Best Looking Video Card from 2D ?

[KiLLaZ]

Which video card has the best-looking, sharpest 2D image at 1600x1200 ? I'm thinking something by Matrox, but there's no need for their "Dual Head".

 

[Mem]

Matrox for sure try the Matrox G400.

 

[vm]

What about the G450?

 

[KiLLaZ]

I thought that all of Matrox's "newer" cards all have the dualhead on them...

 

[Zoe]

Matrox G400/G450.

 

[Biggs]

G400, G400 MAX, and G450 have dualhead. Though there is also a singlehead version for the G400.

 

[dougjnn]

I have a variant on this question. What I need is the best, or a very good, looking 2D PCI card as a second to a 3d graphics card in the AGP slot.

I've heard Matrox Millenium either I or II, preferably with 8 meg, is as good as anything. For strictly 2d that is.

My 3d gaming and other stuff would be via a Radeon 32 DDR, or a Geforce 2 MX or GTS.

Any thoughts?

 

[Ashen Shugar]

Matrox G400/G450 without a doubt for the best 2D graphics out there.

Edit: In reply to dougjnn:

Go for the 3dfx Voodoo3 2000 or 3000 PCI card. It has excellent 2D at 1600x1200@75Hz, when I used to use it on my 19 inch NEC monitor, and is a pretty decent 3D card as well. It has 16 MB of RAM and I think it would serve you better than the older Millenium I or II cards, especially in 2D acceleration. You can find them for $60-$90 at most places.

 

[oldfart]

I had a Matrox Mill II AGP paired with my old V2 SLI. I upgraded to a Voodoo 3 and the 2D was substantially better on the Voodoo card. If you are going with Matrox, go with a newer card such as the 400/450. If you go with the Voodoo 3, go for a 3000. Its an often forgotten fact that the 3000 has a 350 MHz RAMDAC, while the 2000 has a 300 MHz RAMDAC.

 

[Ashen Shugar]

I thought only the Voodoo3 2000 AGP had a 300 Mhz RAMDAC. The PCI version of that card which came out a lot later had a 350 Mhz RAMDAC as well, like the 3000 AGP/PCI versions, if I remember it correctly. Its hard to verify this since the 3dfx.com site doesn't have the information regarding these cards anymore. Anyway, the price difference between the Voodoo3 2000 and 3000 PCI is so small that you might as well for the 3000 PCI version. Also, from what I've seen, its easier to find the retail version of that card online as well.

Edit: I just confirmed that all Voodoo3 2000's have a 300 Mhz RAMDAC and all Voodoo3 3000's have a 350 Mhz RAMDAC. Sorry about that. Definately go for the Voodoo3 3000 PCI, it can be found for 90 bucks online. Another alternative would be the Voodoo4 4500 PCI (32 MB RAM), which sells for around 125 bucks online, and also has a 350 Mhz RAMDAC.

 

[oldfart]

I'm pretty sure all the 2000's including PCI had a 300 MHz RAMDAC. I put one in my neighbors PC (retail) and it did.

 

[dougjnn]

Oldfart--

Very valuable info. Thanks much.

 

[macssuck]

oldfart your poor 2d with your Matrox card might have been due to the pass through cable from you voodoo

 

[oldfart]

The Matrox was not "poor". It is just not as good as a Voodoo 3. I had that card before I had a Voodoo 2 at all. In fact, that Matrox card went to a friend of mine who wasn't into games at all. He later got Nascar 3 (this is a big thing for him) and wanted a 3D card. I sold him my Voodoo 3 (I got a Radeon), and he also commented on how much better the Voodoo 3 is in 2D. I got the Matrox back, and put it in a PC for an old neighbor of mine. This sucker has been around! I just did this about a month ago. The 2D is not as good as a V3.