Workstation graphics card, with a bit of CAD 3D rendering

[yhelothar]

What's a fast one for around $200?
I am thinking about getting a geforce and using the softquadro mod.
Which one should I get?
PCI-E preferred, but AGP will be fine too if I can save a lot of money going with AGP.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Quadro FX 1000 should be your speed.

 

[Ronin]

FX1000 only came in the AGP configuration, did it not?

That, and the cheapest one I saw was ~$400 (at least on Pricewatch).

 

[yhelothar]

$400 is pretty steep.
Anyone know how well quadro mods work now?
I remember they worked great all the way back to geforceFX5900, but I haven't heard about it for the new gf6 series.

 

[BillyBobJoel71]

you should check this one, its at a reasonable price from pny: http://www.insight.com/site/product/det...ess%3D&NugsTracking=Results_Full_Specs

 

[PrayForDeath]

Originally posted by: SuperTyphoon
you should check this one, its at a reasonable price from pny: http://www.insight.com/site/product/det...ess%3D&NugsTracking=Results_Full_Specs

Are you serious? 1600$?!!
The new Geforce 6 series is also softmoddable. There was a forum I used to visit that had a section on softmoding NV40s and up. But I can't remember the name. I'll tell you when I remember. Last time I was there, they had mods for 6600GT and 6800 series.

 

[PrayForDeath]

There you go: http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?threadid=122413&goto=newpost

 

[Dubb]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
$400 is pretty steep.
Anyone know how well quadro mods work now?
I remember they worked great all the way back to geforceFX5900, but I haven't heard about it for the new gf6 series.

I know it's do-able with most AGP 6800 GT/ultra cards. Not sure on PCI-E.

Guru3d/rivatuner forum is a swamp of confusing posts and buried information. alot of good info, but it takes forever to find it.

 

[imported_Kensai]

You can just get a 6xxx series and then mod it to Quadro, but it doesn't always work.

 

[ddogg]

Quadro FX1000 is the card u want...

 

[Ronin]

Can you find us a $200 Quadro, then? As I said, the cheapest I could find was still over $400 (twice what his budget is).

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Ronin
Can you find us a $200 Quadro, then? As I said, the cheapest I could find was still over $400 (twice what his budget is).

You're not going to find a (new) Quadro workstation card that cheap.

You can either:

1) Look for a used/refurb Quadro or FireGL (or Wildcat) card, probably a last-gen one.

2) Get a "consumer" GeForce or RADEON card and mod it to a "workstation" card.

3) Just buy a 6600GT and use it as-is. If you're not doing super-heavy-duty graphics, it should be fine.

 

[yhelothar]

hmm how about buy a 6800NU, softmod to 6800GT, and softquadro?
$2000 workstation card for $200

 

[Ronin]

Originally posted by: Matthias99

Originally posted by: Ronin
Can you find us a $200 Quadro, then? As I said, the cheapest I could find was still over $400 (twice what his budget is).

You're not going to find a (new) Quadro workstation card that cheap.

You can either:

1) Look for a used/refurb Quadro or FireGL (or Wildcat) card, probably a last-gen one.

2) Get a "consumer" GeForce or RADEON card and mod it to a "workstation" card.

3) Just buy a 6600GT and use it as-is. If you're not doing super-heavy-duty graphics, it should be fine.

This was my point. Thank you.

 

[watdahel]

exactly what benefits is there by doing the softmod?

 

[Ronin]

Saving cash, mostly.

 

[Dubb]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
hmm how about buy a 6800NU, softmod to 6800GT, and softquadro?
$2000 workstation card for $200

IIRC, very few of the NU's are moddable. I believe nearly all AGP GTs and ultras are.

someone correct me if this has changed.

The FX 5900 xt/ultra > quadro 3000 might be well within that price range though, but you need to move a resistor for hardware AA lines on SOME cards.