Video card purchase - 2D of interest, matrox or ATI

[N11]

This will be going with a 20" LCD.

I haven't read much about the video card market these days. What is the recommendation for primary 2D activity with some 3D?
ATI 8500 64MB or a Matrox g550? Or something else?

 

[Rand]

If your using an LCD monitor with a DVI connection it won't matter one way or another, they'll all be virtually identical regardless of manufacturer.
2D quality diviations are minimal with DVI.

 

[N11]

So then if 3d is a consideration the all in wonder from ATI is the recommendation?

 

[N11]

Also,

What is the difference between the 8500LE and the 8500DV (ati's site appears to be down right now and I couldn't find an anand article on the LE)

This is the one I'm looking at:
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=288752

I see 8500LE's selling for well under 100. Even retail ones.

 

[razor2025]

8500 DV is kinda like strip-down version of the AIW series.
8500 LE is the clocked-down version of 8500

 

[xSauronx]

iirc
the DV is clocked 230/250
the le is 250/250
the retail 8500 is 275/275

you can get a 8500le 64mb from newegg for 72 with free fedex saver shipping right now, good card, pretty sure it has vga/dv/s-video

 

[N11]

Thank you for the information.

I will try the AIW 8500 then unless anyone has a reason for me to do otherwise.

Thanks

 

[bunnyfubbles]

what is your budget? The AIW 8500DV is perfect for AIW functions although it would be smashed by the AIW 8500 128MB in terms of gaming performance...

 

[N11]

~$200

 

[Rand]

Originally posted by: razor2025
8500 DV is kinda like strip-down version of the AIW series.

Strip down?
I'd say more of an enhancement then a strip-dwon. It's certainly more fully featured then the reg. AIW Radeon 8500 albeit slower. Only better route from ATi would be the costly AIW R9700.

 

[rbV5]

If your using an LCD monitor with a DVI connection it won't matter one way or another, they'll all be virtually identical regardless of manufacturer.

Except for resolution. Matrox supports to 1280 X 1024 via DVI unless you go Parnhelia<sp>, ATI and nVidia DVI card's support up to 1600 X 1200, but you need to check the nVidia models, some support only to 1280 X 1024 depending on manufacturer.

Rand is right about the 8500dv, it has the biggest feature set of any AIW, and some features not even matched by the 9700 AIW.

 

[N11]

This has all been good information, however, I am still uncertain after reading some reviews on the 8500DV.

The budget is $200, it will be running at 1600x1200 on a 20" LCD. 2d is very important, and I don't have a great need for all of the features bundled in the AIW except for the DVI support.

What is the best solution here?

 

[rbV5]

2d is very important, and I don't have a great need for all of the features bundled in the AIW except for the DVI support

I'd get a less expensive Radeon card with DVI, almost all radeon cards are DVI, or DVI + VGA. Some of the 8500 cards with DVI use a DVI-D connector rather than DVI-I, so you'll want to watch that. The 9000 would be a good choice and well under half your budget.

2D should be equal using DVI, and dual DVI would require a GF4 card or Matrox Parnhelia.

 

[N11]

Originally posted by: rbV5

2d is very important, and I don't have a great need for all of the features bundled in the AIW except for the DVI support

I'd get a less expensive Radeon card with DVI, almost all radeon cards are DVI, or DVI + VGA. Some of the 8500 cards with DVI use a DVI-D connector rather than DVI-I, so you'll want to watch that. The 9000 would be a good choice and well under half your budget.

2D should be equal using DVI, and dual DVI would require a GF4 card or Matrox Parnhelia.

So the 9000 Pro 128MB would be a good choice then, to cover all requirements including the 1600x1200 with DVI? Pardon my ineptness, video cards and display is not my field.

 

[rbV5]

So the 9000 Pro 128MB would be a good choice then

IMHO, a regular 9000 nonpro 64MB would be plenty and less than $75 shipped, however if you're talking gaming performance, a 9500 128 MB pro would squeak under your budget and be a much better choice

 

[kylebisme]

or a 9500pro if you want nice gameing preformace and all for ~200$.

 

[N11]

These cards, whether I choose a 9000 pro, a 9500 pro, or an 8500, is 2D quality a discussion anymore?

The last I remember about this market, nvidia cards weren't so hot when it came to 2D, particular with resolutions over 1280x1024.

Is 2D quality something I should be worried about with any of these cards? I've consistently been an ATI users, I'm just wondering if there is going to be any difference between say an 8500 and a 9500 in terms of visual display, at 1600x1200.


A side note, as someone who hasn't paid much attention to the gaming hardware sides of the industry looking in on things now is really interesting -- I'm looking at video cards like my current radeon 32MB DDR which were great performers and in high demand, just like the geforce and geforce2 cards... and now they aren't really even on the table as an option -- meanwhile my radeon does everything I'd ever ask of it including gaming, it's just time to take things up a notch with better display.

Now there are geforce4s, radeon 9700s, things have changed so much in such a short while, and the outside perspective is really interesting.

 

[rbV5]

Is 2D quality something I should be worried about with any of these cards?

Rand said it in the second post, 2D quality will be very good with any of the cards using DVI. Make sure the card you buy supports the native resolution of the monitor you are buying, and buy your card on the performance level you want. The panel itself will be the major variable in 2D quality here.

 

[N11]

FYI -- thank you everyone for the input, I ended up going with the 9500 128mb pro

- N11