Best 2D Card Under $200

[MajorKong]

I'm debating which card to get for a new workstation. Probably 90% of what I will do on the machine will be programming in Windows 2000 or XP Pro, but it would be nice to have a card that can also run today's games.

I've been considering the ATI 9600 Pro, but am wondering if there are any good cards that excel at 2D and are also under $200. If the 2D text quality is really that much more superior than the ATI, then it would probably be smart to forget about games and save my eyes during my usual 12 hour day. The Matrox Parhelias are probably all more than I want to pay for a card.

Monitor will a be a new 19" LCD run at 1280 x 1024. Haven't decided which, though.

Thanks,
JJ

 

[Corporate Thug]

anything matrox

 

[edmundoab]

3dfx Voodoo 5 5500 AGP!!

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: shady06
anything matrox

 

[The_Lurker]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: shady06
anything matrox

 

[funko]

i can't speak from experience but my opinion is that the 9600 pro/nonpro will be a good choice

the combination of windows xp clear type and an LCD is great for staring at text for hours upon hours.... i dont see too much difference between ati cards and nvidia cards in normal windows working environments and would give you a significant 3d boost for gaming compared to matrox cards

i think the natrox stuff would be worth it if you wanted really nice image quality for image development and stuff like that, but if thats not too important i would personally go with the ati stuff

 

[lchen66666]

Actually, you won't notice any difference among those come from
popular manufacturers if you are going to just set resolution
at 1280X1024. I would say ATI, Asus, MSI, Leadtek and Gainward
are all good.

You start seeing difference when resolution
is set 1600X1200 or higher.

 

[Shalmanese]

Originally posted by: MajorKong

Monitor will a be a new 19" LCD run at 1280 x 1024. Haven't decided which, though.

Thanks,
JJ

Any card that does DVI. There is no difference because the signal is digital.

 

[Pete]

I'd suggest the Visiontek Radeon 9600 Pro, on sale at CompUSA this week for $150 - $50MIR = $100AR. Even if the rebates don't work out, $150 is about the lowest price you'll find a 9600P going for, and this way you have a retail version with a longer warranty than online OEM cards.

Shouldn't be much difference among cards using DVI out, though. A $50 Radeon 9000 or GF4MX should look as good as a $150+ 9600P at 2D via DVI--you're paying extra for the 3D speed.

Just know that a 9600P isn't really fast enough to enable both AA and AF at 12x10. Its comparable to a 9700/9800 up to about 10x7, above which the faster cards will leave it far behind. If you want to game at 12x10 with AA+AF, go for a ~$220 9700 or ~$250 9800. They'll have the fillrate and bandwidth to handle AA+AF at those higher resolutions with aplomb.

If the LCD scales resolution well (you can just play at 10x7), or you don't care too much about high levels of AA+AF at the same time, you'll be fine with the 9600P.

 

[leolaw]

I thought you can buy a 2D card with under $20 !!!!
Dont go to retail. Check online