buy in this ONE and ONLY case IMO. Since the extra memory would be helpful and supposedly the image quality is OK (close enough to ATI), but if there were any gaming involved I'd remove the 5600non-ultra. And even still only if you wanna spend money elsewhere.

And for picking one on the cheap for GREAT 2D and mediocre/passable 3D, then go with a Radeon 9100 or 9000Pro with the largest memory you can get at the cheapest price.

One last thing, IS this to add to a current rig or are you building ground up? Because you WILL need an AGP pro slot (either 50 or 110) for MOST of the proffesional cards (there are some regular AGP slot version out there but onyl for specific model (I think the Quadro4s and the FireGLz1 [not sure about FXs or even the lower Wildcats]). If you don't have/want an AGPpro slot then you will have to chose from the rest. Which then muddies things a bit.

And once again that's just my two frames worth. I think Flamethrower may wade in a bit if he sees this and I suggest you give his recommendations alot of weight IMO. Unless he recommend a Sis Xabre, then you can flame him. :wink:


BTW I don't think an Audi <b>QUATTRO</b> will help in this case! :tongue:


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! <A HREF="http://www.redgreen.com" target="_new"><font color=green>RED</font color=green> <font color=red>GREEN</font color=red></A> GA to SK :evil: 
June 26, 2003 6:40:40 PM

Ah, $hit.

From now on, if I say Quattro again, please understand that I mean Quadro.

$hit.

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Radeon 9500 w/256 bit memory bus @ 367/310
AMD AthlonXP 2000+
3dMark03: 3439
a b U Graphics card
June 26, 2003 7:02:32 PM

Yeah, but you KNOW I had ta'!

Just couldn't help myself. HE made me do it --> :evil: 


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! <A HREF="http://www.redgreen.com" target="_new"><font color=green>RED</font color=green> <font color=red>GREEN</font color=red></A> GA to SK :evil: 
!