Cheap Video Card - Good 2D a must

[SteelCityFan]

In addition to the other thread about good flat screens, I also need to find a cheap AGP video card that has a good 2D image quality. We used to use the ATI Rage 128 Pro cards and were happy with them (Cheap and reliable).. until.... ATI modified the card slightly to meet some P4 requirements (or something). Basically we bought 5 PC's with these cards in them and every one of them locked up in the same manner and it was very easily reproduced,

Anyway, I don't know which to get. Would be great to stay around $50, but with some of NVidia's cards having 2D problems, which card should I get?

Thanks again.

 

[Adul]

http://www.digitalriver.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry17c?SP=10007&PN=5&CID=53005&SID=39634&PID=367803&DSP=&CUR=840&PGRP=0&CACHE_ID=53005


2d is nice and sharp. And you can find this on the net for cheap.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

I Picked up a Matrox G450 for $65 the other day.

 

[nortexoid]

depends what resolution u're driving the monitor at, mostly...

i've noticed most modern cards to do 1024x768 quite good, but bumping it just one notch up and things can get ugly...

don't buy any "powered by" ATI cards unless they're made by gigabyte or hercules...the best and cheapest video cards u can get for 2d are probably the ATI xpert pro 16mb or 32mb cards, the hercules 4000 mentioned, and the matrox g450 (which u can get in a 16mb version for quite cheap i believe).

 

[Sunner]

If 2D is all that matters, I'd go with Matrox.

Cheap(relatively), reliable, and great 2D.

 

[dullard]

I asked this question back in March and decided to get the 32 MB Visiontek Geforce2 GTS-V after numerous people suggested it. It is $52 (including shipping) from Newegg or $49 (including shipping) from some other companies that I've never heard of. I didn't have a Matrox to compare with, but the 2D was a drastic improvement over the TNT2 card it replaced. The 16Mb Matrox G450 card with shipping is $78+ or the 32 MB version is $85+. I definately considered the Matrox, but I couldn't justify spending the extra $30. However if you want to stay away from Nvidia, I think Matrox is your best route.

 

[SteelCityFan]

I was doing some digging, and wondered why the 16MB G450 card only supports 24 bit color? Will this make much of a difference?

 

[Booster]

Radeon VE supports 32 bit colour, has great 2D (if made by ATI, of course) has DDR memory and sells at unbelievably low prices, well below 40.

 

[Athlon4all]

Matrox G400/G450/G550, but if you cant find one in your price range, Id say a Radeon VE (AKA Radeon 7000) for around $40.

 

[ahsia]

Newegg has the ATI Radeon 32mb DDR for $37. As with most ATi cards, you get great 2D and DVD performance, and for $37, that is a great deal.

 

[ripthesystem]

Matrox for 2D all the way.
no doubts or questions.

ripthesystem

 

[HGC]

If you're willing to go PCI, www.compuvest.com has Matrox Millenium II for $23.

 

[Yobbo]

Matrox is the 2d king, there are a lot of people who could back me up on that...Matrox has never really been into the 3d market as much as the 2d market and their now old cards can still outdo many newer card...
I would go with a Matrox

 

[jeffrey]

I'd suggest a Matrox G450/G550 if your budget would allow for it. If not, then I'd probably take a look at some of ATI's lower-end Radeon boards.