Need a good video card for graphics.

[elkinm]

I need to get a good, yet innexpensive video card for a system which will be primarely used for CAD design. I must have good 2D quality as well as 3D and it needs to have good 2D and 3D performance.

Right I am leaning between the Matox 450/550 or an ATI Radeon 32/64 MB DDR/SDR?

The Matrox would offer the best 2D quality but it is quite old and the new G550 did not have many improvements over the G450. The Radeon on the other hand prived nearly as good 2D with escelent 3D and as well as good performance.
I am looking to spend under $100 and I would also like to know which one would be better, the new R7200 64 MB SDR or the 32 MB DDR. Would there be noticable performance in performance with DDR ram outside of games and is it realy that beneficial to have 64 MB of video memory?

Thanks

 

[John]

The Radeon is a more viable solution since Matrox blows chunks in the 3D department.

 

[TimeKeeper]

CAD? Nvidia Quadro Series.

 

[kazeakuma]

Umm. Don't know anyone in my immediate area using a Radeon for 3D design/CAD. Although we are looking at the 8500. From memory, an oxygen VX1 is quite inexpensive nowadays but is easily out performed by any Quadro card. And unlike consumer cards the Quadro series have very good 2D. For price/performance a Quadro is the go. The radeons could be worth the look, but I'm not sure how they stack up to the competition. The Matrox is simply outdated but can still be a good choice for low end work.

 

[elkinm]

Unfortunately the Quadro is too expncive as I need a new card with a good waranty. Radeon still seems the more sensible choice but any ideas on the 64 MB SDR vs. 32 MB DDR. Will the 64 MB be required and will SDR slow down performance sugnificantly?

Thanks Aggain

 

[Mltsao]