CAD Card Query

[vtformula]

Hello Everybody,

I am in the market for a CAD graphics card. However, I was wondering how much faster are workstation cards compared to mainstream gaming cards in CAD applications? For example would a ATI FIRE GL 8700 be noticeably faster than a RADEON 8500 in Solid Works? How do Matrox cards perform in CAD applications? This card will be used for Solid Works, Unigraphics, AutoCad, and Ansys. Which card offers the best text quality? Thanks for your input and recommendations.

Erik

 

[SickBeast]

I would reccomend a Radeon 9700 non-pro, as it can easily be modded into a FireGL card.

As for the performance differences, I'm not sure.

Welcome to the AT forums

 

[Mingon]

I prefer nvdia cards, autocad / pro-e / 3dsmax run much better with standard non hacked drivers on nvdia cards (you can get the soft quadro hack as well) when I done some light work recently in acad 2000 I found that the performance difference between a geforce 3 and a 9500-hacked to 9700 was amazing. I then put a mx440pci card in my machine and again the performance was better inacad. My personal favourite is a ti4200, very cheap excellent performer and stable drivers as well.

 

[sash1]

"How do Matrox cards perform in CAD applications?"

Absolutely amazing. I have the Parhelia and all I do on that rig is graphics (2d and 3d) design. Webpage design. I wish I had a third monitor to take advantage of triple-head, but oh well. The 2d is amazing on this card.

Parhelia = win!

~Aunix