Workstation video card?

[cowdog]

I am looking for an AGP video card for an A64 (either 754 or 939 - not decided yet) work computer. I do a fair bit of visualization (2d and 3d), GIS, and graphics, but I cannot justify buying a "real" workstation video card. The ability to run 2 monitors is appealing but not significant.

I was thinking about a 5900XT or 9800Pro. The 6800NU looks like a nice option as well.

Am I going for too much card? too little? Thanks for any feedback.

 

[TStep]

I think there is a guy around here (Duvie is his name I believe) that has modded several gaming cards int o workastation cards. Maybe due a search for his topics or "5800" as that was the last mod I recall from memory. As it turns out you may get a $700 card for a buck fifty if you look into this further and bios mod a 5800.

 

[Mik3y]

for ur cpu, get socket 939. its a much better workstation processor then the 754, because of its speed, multi-tasking ability, and its ability to encode/decode much better. basically, it'll own any pentium.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well as far as workstation class cards go all i know is stay away from ATI. They are neck and neck with Nvidia in terms of mainstream cards but in workstation class card Nvidia DOMINATES. Litterally a Quadro4 series (~of a Geforce 4) beats a top of the line ATI workstation card.

Also Matrox still has a decent amount of the market in that area.

If i were choosing one of those cards i would choose the 5900XT and mod it into a QuadroFX. Also for the 5900XT i would have to choose what i actually chose the MSI 5900XT-VTD128. It doesn't have dual DVI but it has VIVO, comes jam packed with software, and is the fastest 5900XT money can buy (with the exception of the leadtek and gainward cards which "cheat" and just underclocked the 5900U's). Also the MSI runs at max 21dba, i haven't heard mine even with my HD's and all other fans (including CPU fan) off. And it runs 2nd coolest i believe.

I feel like im advertising, im not get what you like, but thats my recommendation.

-Kevin

 

[Avalon]

Basically, Duvie was able to hack the Nvidia forceware drivers with a patch for his FX5800 ultra. I think it turned his card into something between the performance level of a Quadro FX2000 and FX3000. If you have a non ultra 5800, it will turn the card into something as powerful or a little less than an FX2000. At least, this is what I remember. The patching unlocks Quadro features, which tremendously boosts its workstation ability. I remember that you could ONLY use the 4x.xx forceware drivers for this "softmod", and nothing later than that. He recommended the 45.23 forceware drivers.

With credit to Duvie, the following is from his 5800 thread:

1) Go to www.guru3d.com

2) Download Detonator Forceware drivers version 45.23 for winxp/2000

3) Download RivaTuner20RC143NY.zip

4) Download DC3Setup (Driver cleaner)


5) create a folder and place all of these items in them.....

6) unzip and install RivaTuner....

7) unzip and install driver cleaner but don't run yet....

8) extract the 45.23 file into the folder you created...


9) Go to c:/program files/Riva Tuner/PatchScripts/Nvidia (leave open for abit as we have 4 patches to do)

10) then go into the NVstrap Antiprotection folder and double click the win2k file. A pop up will occur...hit continue...then in the next pop-up browse to the folder you created with the extracted driver file. Then click the corresponding file and open...

11) next go into SoftQuadro and click w2k file and direct it to the same folder...

12) next go into the AnisoBoosterOpenGl folder and do the same as the other 2...

13) Finally go into the DetonatorFXAntiprotector folder and do the same....


14) don't reboot yet....launch the driver cleaner program and pick nvidia and remove the existing files....may have to hit clean a couple of times until it can't find any files left.

15) go to My computer...right click....properties....hardware tab...device manager....under display adapter click the nvidia FX5800U card and right click to uninstall....At reboot prompt reboot...

16) at startup it will find vga device...hit cancel....

17) go into the folder you extracted and patched the 45.23 drivers and run the setup....reboot when asked and when you re-enter it should be identified in the device manager as well as the rivatuner main tab as a Quadro FX2000 card...

 

[cowdog]

Thanks for the feedback and interesting ideas. I will definately go with Sckt939, and it sounds like nVidia is the way to go.

The soft mod idea is very intriguing. I will research this some more.

Again, big thanks to all of you for the replies!!

 

[Marsumane]

Originally posted by: cowdog
Thanks for the feedback and interesting ideas. I will definately go with Sckt939, and it sounds like nVidia is the way to go.

The soft mod idea is very intriguing. I will research this some more.

Again, big thanks to all of you for the replies!!

good choice :thumbsup: