Keith_Beef
August 28th, 2009, 11:28 PM
I'm looking to perhaps build a new system in the next six months or so. This will be as powerful as I can make it, 64-bit, general workhorse.
I can work out all the CPU, RAM, hard disc, networking, etc. but I get confused when it comes to video cards... :rolleyes:
At the moment, my main system serves for watching DVDs and other videos (as well as ripping CDs and DVDs that I've bought in order to watch and listen on other devices). So I want good 2D video, with no tearing.
But I also want to use the new system for CAD/CAE and photo realistic rendering.
I don't play games all that often, but I fly FlightGear from time to time.
I also want to be able to drive at least two monitors. I only have one monitor at the moment, so I've not been able to test things like xinerama or XRandR, but my goal is two big monitors.
So I think I should be looking for something with OpenGL in hardware and two DVI outputs.
But I really don't know what the state of the eternal dilemma between ATI and NVidia drivers is... and I'd really like to stay pure if possible, with no proprietary binaries and yet still get great performance.
Instead of just buying the most expensive card I can afford, then hoping to get it working as well as possible with the open drivers, I want to set out with goal of purity and performance and look at pricing afterward.
So, is there any point to what are described as "workstation" cards, like the three below?
PNY VCQFX570-PCIE-PB Quadro FX570 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133208)
ATI 100-505175 FireMV 2250 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814195038)
ATI 100-505507 FireGL V3600 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814195048)
Or would I be better off with one of the more mainstream cards below?
PNY VCG98GTXPXPB GeForce 9800 GTX+ (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133246)
EVGA 512-P3-1150-TR GeForce GTS 250 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130468)
XFX HD-485X-ZDFC Radeon HD 4850 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150351)
Confused... :confused:
And while I was looking at whether it would be worthwhile going for an OpenGL 3.0 capable card, I found this article on Tom's Hardware (http://www.tomshardware.com/review_print.php?p1=2019), that makes me think that the answer would be no...
K.
I can work out all the CPU, RAM, hard disc, networking, etc. but I get confused when it comes to video cards... :rolleyes:
At the moment, my main system serves for watching DVDs and other videos (as well as ripping CDs and DVDs that I've bought in order to watch and listen on other devices). So I want good 2D video, with no tearing.
But I also want to use the new system for CAD/CAE and photo realistic rendering.
I don't play games all that often, but I fly FlightGear from time to time.
I also want to be able to drive at least two monitors. I only have one monitor at the moment, so I've not been able to test things like xinerama or XRandR, but my goal is two big monitors.
So I think I should be looking for something with OpenGL in hardware and two DVI outputs.
But I really don't know what the state of the eternal dilemma between ATI and NVidia drivers is... and I'd really like to stay pure if possible, with no proprietary binaries and yet still get great performance.
Instead of just buying the most expensive card I can afford, then hoping to get it working as well as possible with the open drivers, I want to set out with goal of purity and performance and look at pricing afterward.
So, is there any point to what are described as "workstation" cards, like the three below?
PNY VCQFX570-PCIE-PB Quadro FX570 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133208)
ATI 100-505175 FireMV 2250 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814195038)
ATI 100-505507 FireGL V3600 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814195048)
Or would I be better off with one of the more mainstream cards below?
PNY VCG98GTXPXPB GeForce 9800 GTX+ (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133246)
EVGA 512-P3-1150-TR GeForce GTS 250 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130468)
XFX HD-485X-ZDFC Radeon HD 4850 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150351)
Confused... :confused:
And while I was looking at whether it would be worthwhile going for an OpenGL 3.0 capable card, I found this article on Tom's Hardware (http://www.tomshardware.com/review_print.php?p1=2019), that makes me think that the answer would be no...
K.