Matrox G550

[rcurley55]

Hi,

I was looking at replacing my GF2Ti and GF2 MX400 with one of these cards. I don't game at all, but I do use some 3D CAD (Pro/E) and then it's just photo editing and office like applications, surfing the net, etc.

I run dual Sony G200's at 1600x1200.

Would this card be good for me?

Is there a way to add a 3D card to it to game as well?

If the is not a good card, is there a good dual head car that has great 2D quality and offers some 3D gaming features for under $100 - like I said, I really don't game, but it would be nice to have some capabilities...

Thanks!

 

[rcurley55]

anyone?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: rcurley55
Would this card be good for me?

If you're not gaming, yes. You'd spend a whole day wiping up the drool over the 2D quality improvement from a gF2 series.

Is there a way to add a 3D card to it to game as well?

Short answer - no.
Long answer - You could technically put a PCI 3D card in, but that wouldn't be very good.

If the is not a good card, is there a good dual head car that has great 2D quality and offers some 3D gaming features for under $100 - like I said, I really don't game, but it would be nice to have some capabilities...

Not that it isn't good for what you're stating, but there might be a better-rounded card out there. Finding one that will do dualhead 16x12 is tough though. There may be an ATI card that can do it, but in order to stay in the <$100 ballpark, it would need to be a 9200 or 8500 chipset.

Thanks!

You're welcome.

- M4H

 

[titananandtech]

Originally posted by: rcurley55
Hi,

I was looking at replacing my GF2Ti and GF2 MX400 with one of these cards. I don't game at all, but I do use some 3D CAD (Pro/E) and then it's just photo editing and office like applications, surfing the net, etc.

I run dual Sony G200's at 1600x1200.

Would this card be good for me?

Is there a way to add a 3D card to it to game as well?

If the is not a good card, is there a good dual head car that has great 2D quality and offers some 3D gaming features for under $100 - like I said, I really don't game, but it would be nice to have some capabilities...

Thanks!

You'll like the G550, but it is going to be slower, in games, than the GF2 cards you already have. It'll be much nicer for your 2D stuff though, so it is probably worth getting if that is what you're looking for.

There is no way to add a 3D card for games like back in the Voodoo era.

However if you want to play the odd game save up for a Matrox P650, P750, or Parhelia instead. It'll have great image quality like the G550, but its 3D performance is more like a GeForce3/4Ti or Radeon 8500/9000/9100/9200. It is a DX8 level card while the G550 IIRC is a DX6 level card (GF2 is a DX7 level card) so you'll be able to play modern games that no longer support DX6 or DX7 level card (the GF2 cards can't play Deus Ex 2 for example because a DX8 level card is required).

The Parhelia is a bit pricy, but the P650 can probably be found for $150. Consider it as under $100 like you wanted, but with an extra bit built in for a built in 3D card for your CAD and the potential to do some gaming.