Best Hi-Res 2D card for hi-res (3D doesnt matter much) - Matrox is the only way to go

BlueHeelers

Senior member
Sep 4, 2000
246
0
0
I just sold a GeForce2MX card because it was causing great eyestrain. I run a 21" monitor in 1600x1200 resolution for most of the day. I develop software and design graphics all day long. I play games several times a month, so decent 3D is nice, but I do not want that to affect the 2D quality like the GeForce2 did.

I was looking at buying a Matrox G450 card but it seems so outdated. Does anyone else have any recommendations? I haven't seen the quality of the ATI Radeon cards, so I am not sure.

Any suggestions woudl be appreciated

REL

Edit: I bought an ATI Radeon 64MB and my results are listed below.
 

danii8

Senior member
Aug 25, 2000
610
0
0
ATI Radeon is as good as G450 or G400
Matrox has sharp colors,
ATI has warm colors. I guess.
 

kylebisme

Diamond Member
Mar 25, 2000
9,396
0
0
if you were useing a geforce2mx and want beter 2d get a radeon le and you will be very happy. not only is the 2d very crisp and 3d more vibrant but once you hack the le into a ddr the preformance on the le will also be quite impressive. unless you care to through out a wad of cash and get a visiontek/elsa geforce3 (i have heard that others are good too but im just going by what i have seen) then you will also get respectable 2d up to 1920x1440 were it is a little blury for text but still beter than my old prophet sdr at 1024x768.
 

BlueHeelers

Senior member
Sep 4, 2000
246
0
0
I have really been debating the ATI Radeon card, which is around the same price as a G450. Has anyone with a good eye ever compared the two side-by-side? I could find tons of 3D reviews but no 2D reviews.

Thanks

REL
 

Wingznut

Elite Member
Dec 28, 1999
16,968
2
0
I've seen both cards in action on similar monitors, albeit not side-by-side. If the ATI isn't just as good as the Matrox, I couldn't tell.
 

BreakApart

Golden Member
Nov 15, 2000
1,313
0
0
The Radeon is a perfect middle ground card between the Matrox and the Geforce cards.

Radeon leans towards Matrox for 2D, and leans towards Geforce for 3D.
Should fit your needs great...
 

BlueHeelers

Senior member
Sep 4, 2000
246
0
0
Looks like the ATI isn't much better than the GeForce2 for 2D in high resolution (1600x1200 @85hz). I went out and bought an ATI Radeon 64MB and plugged it in and set it up and it had a similar, but not as strong, burning sensation that the GeForce2 cards had. I guess my conclusion is if you want to do a lot of 2D work, looks like you need to stick to a Matrox card. I was kind of dissappointed because I wanted to keep a gaming card around.

Thanks for all of the suggestions

REL
 

Rand

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
11,071
1
81
Another option is the V5 5500. I hate to suggest it given that 3dfx is now dead but it does have a bit better 2D image quality then the Radeon IMHO, though still not quite up to the Matrox G400/G450.
 

gygheyzeus

Golden Member
May 3, 2001
1,084
0
0
Yeah, I have a Voodoo 5 5500AGP 64MB for sale if you want one. The thing has excellent 2d. better than any card I've ever owned. I just don't need it anymore, is all.