Good 2D cards

[Guest]

I've read through several posts here and elsewhere, but I have not found very much information regarding graphics cards for mostly 2D home office use. I also some video editing for a family genealogy project, but 90% of the time I'm working in text.

I want to purchase two cards in the $50/each range so that I can have DVI to my new flat panel monitors. The last time I looked into this I decided on an ATI 8500, but didn't ever get around to making the purchase. A friend has since confirmed that his 8500 (not LE/SE)is great for text.

I cannot find an 8500 that is neither LE nor SE, and know to stay away from the SEs. I see from the guide/posts here that the 9100 is about the same as some type of 8500s so I'll start checking those.

But, is there a better choice for a non gaming system? They are Dell Deminsions that have been upgraded via Powerleap to 1.2 ghz, and new WD 120 8MB cache drives.

Thanks for your assistance!

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

The R9100 IS the R8500LE, just with different bios.

Want the BEST 2D card. Simple, MATROX!

<A HREF="http://www.matrox.com/mga/products/home.cfm" target="_new">www.matrox.com</A>

Buy the best one you can. They also have dual DVI if that's what you're looking for.

Also, I don't understand your idea of purchasing 2 cards. What for?


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[Guest]

Thanks for your reply. I forgot to mention that the systems do have AGP, and I believe they are 4x.

I want two cards because I have two systems in the home. Well, I have more but these two now have Planar 17" flat panel monitors.

Thanks for the link and information.

 

[Nights_L]

Well..first of all, I don't think there is 8500SE
and 8500LE and 8500 would give you same 2D quality
except that some LE doesn't have DVI..mine does, so..

 

[smitbret]

Matrox. You can get some good ones for between $70-$100 that will be better for 2D than ATI or nVidia. If you are going to do ANY game playing, though, get an ATI.
-Brett

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all of your responses. I've been shopping for a Matrox but not having much luck finding them locally or on sale via online (to cover shipping).

My local MicroCenter has a Xtasy 9100 128MB 4x AGP Graphics Card for about $35 after rebates. Does anyone know how text looks with this one? The price is almost too good to pass up.

Thanks!

 

[coylter]

the text will look the exact same thing on a high end system than on a 486 dx 2/66 with a 1mb video card

My own beast: Athlon 2700xp+ , Radeon 9800pro (oc: 410/370) , 512mb ddr400. SO MUCH faster than my father pIII 550......

 

[cleeve]

I don't know if I'm just not as visually astute as everyone else here, but I'm a 3d artist and I can't say that I see a huge advantage to Matrox 2d quality over Ati's 2d quality.

Most of the Nvidia cards I've seen display like crap compared to them, though.

But It's all subjective I guess. I don't think I've ever seen any of them side by side...

------------------
Radeon 9500 (hardmodded to PRO, o/c to 322/322)
AMD AthlonXP 2400+ (o/c to 2600+ with 143 fsb)
3dMark03: 4055

 

[shadus]

Pretty much any modern graphics card does 2d exceptionally well as long as the refresh remains above 80... I'd personally recommend Matrox followed by ATi/nVidia... both are about equal in 2d performance/quality.

My recommendations are as follows (off pricewatch):
Matrox G450 MG45MDHA32D 32MB AGP - $62.00
ATI RADEON 9100 64MB DDR AGP - $55.00
Gainward FX PowerPack! AGP 5200 Pro/660 - $61.00

Shadus