new video card?

[tcc2f6]

currently I'm having some dual monitor problems with my ATI 8500LE, and with an itch to spend some money, i guess it has me thinking about a new video card.

My current system:

AMD 1.3 Ghz
512 DDR Ram
Epox 8k7a
21" CRT, and 15" LCD

Here is what i do though:
Photoshop, Flash are the single two main programs I use more than anything else. Sure, I play some games when I get a chance, lately High Heat 2004 (but hey, it's not top line graphics anyhow). And everyonce in a while I'll play with some Maya/Plasma stuff.

I guess I'm debating going to the Matrox G550 or staying with ATI. The Matrox has a nice price, which all of a sudden makes me think less quality...hehe. damn marketing...

regarless, I'd love to hear some opinions on what you would do if you were in my shoes...be it hold for now, or get something else. Keep in mind my limit is around 200 bucks.

thanks
tyler

 

[Schadenfroh]

the g550 is a great card, but not for gaming. it has better 2d quality than any other card. i hear great things about matrox's dual monitor. but if you play 3d games, a g550 is ALOT slower than a 8500 and would be a big downgrade. but if you dont use it for that it is just fine.

i do reccommend something a bit more powerfull for that game you mentioned.

 

[tcc2f6]

blasted one extreme or the other

For some reason I have more trouble picking out video cards than I do any other part of a computer. They are growing damn quick, and two, i sometimes wonder how much I will really notice.

I play some 3d games, but I'm not much of a gamer at all. Rather a college design/CS student who plays a game here and there in his spare time. The next two years of my life will be in grad school playing with Flash...

I was looking at the ATI 9500 Pro, but it appears to be off the shelf?

Also, one more question while I am here...I read all about great 2d and such like that, however, I've never seen one. I'm a college student who, when not using my own computer has to use the ones in a simple college lab, so I've never seen a matrox in action. Is the 2d that much better than an ATI?

thanks for the response.

 

[Keysplayr]

I have heard, and read that Matrox has award winning 2D performance. Above all others (ATI, Nvidia, KyroII, S3).
For gaming, not so hot. Unless maybe you were to get the Matrox Parhelia, but I think that is still a bit expensive.

Keys

 

[tcc2f6]

Yeah, I have read the same of matrox. last i looked the Parhelia was still in the 300-350 range.

Matrox 550 has a nice price range, but if i'm playing the occasional sports game (for fun, not graphics) while the majority of my time is focused on macromedia/adobe products, would I really lose that much? And is Award winning 2D that much better than what ATI can do?

man, i feel like my girlfriend picking out shoes...hahaha

 

[ScrewFace]

I'd recommend a GeForce4-Ti4400. They are a bit more expensive than GeForce4-Ti4200's but can be overclocked past GeForce4-Ti4600 levels! Stay away from the GeForce FX 5600 and 5200 Ultras! Absolute sh*t! And, much slower than the GeForce4-Ti4400.