CAD Video Card VS Gaming Video Card?

[edro]

I have a Radeon 9700 Pro and tried to run Solid Edge (a 3d CAD software package) and it runs fast, except when I rotate parts. WHen I rotate a part, it is super slow and doesn't show it moving, just shows where you moved it to.

I read their support for video cards and they say that the Radeon series will have performance issues, becuase it is not a CAD class card. (Same for Geforces)

What is the difference? Drivers only? I remember that you can solder a point on the old Geforce2 GTSs and make it a Quadro 2 (CAD class).

Solid Edge is OpenGL, and I know my Radeon 9700 Pro runs OpenGL 🙂

 

[globalcitizen]

Generally OpenGL performance in a Radeon is usually worse than a Geforce simply for tha fact that nVidia has 'better' OpenGL drivers.

 

[imported_kouch]

yes you can mod that card into a "professional" graphics card. I am not exactly sure but I think all it takes is a bios flash, no hardmodding needed.

 

[Nickel020]

Yes, you can mod it. You need to flash the card with the appropriate BIOS and then use the RivaTuner to mod the FireGL drivers so that they will work. The RivaTuner guys were working on making it work without a BIOS flash but I don't know if they succeded.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

hmmm dunno but here at lboro we use solide edge too, on viglen pc's with probably onboard graphics at best.....displays run 12x10 and everything is super smooth

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer
hmmm dunno but here at lboro we use solide edge too, on viglen pc's with probably onboard graphics at best.....displays run 12x10 and everything is super smooth

Yeah, at work, we have a few P3-650 machines with ATI FireGL2s in them, and it runs great. FireGL2s are like Radeon 1 equivelants...