Best Video Card - NON-Game Use

[Phil]

I am preparing to build a new PC, and after much consideration, have decided
not to play any games on the PC. I just need a video card with DVI for my
digital LCD panel, for business use. That is, Microsoft Office, etc. The
only real graphics would be with web development in Dreamweaver, and maybe
Flash. I visit the Internet frequently, and will download and play video
clips. Obviously, I do not need a fancy game card, but what card would best
satisfy these needs? I figure if I get into games, I will just replace the
card later with something suitable. Currently, I use an ancient Matrox G400
card with a DVI daughter card, with 16 megs of RAM (don't laugh!).

- Phil

 

[John R Weiss]

I am preparing to build a new PC, and after much consideration, have decided
not to play any games on the PC. I just need a video card with DVI for my
digital LCD panel, for business use. That is, Microsoft Office, etc. The only
real graphics would be with web development in Dreamweaver, and maybe Flash. I
visit the Internet frequently, and will download and play video clips.
Obviously, I do not need a fancy game card, but what card would best satisfy
these needs? I figure if I get into games, I will just replace the card later
with something suitable. Currently, I use an ancient Matrox G400 card with a
DVI daughter card, with 16 megs of RAM (don't laugh!).

Look for something like a Geforce4 MX440 or a newer Matrox (P650/750). Either
will give more than adequate 2D gfx performance.

 

[Rockin Ronnie]

I am preparing to build a new PC, and after much consideration, have decided
not to play any games on the PC. I just need a video card with DVI for my
digital LCD panel, for business use. That is, Microsoft Office, etc. The
only real graphics would be with web development in Dreamweaver, and maybe
Flash. I visit the Internet frequently, and will download and play video
clips. Obviously, I do not need a fancy game card, but what card would best
satisfy these needs? I figure if I get into games, I will just replace the
card later with something suitable. Currently, I use an ancient Matrox G400
card with a DVI daughter card, with 16 megs of RAM (don't laugh!).

- Phil

Matrox have had a long history of making very good 2-D cards

 

[Mac Cool]

Phil:

Currently, I use an ancient Matrox G400
card with a DVI daughter card, with 16 megs of RAM (don't laugh!).

Keep it. You won't buy anything better.

 

[Ruel Smith]

I am preparing to build a new PC, and after much consideration, have
decided
not to play any games on the PC. I just need a video card with DVI for my
digital LCD panel, for business use. That is, Microsoft Office, etc. The
only real graphics would be with web development in Dreamweaver, and maybe
Flash. I visit the Internet frequently, and will download and play video
clips. Obviously, I do not need a fancy game card, but what card would
best
satisfy these needs? I figure if I get into games, I will just replace
the card later with something suitable. Currently, I use an ancient Matrox
G400 card with a DVI daughter card, with 16 megs of RAM (don't laugh!).

If you don't use 3D graphics, a new graphics card will give you only
slightly better, if any, 2D performance. 2D performance really hasn't
changed much in years. As a matter of fact, I read a few years ago, aroung
the time of the launch of the original GeForce cards, that newer graphics
cards actually didn't fair as well as the old ones because they were tuned
for 3D performance.

 

[Dave C.]

I am preparing to build a new PC, and after much consideration, have
decided not to play any games on the PC. I just need a video card with DVI
for my digital LCD panel, for business use. That is, Microsoft Office,
etc. The only real graphics would be with web development in Dreamweaver,
and maybe Flash. I visit the Internet frequently, and will download and
play video clips. Obviously, I do not need a fancy game card, but what
card would best satisfy these needs? I figure if I get into games, I will
just replace the card later with something suitable. Currently, I use an
ancient Matrox G400 card with a DVI daughter card, with 16 megs of RAM
(don't laugh!).

- Phil

OK, well, if you build anything with current technology, I think it is
unlikely that the motherboard will support that older video card (AGP 2X?, I
think?). So you will have to switch to something. You don't need DX9
technology, so you won't need to spend a bundle. I'd suggest you get DX8 at
least. Compared to the cost of a new system, a DX8 class card will be
really CHEAP. And, a card in that class will allow you to play all but the
very latest games at reasonable settings. The following look pretty good.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-349&depa=0
(great brand, cheap, 9200 as opposed to 9200SE)

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-173&depa=0
(another great brand, not the latest and greatest, but 128MB DX9 class!, and
cheap)

 

[Phisherman]

I am preparing to build a new PC, and after much consideration, have decided
not to play any games on the PC. I just need a video card with DVI for my
digital LCD panel, for business use. That is, Microsoft Office, etc. The
only real graphics would be with web development in Dreamweaver, and maybe
Flash. I visit the Internet frequently, and will download and play video
clips. Obviously, I do not need a fancy game card, but what card would best
satisfy these needs? I figure if I get into games, I will just replace the
card later with something suitable. Currently, I use an ancient Matrox G400
card with a DVI daughter card, with 16 megs of RAM (don't laugh!).

- Phil

What wrong with the old Matrox G400? I'm using a Matrox Millennium
with 4mb RAM and I use it for (non-intense graphic) games. After 5
years of daily use I have yet to have a video issue and I do web
development, C programming, Office applications and some graphic
editing.

 

[Dave C.]

What wrong with the old Matrox G400? I'm using a Matrox Millennium
with 4mb RAM and I use it for (non-intense graphic) games. After 5
years of daily use I have yet to have a video issue and I do web
development, C programming, Office applications and some graphic
editing.

As I wrote elsewhere, check the voltage requirements. I believe (could be
wrong) that it is 3.3V, and many newer boards can't handle that. There is
nothing "wrong" with it though, if the mainboard will support it. -Dave

 

[Phil]

I plan to use the ASUS A8V motherboard, which is 4X/8X AGP, and 1.5 volt
ONLY. There is mixed on information on whether the Matrox G400 will work
with this. Apparently, there are some that will, and others that will not,
with modifications possible to permit the voltage. I am researching this on
the Matrox forum.

- Phil

 

[Mac Cool]

Dave C.:

check the voltage requirements. I believe (could be wrong) that it
is 3.3V

According to the Matrox website, the G400 is a 2x/4x card so should be
1.5V.

 

[Larc]

| I plan to use the ASUS A8V motherboard, which is 4X/8X AGP, and 1.5 volt
| ONLY. There is mixed on information on whether the Matrox G400 will work
| with this. Apparently, there are some that will, and others that will not,
| with modifications possible to permit the voltage. I am researching this on
| the Matrox forum.

Matrox G400 AGP 4X cards are 1.5 Volt. They can easily be identified
since "4A" is always in the part number stamped on the card. Early
G400s were AGP 2X and are not recognized by motherboards as 1.5 Volt,
although they are capable of operating at 3.3 or 1.5 Volts. There is
a retro that will enable them to be recognized as 1.5 Volt. However,
it's more involved than I'm willing to undertake for the early G400
I'm still using on a backup system.

Larc



§§§ - Change planet to earth to reply by email - §§§

 

[Andy]

Dave C.:



According to the Matrox website, the G400 is a 2x/4x card so should be
1.5V.

No. Like LARC said in this thread some are some are not. The last 2 digits
of the part number are they key.

If these are 4A you should be allright, if not time to get something else,
personally I got the Matrox P650 as it is fanless and works a treat.

Hope this helps

Andy

 

[Tim O]

I am preparing to build a new PC, and after much consideration, have decided
not to play any games on the PC. I just need a video card with DVI for my
digital LCD panel, for business use. That is, Microsoft Office, etc. The
only real graphics would be with web development in Dreamweaver, and maybe
Flash. I visit the Internet frequently, and will download and play video
clips. Obviously, I do not need a fancy game card, but what card would best
satisfy these needs? I figure if I get into games, I will just replace the
card later with something suitable. Currently, I use an ancient Matrox G400
card with a DVI daughter card, with 16 megs of RAM (don't laugh!).

- Phil

Why would I laugh at that? My *only* video card is a moldy Voodoo3
2003 PCI. Analog; i.e. totally non-digital. Single output. 16 MB.
Only 6 million triangles / sec.

 

[Rob]

Why would I laugh at that? My *only* video card is a moldy Voodoo3
2003 PCI. Analog; i.e. totally non-digital. Single output. 16 MB.
Only 6 million triangles / sec.

if that's all you're doing, i'd probably just keep the matrox.