Which graphics card? Matrox 550 or...??

Sooty · Post by **Sooty** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 12:40 pm

The computer I intend building is for general business use, with video work as a hobby a few evenings a week. Video programs I plan using aren't dependant on a graphics card in any way. I don't play games, (but with my mad-about-games 6 year old nephew around, who knows, I might be forced to at some point

) I'll be using an iiyama 17" TFT, in conjunction with a Sony 21" TV for video work. So need DVI and TV out. Looked here: http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=7753 and the Matrox 550 seems like a card that's easy on watts/heat. I notice a lot of video guys use these. But considering it's been around for some years and it's 3D performance is limited, it's not exactly cheap. Are there other cards I should be looking at? Needs obviously to be low watts/heat and passively cooled. Reliability is also important to me, along with getting the very best picture quality from the iiyama and Sony.

Planned system: AcoustiCase C6607 (remove fan guards, fit finger guards, damp HDD cage base with sorbathane). AcoustiPack DeLuxe, AcoustiFan AF120CT x 2 -using isolator mounts, Zalman ZM400B, Asus P4C800-E Deluxe, Crucial CT6464Z40B 512 x 2 3200, Samsung 80GB SATA SP0812C & 160GB SATA SP1614C, Intel P4 2.8 (800 FSB), Zalman 7000Cu/Al, Iiyama Prolite E431S (17"), Pioneer DVR-107.

Wintermute · Post by **Wintermute** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 2:20 pm

Matrox is the undisputed champ of 2-D video. If you aren't going to be playing any games then a Matrox is probably your best bet if image quality is your primary goal. I have used many Matrox's in the past and have been very happy with their performance. In fact, the crappy-soon-to-be-put-to-sleep-old-jalopy-system that I am currently using is running a G400-MAX 32. Yes 32. I got this card a looong time ago so that I could use two displays. I paid well over $300 for it. It is worth about $0.02 now but it has definately served me well and reliably for many years.

JimK · Post by **JimK** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 4:36 pm

Most of the serious digital photography types seem to use Matrox cards in their Photoshop systems. I am trying to decide between the G550 and the P650 myself, wondering what I will see for the extra money. After a lot of looking, nothing else is on my list.

Matrox cards have a rep. as top business app. cards for excellent quality.

I think it was MikeC who said a while back about their image quality that trying to describe it was like describing how quiet a PC could be (hard to do but you know it when you see it).

alglove · Post by **alglove** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 11:38 pm

I agree that Matrox gives excellent 2D image. If some alternatives to consider, though, you might look at the ATI Radeon 9200 and 9600SE lines.

patord · Post by **patord** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 6:08 pm

At home and work, we run VERY high resolutions by default. 1600x1200 or greater. I have two systems on my desk at my office. One with a Matrox dual head 450 and the other is a dual head nvidia geforce2. At home I have a system with a dual matrox 400 max and another with a geforce fx 5600 something or rather.

My monitors are all trinitron based tubes. In my subjective opinion, at high resolutions the matrox has no equal in 2d quality when comparing clarity of fonts and images at this time. It is even more apparent when you use something like www.displaymate.com test patterns.

Of course, I'm probably an exception... running 1600x1200 or better resolutions. Compared to the average 1024x768 user. Even our company laptops run 1400x1050 or better.

FYI. If you dont play games... save a few bucks and buy a used or like new Matrox G400/450/550 on fleabay.com. I've seen them as low as $20 there.

al bundy · Post by **al bundy** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 10:15 pm

patord wrote:...In my subjective opinion, at high resolutions the matrox has no equal in 2d quality when comparing clarity of fonts and images at this time...

In my subjective opinion as well.

halcyon · Post by **halcyon** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 1:26 am

Also backed up by objective measurements:

http://www.tecchannel.de/tecdaten/show.php3?article=583

Sooty · Post by **Sooty** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 11:34 am

You've convinced me, a G550 it is then! Thanks everyone for your info.

JimK · Post by **JimK** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 6:25 pm

Please post your opinion when you get it.

That way we can all collect our kickback from Matrox

Wintermute · Post by **Wintermute** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 7:26 pm

Rumor is that Sapphire and a couple other ATI vendors will be unveiling Dual-DVI capable 9800 cards at CeBit in Hannover in a week. I have been desperately waiting for a Dual-DVI 9800XT for a while. Hopefully the wait should be over soon. Here are a couple links:

Sapphire Dual-DVI?

I called Sapphire to see if this was true and didn't get very far. I also read in THG forums that Gainward already has a Dual-DVI Ati Solution based on the 9800. This may not be what you are looking for Sooty, I just though others in this forum may be interested.