Trying to decide between 2 PCI video cards...

[GnomeCop]

I need a PCI video card to run a secondary digital LCD. I've came across these two:

Sapphire Radeon 7000 32mb PCI

and

Matrox G450 32mb PCI

I don't need any 3d capabilities on my second LCD. I will be running it on 1280x768 resolution, and the card needs to be able to play DVDs.
Both of these cards can do that right?

Which one do you think is better? Any better /cheaper choices out there? I am kind of leaning toward the Sapphire one right now because its not backordered and cheaper. I've really liked the matrox cards that I've purchased before though.

 

[Adul]

both will work fine, though i would take the matrox over due to the excellent 2d image quality.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: Adul
both will work fine, though i would take the matrox over due to the excellent 2d image quality.

Same here!

 

[GnomeCop]

yeah the matrox is my 1st choice in this match up, but the sapphire has 2 things over the matrox.... its actually available... and its about 50 dollars less.

it sucks that there seems to be a nation-wide backorder on the G450 PCI

what would really help is if someone knew the max resolution the sapphire card can display using DVI, I know for the Matrox G450 DVI max res. is 1280x1024 (enough for my second display)

 

[GnomeCop]

also... is there THAT much of a difference in 2d between the two cards at 1280x1024 and under?

Matrox's dualhead technology is probably better if I choose to run a third display...

who has the better drivers you think?

 

[smahoney]

POWERCOLOR ATI RADEON 7500LE 64MB DDR PCI CRT+DVI+TV RETAIL $70 at newegg