Which of these OLD video cards is best?

[bluemax]

repost from General Hardware, but I want quick responses!

Selling my Geforce DDR since I don't need it, and want the cash while it's still of value (many people don't know of the impending Crush boards!)

I have a local buyer and is willing to trade a cheap older card as part of the deal... he has:

Diamond FireGL 1000 (4MB), which is a professional card,
ATI Mach 64 Video Card, or a
Diamond Stealth (S3 Trio Chipset),

I'm thinking the FireGL.... what about you guys? I'm not doing 3D gaming with it, just lots of regular desktop work.

 

[Packet]

I had an ATI Mach 64 in my old P166, and I was not to fond of it.

I would go for the FireGL

 

[Workin']

I'd pick the FireGL.

 

[Rand]

Another vote for the FireGL.

 

[Killrose]

FireGL, but get rid of 'em all as soon as you can.

 

[ProviaFan]

I seem to remember something about one of those older professional cards having drivers for WinNT, but not for 9x. You might want to check that out first, to make sure it will work on your system.
--
Josh

 

[rbV5]

My Diamond FireGL1000 has 8mb ram(I thought they all did), It was my primary card before I got a V3 2000. It has good 2D and was OK for 3DSMax and other 3D apps, I dual booted Win9x and WinNT4.

 

[BFG10K]

Old ATi cards sucked but S3 was OK for 2D stuff. I'm not sure about the other card though.

 

[kmmatney]

The Diamond stealth is now very slow - I have several of these lying around collecting dust. My basic test for the "quickness" of a card in 2D is to play freecell and see how fast the cards whip around the screen. Very slow with the diamond stealth. The ATI Mach 64 is faster, and has given me little trouble in the past (for 2D only!). No experience with the FireGL buts its probably the best card of the lot.

 

[richleader]

The Firegl is a professional card, and therefore delivered far inferior performance in games. It's probably far *less* functional than a geforce 2 mx in professional apps right now though, so you probably will NOT find a use for it down the line. One of the other ones might be more compatible for a free gift for a friend or family member, but get more cash if you can swing it.

The GL's DO come in 4mb versions, I remember debating between that, an stb velocity, and a voodoo 1 (to supplement my 4mb millennium) back in the right day. I chose Voodoo. Best choice I ever made

 

[billyjak]

Stay away from the ATI, it is very, very crapola

 

[ace31216]

Out of the three, I would recommend the FireGL.

 

[Swanny]

I'd get the FireGl.

 

[Angus]

FireGL.

don't use s3 trio, it's a slow performance 2d card (it doesn't support direct x). On 2D/Desktop,it's much slower than ATi Mach64.

i use all of them before, FireGl is the best and then ATI Mach64

 

[bluemax]

I should have mentioned, I don't need internal 3d since I also have a donated Voodoo1 card. Again, nothing much, but it's there if I get desperate. I just need the pass-through cable for it. :Q

 

[Hawk]

if you are just worrying about 2d, I really don't think there would be too much of a difference among these 3 cards.

 

[JayPatel]

why not pick up a cheap tntm64 or something...all those cards have terrible 2d.

 

[bluemax]

Go figure the whole thing is moot now anyways. The guy pulled out of the deal. :|:|:|:|
Fortunately, someone else came in with a counter-offer and is offering a Voodoo3 PCI + cash and has some old sound cards to donate for the souncard webpage project! I'm comin' out way ahead in this deal, and have a Voodoo1 I don't know what to do with.

Once I have that Voodoo3, I should try and find someone with a Rage128 they want to get rid of.... DVD you know.