Best card for graphic design????

RAR · April 29th, 2002, 09:38 AM

What is the best card to use for graphic design? A friend of mine is going to build a system and use it mostly for that purpose. Also, if you have any suggestions on processors or anything else that would be great too. Thanks!

Dokeman · April 29th, 2002, 10:10 AM

it really depends on what software he is planning on using. Some software works better with different stuff. Have you checked out what ever software's web site for a recommendation. Its its just gonna be photoshop, bryce, and stuff like that then any late model card would work. anything with over 8mb on ram for the card would do fine. probably 16mb or more for high res images. Now if their doing 3d stuff probably would defenatly consult the sotfware manufactor. THey will know what works best. but like i said, if its just photoshop any modern card will work.

Virus · April 29th, 2002, 10:13 AM

The best right now for 2D, CAD, and 3D. Is the 3Dlabs Wildcat III 6210.

http://www.3dlabs.com/product/wildcatIII_6210_index.htm

If that is out of your price range. Then go for a Matrox card. If you also want good 3D. Then wait until June when their new card should be out.

http://www.matrox.com/mga/home.htm

daveleau · April 29th, 2002, 10:28 AM

I used one of the LOW END 3D Labs cards and disliked it very much. The visual quality was not good at all and it was slow. The ones that cost several hundreds of dollars are supposed to be much better. Like Virus said, if it is out of the question price-wise, go with the Matrox line. I have used the G-400 and G-450 dual head video cards (3-4 year old models) and both have great visuals.

Dave

stinkybuddha · April 29th, 2002, 10:31 AM

Actually it depends on which field he is planning to get into, let me give some examples

1) Print/Publishing - He should get a Mac, because of their mostly standard hardware, and good color rep, as well as easy access to special characters in typefaces. Also most high end printers use Macs, file compatibility is a major issue. If he doesn't want to go the Mac route, then a good 2D card on a PC will have to do, Matrox makes outstanding 2D cards, the new Geforce4 Ti series also have above average 2D, the older Geforce3s are not so good for that.

2) Web - Well web has the lowest requirements... hehe

3) 3D/Visual Effects/Compositing etc - If he is newbie or student, get either the Nvidia Geforce3, Geforce3 Ti500, Geforce4 Ti series cards. They all peform almost on par with the more expensive Quaddro cards, for a lot cheaper. Downside is lack of driver optimization (read driver tweaks) for certain apps like Maya, 3D Studio Max, Combustion.. etc...

Good luck!

**RobRich** · April 29th, 2002, 05:45 PM

2D Design = Matrox G550. Perhaps the best 2D card available. Dual monitor support is also the best in its class. The only better multi-monitor cards I've ever tested came from Colorgraphic Communications (ColorGFX). Great cards, expensive prices!

3D Design = Need more info! 3D chipsets vary wildly. I work mostly with OpenGL, so I would recommend a Wildcat or FireGL card for massive scene work that may not require realtime, or a Quadro for faster rendering of smaller or less complex scenes.

I recommend checking out some of the workstation articles at AcesHardare.com for more info.

Good Luck,
Robert Richmond