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UnAlternate · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 2:02 am

which graphics card is your reccommendation these days? i don't really want to stretch all the way to an x800, but stay somewhere in the 9800 range.

is xt worth the extra bucks, or is a pro enough?
how big difference is there between the 128 and 256 pro?
there are so many brands out there, any differences?

i'll use it mainly for 2d painting and 3d modeling in photoshop, painter, maya and zbrush. i'm not all that intested in gaming though.

i don't really get that much out of reading benchmark tests and spec sheets. i'd like to hear your personal opinion based on experiences and feeling. thanx in advance! Very Happy

Gort · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 3:13 am

Not interested in gaming? If that's the case then I would forgoe ATI and go with an nVidia based Quadro based board; they're tailored specifically for 2d and especially 3d applications. If 2d/3d is a serious endeavour for which plan on making a career of, then don't play around with the consumer based, game conducive stuff.

Dive in but dive in deep - but only if your wallet will let you! Smile

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skullmonkeys · member Member # Joined: 05 May 2004 Posts: 183

Really? I own a quadro. I have been taking advantage of it's features in 3D apps but I never knew about it's 2D features.

What kind of 2D features are in the quadro and how can I make use of it?

UnAlternate · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 3:13 pm

thanx for the suggestion gort, but i'd like to stay in the pricerange of the ati's though. preferebly around the 9800's. can't really stretch much further than that for now, as i'm buying a new computer+monitor setup altogether.

any more thoughts about the pro VS xt, pro 128 VS pro 256, ice-Q VS non ice-q..?

Gort · Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2004 4:12 am

2D meaning that you'll get a reliable level of performance when running applications like Photoshop, Painter, etc. I've found from working with both ATI and nVidia that nVidia's drivers are more reliable and stable when dealing with overall integrations into the OS. ATI tends to cause problems like screen flickers on scrolling with some displays is a good example (enought to drive one nuts in Photoshop); additionally, the analog to digital adapter for some ATI cards when using an LCD display can result in an unmanageable shift in some hues (another problem I had with a 9600 Pro, and new drivers never fixed the issue).

When using nVidia I have never, ever had any of those problems in my 2D environment, so "no news is good news". Wink

_________________
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"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

B0b · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 6:28 am

i use a 3Dlabs Wildcat VP870 with dual display - its gr8 for 3D and with a 10bit RAMDAC its excellent for 2D Smile

i also have an ATi RAG Pro for my 3rd display Smile

(did have a matrox, but matrox don't like to play with other video cards appart from their own)

Depha4 · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 8:58 am

asus cards kill

UnAlternate · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 2:29 am

thanx guys! any more opinions on the gamer VS workstation card issue?

if i go for a gamer card. should i really avoid radeon and go for nvidia, or is a 9800xt ok'ish?

and how good are the entry level workstation cards like quatro fx 500?

any experiences with the matrox cards, like parhelia? Smile

the more research i do, the harder it seems to make the right choice. duh. ;P

B0b · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 1:18 pm

i used to have a matrox G400Max back in 1999 when i had a dual PIII 450 and found it good for the stuff i was doing the most - but they're 3D app support sux big time..

b4 i had my wildcat i was using a 9700Pro for workstation use and it sucked big style - so much so i put my old Oxygen GVX-1 back in..

atm Radeon are king of the hill as far as games cards go

if you're looking for an entry level card then i'd say look @ a 3Dlabs Wildcat VP560 its a dual DVI card (comes with DVI to analogue converter with an extra if you ask for it) the 10bit RAMDAC gives fantastic colour results.. i know that 3Dlabs worked very closely with Radius to give accurate colour results..

cheney · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 9:16 am

What benefits come from a graphics card for 2d art? I fail to find any beneficial difference outside of crisp colors. The only other performance issue to be aware of is high refresh rate at high resolution displays and native support for dual monitors. Beyond this it seems that expensive graphics cards are a waste of money.

There do seem be minor benefits in terms of 3D modeling, but all the benefits of the professional level cards are in terms of high resolution texture rendering in 3D.

Do you guys have information contrary to this?
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Gort · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:45 pm

B0b · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 12:14 am

a fast RAMDAC will ensure that screen draw time is kept to a minimum

Tomasis · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 12:17 pm

IF one doesnt care about 3D, MAtrox P650 and P750 look nice cards

maybe the best ramdac for bucks Razz

if not, let me know, I'm in need of uppgrade the old trusty G400 MAX . single 300mhz is not enogh Sad

B0b · Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 3:32 am

yeah they are a good pice if not considering 3D work Smile