• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Quadro 4500FX or ATI X1900XT?

C

CE750

Member
I've got a deceision to make.. Money being basically no object in this, as I'm more concerned with overall performance.. Shall I switch my order on my MacPro from the X1900XT 512MB to a Quadro if all I am concerned with is performance in both games, and other apps that use OPEN GL such as Motion or what ever else will be out when Core Image is used in other apps?

The specs on the X1900XT are impressive, in some areas better than the Quadro 4500FX, but I am told the Quadro is a significantly better card.. but I wonder if those features are more for certain applications that I will not be using, such as Maya, etc?

any help is appreciated..
 
Quaddro = Drastically better for professional apps, especially open GL. It is in effect a Professional version of the 7800GTX.

X1900XT = Better for gaming, but has no optimizations for professional apps. Although, the XT used in apples is actually underclocked compared to a PC's X1900XT for some reason.

If your doing any OpenGL application work, get the quaddro, if its just gaming you want, X1900XT.
 
Well it looks like you're comparing apples to oranges. The X1900XT is pretty much a gamer's card and the quadro is a worstation CAD card.
One won't do what the other one does. Each card is better for thier specific design.
I'm quite certain you wouldn't be able to game very well on a quadro and an X1900XT is not a CAD designer's card.
Did I just repeat myself? I'm sleepy....
 
Interesting, so the Quadro wouldn't game well.. how about the X1900XT on pro aps... will it suck? or just be a bit slower than the Quad?

thanks for helping at this unGodly hour!
 
It would probably do OK, but if you're looking do more apps than gaming the quadro definitly is better suited. The quadro is designed to run 2 monitors @ CRAZY resolutions, its a powerhouse of a card.
For the system in your sig, the quadro bould be better suited for sure, looks like you're a designer.
It's hard to find comparisons on the 2, they're quite different.
 
Unless there's a big difference in quality between the drivers that favors nVidia, I'd stick with the ATI Radeon X1900 XT.
 
the quadro series is designed to render 3-D models for apps like Maya. since Mac OS X is designed around OpenGL and since nVidia's cards are generally better at OpenGL, for Maya, a quardo would be better. however, it would suck at gaming. it depends on what you plan on doing. frankly, this is unconfirmed, there should be no reason why you can't take a regular x1900xt and put it in a mac. it would be cheaper and faster. although then you pay for a card you don't need.

basically, x1900xt for gaming, the quadro for CAD.

also, i suggest you get the base configuration and upgrade it yourself. much cheaper with the HDD and RAM as well as graphic card. although the Mac Pro is priced competitavly, the upgrades cost a fortune. do it yourself.
 
yeah, I'm buying my array of drives form OWC and getting better drives in the process.. 16MB buffer instead of 8MB.. and I also got some memory from OWC..


I'm gonna go with the ATI card for now, and see what comes out later when the Pro's been out a few months.. I'm sure by then we'll know if there is a difference in the "PC" version of cards and Apple version.
 
Heres my opinion:

You're spending thousands of dollars on a machine made for graphic design, CAD, etc. For those applications, you need hardware specifically made for them. You have 8GB of ECC memory, dual dual-core Intel Xeons (top of the line ones, I might add), 2 large drives in RAID... and an X1900XT? That makes no sense, whatsoever.

It's like buying 7950GX2s, 4GB of RAM, and then putting in a Celeron. It doesn't make any sense.
 
The only reason I have the X1900XT rather than the Quadro is two fold..

1. I do mostly 2D work and video editing on this machine, i.e. Photoshop and Final Cut Pro HD..
2. I figure inside of 1 year, there will be more options, and maybe more cost effective

That said, if there is a DARN good reason to get the Quadro now, I'm open to it, as it would also shave 3 weeks of my delivery time.. I'm just trying to convince myself that I "need" it rather than just want it.. The good thing about this Mac, compared to Mac's of the past is that it's much easier to upgrade everything.. CPU, GPU, etc.. and the bandwidth of the system isn't going to be a bottle neck for a long time to come.
 
I'm reading rumors on various forums that the delay for the X1900 is that Apple is going to substitute the X1900 for an X1950XTX ... this wouldn't be the first time they've done this (did it with the MacBook Pro).. what other reason can there be for the X1900 delays? if the card has been out since Jan 2006??

Crossing my fingers..
 
a quadro is basically a 7800GT(X) just different drivers. I've read forums of people who've modified thier 7800 to quadro like performance. It depends on what your doing most there guy, video editing or gaming.
 
Why would you buy all workstation parts and then get a high-end GAMING video card? If you want to game, build a gaming PC, if you want to do CAD then build a workstation. I don't think it's completely possible to have the best of both worlds. That's not being pessimistic it's being honest and logical.
 
Originally posted by: 1N0V471V
Why would you buy all workstation parts and then get a high-end GAMING video card? If you want to game, build a gaming PC, if you want to do CAD then build a workstation. I don't think it's completely possible to have the best of both worlds. That's not being pessimistic it's being honest and logical.
Click to expand...
Who says he's doing CAD? Do all workstation users do CAD? If he takes your advice and builds a gaming PC, will it run Final Cut Studio on Mac OS X?

For him, the Radeon X1900 XT is the right fit, even if budget is no issue.
 
Originally posted by: manly
Originally posted by: 1N0V471V
Why would you buy all workstation parts and then get a high-end GAMING video card? If you want to game, build a gaming PC, if you want to do CAD then build a workstation. I don't think it's completely possible to have the best of both worlds. That's not being pessimistic it's being honest and logical.
Click to expand...
Who says he's doing CAD? Do all workstation users do CAD? If he takes your advice and builds a gaming PC, will it run Final Cut Studio on Mac OS X?

For him, the Radeon X1900 XT is the right fit, even if budget is no issue.
Click to expand...

Thanks that is where I am now... and ofcourse, I'm hoping the rumor of the 1950 is true.. but either way, the 1900 is what I need, with FCP HD, and Aperture/Photoshop being my main "work" apps... I just figured if the Quadro was a better GPU across the board, I could justify it.. it's apparently not.

As for why the Dual Xeon CPU's... it the only way Apple makes their high end machines.. I have no choice (for now) if I want to run OS X and Apple only Apps.
 
I never said build a gaming PC. Ever. But what the eff is the point of a workstation if you're only going to under power it with a video card not made for workstation class software? You would never race a WRX STi against a funny car in a drag, while you wouldn't rally with a funny car against a WRX. It's completely apples to oranges here. You can't even compare the two.

4500 = Workstation and workstation only.
X1900XT = Gaming and gaming only.
 
Originally posted by: 1N0V471V
I never said build a gaming PC. Ever. But what the eff is the point of a workstation if you're only going to under power it with a video card not made for workstation class software? You would never race a WRX STi against a funny car in a drag, while you wouldn't rally with a funny car against a WRX. It's completely apples to oranges here. You can't even compare the two.

4500 = Workstation and workstation only.
X1900XT = Gaming and gaming only.
Click to expand...

The point of a workstation is that it's the only thing Apple makes on the high end that I can use in Photoshop CS2 (and 3 soon) to maximize performance.

But this was the original reason for my question, as I wanted to have my cake and eat it too.

I wanted the best all around card.. a card that I can use for work (not CAD or Maya level stuff), and also have it not suffer in terms of performance in games, iLife apps, and Digital Video editing..

From all I've seen, the Quadro 4500 would only excel in a narrow area of 3D, and then either be at or below the X1900XT in the rest of them... and all this with a 3x price increase. I tried to convince myself to get it, but it's not going that way so far. Also if the rumor holds (as it did in the MacBook Pro) that the delay for shipping the X1900 equipped MacPro is that they're using the X1950XTX in it's place, then I win again, as the specs of the X1950 are even more impressive..


 
WTF do you need 8GB of RAM and 4 physical CPUs for running Photoshop? You do know that they make a PC version, no?

I think your e-penis needs a cold shower.
 
Originally posted by: 1N0V471V
Why would you buy all workstation parts and then get a high-end GAMING video card? If you want to game, build a gaming PC, if you want to do CAD then build a workstation. I don't think it's completely possible to have the best of both worlds. That's not being pessimistic it's being honest and logical.
Click to expand...

Originally posted by: 1N0V471V
I never said build a gaming PC. Ever. But what the eff is the point of a workstation if you're only going to under power it with a video card not made for workstation class software? You would never race a WRX STi against a funny car in a drag, while you wouldn't rally with a funny car against a WRX. It's completely apples to oranges here. You can't even compare the two.

4500 = Workstation and workstation only.
X1900XT = Gaming and gaming only.
Click to expand...
O RLY?
 
Originally posted by: 1N0V471V
WTF do you need 8GB of RAM and 4 physical CPUs for running Photoshop? You do know that they make a PC version, no?

I think your e-penis needs a cold shower.
Click to expand...

You are behaving like someone who's a bit jealous if you ask me.. I don't understand it. Sorry if that offends you.

I have 8GB for the following reasons:

-CS3 (I have information that it wil address up to 8GB)
-OS X can use UNLIMITED amounts of RAM to improve overall system speed
-with a 30" screen, and that much RAM I can multi-task the heck out of my machine, and with OS 10.5 I'll have the multi-desk top to do it with!
-I can afford it.

Bottom line.. I've got the money.. I want to build the BEST computer I can get.. money no object. If I got a PC, I would be able to get the HARDWARE part and save some money, sure.. but OS X, and the Apple GUI / UI experience would be greatly missed.

Do you want me to explain anything else in my logic or reasoning?

 
Here's my humble opinion. From your posts, you said that you do mostly 2D work and video editing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Quadro (and likewise FireGL) series of cards are built for 3D rendering not 2D work. Therefore, the X1900XT would be your best bet (especially if you plan to game) as I don't think a Quadro would help much for you 2D work.

The only two reasons I see for getting a Quadro would be the fact the gaming on Mac is not yet a mature platform and is outperformed by a PC in this area, or if you plan to go into 3D modeling/rendering/animation (Maya, 3DSMax, Blender, etc.) in the future.

Hope I helped 🙂.
 
lol, I'm not jealous... I'm smart with my money. Rather than blowing my money on a $6000 computer I invest and make money. If I wanted one that bad enough, I could order one right now. But honestly, I know that I don't even use my computers full potential, so why bother? Look at my signature, there's a few thousand dollars off stuff there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top