CAD and Voodoo5??

[TWISK]

I have a need to find a PCI solution for my company. Currently our older systems are using either a Matrox Mil. 2 or an Elsa Gloria Synergy for CAD work. Both have major flaws that while not detrimental, are a big nuisance. The Matrox has problems shading 3d models and the Elsa has "ghosting" while rotating 2d&3d models. Unfortunatly I was not here for when we ordered these systems, they tried to cut corners and order cheaper systems. Hence my current situation.
Now, 3DFX has a PCI card out, the Voodoo5 5500 PCI, a 64 meg card. Does anyone use this card in the professional world or know if this would be a good CAD card? Anyone have any thoughts on this??

As always, thanks for any info you have!!

TWISK

 

[jpprod]

I'm afraid that while being a good choise for a gamer, from current cards Voodoo5 is the worst choise you can make for CAD use. It's performance isn't even up to older TNT2 cards due to less-than-perfect OpenGL ICD drivers.

CAD benchmarks ar Ace's Hardware

For PCI CAD solution you'll want to get a GeForce2 MX PCI card if you can find any, or go for a PCI TNT2 card. Hardware T&L helps a lot in CAD, maybe you ought to look at some older professional OpenGL solutions instead of consumer-level display cards.

 

[Yoshi]

Man, if you are still doing 3D CAD on a system without an AGP port I would say it is time for a system upgrade! Not that AGP itself is important, but at least your video card options would expand.

 

[TWISK]

Very true, which is why All NEW systems that I order come with an Elsa Gloria II Pro, 64 meg AGP NVida card. We order from Dell. Not a bad machine. Only reason I am looking is that I still have 30+ machines that I either have to try to breath life into(a better PCI vid card)or sit on them until my company will upgrade. Upgrading is happening, but at about 5 every 1-3 months so we could be awhile and need to have options.

Thanks,

Twisk

 

[PG]

Buy.com has Jaton TNT2 M64 PCI and Jaton TNT2 vanta PCI cards, but I guess you can find them in many other places too. The vanta card is clocked lower and has only 16 MB of memory where the M64 has 32. I have the TNT2 M64 PCI and it came clocked at 125/150 which is standard for a TNT2. I don't know what the speed of the Vanta is. I paid about $62 after a $10 coupon.

The T&L unit on the geforce2 MX is a huge plus for CAD work. Here is a place to get a geforce2 MX PCI: http://www.ocie.com/itmidx1.htm
I think they are the only ones who have it. It would be your best bet for performance, but it costs much more than the TNT2 M64 cards. On the other hand, maybe it would be worth it to get the best you can now since they don't want to upgrade very often.

PG

 

[(Chanse)]

Inno3d and Prolink both have PCI mx cards, and one or 2 others I think.