Which for Win2k/Photoshop/3D apps?

[Namuna]

Alright, I KNOW already that there's a MILLION and 1 posts about "Which Video Card is better?" and I've done the searches and read the posts/threads.

But to be more SPECIFIC, I'd rather know which card BETTER FITS a certain criteria.

So, for under $200, which card is best equipped to handle (in order of priority)...
- Photoshop
- Games
- Win2k
- Video Editing
- 3D Applications

Thanks for any and all info!

 

[XGamer]

Yes, yer right, it has been posted and replied to many times. And I guess you do not read them much, cause most of them give specific cards. Anyways, for all that photoshop(doesnt really require a great video card), Games(of course you should have at least a Geforce2 32 these days), and the rest of yer apps like 3D shizz, you should probably get a G2 Ultra for all that. Wait for G3's to come out, prices will drop a lot. Probably soon be able to pick up a G2 Ultra for around $250 or so. But if you just NEED a card $200 or under, get a Geforce2 32 meg. It doesnt really matter which card, just get a name brand. And try to pick one that has tv-out, just because even if you dont use it, when its time to get another card, if you need to sell it, you should be able to get more money than a card without tv-out or tv-in.

 

[TbirdJayC]

i would go with the Radeon for photoshop, it has better image quality 3D, and superior 2D

 

[BenSkywalker]

I guess it depends on how much of a priority you place on each of the things you have listed.

The Radeon will likely have a bit better image quality in Photoshop, and depending on your monitor it could a rather large gap at higher resolutions(FD Trinis seem to cause the biggest rift between the two). Games under Win2K is an advantage for the GF2, Win2K drivers in general would be a nVidia strenth for that matter. Video editing the Radeon has a big edge, best acceleration out of any consumer video card as long as you are using compatible software. If you aren't, you may run into a lot of problems(which apps are you using?).

3D applications is hands down the GeForce/GF2. The Radeon's drivers are very poor for pro 3D applications(the Radeon isn't meant for pro 3D), the T&L performance is poor and the image quality is below that of GeForce based boards(accuracy is lacking sorely on the Radeon, although it is a consumer card, the same can be said about 3dfx or Matrox). If you are dealing with the lower end applications then the Radeon should do just fine, as you move up nVidia's edge grows much larger.

More then likely either a Radeon or GF2 based board will handle everything you want it to quite well, they just have different strengths when compared to each other.

 

[vlieps]

As for the Photoshop the Voodoo5 should be the best, since the 2D is the best. It is cheap, super stable and compatible with everything and has good 3D, no probs with any game out today.
Stay away from Geforces, 2D is very bad.