Help with video card choice.

[Gimpus]

I am about to start building a new rig. It will be either an Abit IC7-Max3 or an Abit KV8-Max3. I have neither installed nor used a computer game in over 6 of computing. IF I ever install a game it would probably be a flight simulator program.

So with that background, which currently available video card will give me the best 2D image? I have heard that Matrox cannot be beat. Is that still true?

If I decide to buy a video card that could do a good job with a flight simulator game even though I will be using the card in 2D, what are your recommendations?

Thanks or any and all suggestions.

Robert

 

[egale]

Flight Simulator programs, like MS Flight Simulator are very heavy graphic use programs. In order to run with any sort of decent frame rate, you need a lot of cpu power and a lot of graphic power. This is completely opposite of running office 2d apps.

If you are going to do games like flight sim, you need to beef up everything. The top of the line graphic cards would be NVidia FX 5900 or 5950 or ATI 9800 Pro. These two are way above the Matrox 2d cards in 3d power. But if you went to play flight sim on the Matrox card, the frame rates would be so low, the game might be unplayable.

What you are kind of asking for is like buying a car only to drive to the grocery store but once in a while, you want to use it to run an Indy car race competitively. They are two different animals.

 

[bernse]

Agreed. You'll want lots of CPU and Vid horsepower for modern flight sims. 2D isn't that important, but even so most cards now have very good 2d performance and quality regardless.

 

[Gimpus]

When I wrote my original message, I knew that I was asking about diametrically different capabilities. I realize that a Matrox 550 can't play a good game of checkers. What I do not know is the reverse situation. Do video cards that provide good 3D graphics and high frame rates give up any ability to provide 2D clarity?

Robert

 

[Jeff7]

My 9700 Pro, paired with a Nokia 445XPro monitor gives me an excellent image, either in 2D or 3D.