Help Me Choose A Graphics Card!

[WmAx]

I only use 2D graphics. No 3D -- I do not play games -- therefor 3D is not a factor.

I have two cards that I recently purchased. One of them is the Matrox G450, claimed by many to be one of the best in 2D graphics rendering. The other card is a PNY Technologies Verto Nvidia GeForce 6200.

I have taken a picture(tripod, manually focused, manual exposure, remote shutter release) of each card's rendering on a 21" FD Trinitron CRT tube with 1600x1200 resolution @ 85 Hz. Both cards are a little bit sharper at 75Hz(as is expected), but I can see screen flicker at 75Hz, so that is not an option for me. Each picture group is composed of 1 magnified view and 1 highly magnified view(to the point where you can clearly see the R, G and B colors on the aperature grill).

Please give your opinion by using the poll as to if there is any substantial difference(Is A or B better, or are A and B the same).

Thank you.

Note: Brightness/contrast is not an issue or subject to judgement. I underexposed the photographs therefor the white background appears as grey.

This is the actual test target that I used for display(this is not a photograph):

-Chris

 

[Francious70]

They both look the damn same to me.

 

[SilverMK3]

They do look pretty much the same based on those pictures... How do Matrox's included utilities compare to nVidia's?

I don't think you're going to see a big difference between the cards as far as sharpness is concerned, that's more a function of your monitor; You'll probably see more of a difference in color reproduction/accuracy, where the Matrox will likely edge out the 6200. Did you calibrate your monitor with both cards?

I built a graphic design system for my father a few years ago using the G400 dual-head, Its still running great to this day.

 

[Sheep]

I voted for B, It seems less blurry.

Are these cards priced the same?

SheepStar

 

[WmAx]

I voted for B, It seems less blurry.

Are these cards priced the same?

SheepStar

The Matrox G450 was purchased for about $46 as N.O.S. from Overstock.com. The PNY 6200 was purchased for about $70 on sale (regular price was around $120-$130) at the local Best Buy.

-Chris

 

[WmAx]

They do look pretty much the same based on those pictures... How do Matrox's included utilities compare to nVidia's?

I don't think you're going to see a big difference between the cards as far as sharpness is concerned, that's more a function of your monitor; You'll probably see more of a difference in color reproduction/accuracy, where the Matrox will likely edge out the 6200. Did you calibrate your monitor with both cards?

I built a graphic design system for my father a few years ago using the G400 dual-head, Its still running great to this day.

I will refrain from giving my opinion on the card image quality as I see them, as to no bias the poll results.

As for utitilities, I do not know, I have not taken the time to investigate the utilities. Both cards are dual head cards, but the PNY card came with lot of adapters (Can use 2nd output for analogue vga, DVI, S-VIDEO, composite or component video). It also has a built in S-Video output. The Matrox did not come with these adapters, you have to buy them seperately.

-Chris

 

[Buckle-meister]

I voted for B, It seems less blurry.

I agree. I see the same.

Regards

 

[Sheep]

Wait.....wouldn't our monitors affect the out come....

Cause mine a POS. Why did viewsonic have to cut the G95F+B....

SheepStar

 

[Buckle-meister]

Wait.....wouldn't [our] monitors affect the outcome....

Yeah, I thought of that too!

Cause mine a POS.

Don't worry; mine isn't.

Regards

 

[WmAx]

Wait.....wouldn't are monitors affect the out come....

Cause mine a POS. Why did viewsonic have to cut the G95F+B....

SheepStar

No, your monitor won't make much difference in this comparison because all of the shots you are viewing are magnified substantially. I am using 1600x1200, so the samples are a very fine size text on my monitor.

Here is a (not a photograph, this is a screenshot) sample of the target at 100 percent, which will be affected by your graphics/monitor system -- compare with the scale of the photographed samples to get an idea of the magnification:

BTW, I just realized that the smaller magnification photographs I took were not in perfect focus. I noticed this when I just now scaled down the higher magnified shot to the same size as the lower magnified shot in a compare test on my computer. I have revised this error; the comparison shots in the first post are now all in perfect focus.

-Chris

 

[brian32672]

I have a program that will check the video cards 2D performance. If I can find it????
However (and this is poorly based) I chose B picture.

 

[WmAx]

I have a program that will check the video cards 2D performance. If I can find it????
However (and this is poorly based) I chose B picture.

How can a program analyse the analog output quality of a video card unless it is resampling/capturing the analog output from the card to re-import into the computer for analysis?

-Chris

 

[brian32672]

Here read this real quick - http://www.2cpu.com/articles/45_17.html
There was a specific program that tested a 2D performance that I used.
It tested BPS, Line Text Drawing, Color rendition, (I also recall it had sharpness tests???) etc....
I just can't remember the name of it. I have it on disc. But I would have to remember the name.
Almost all current benchmarking programs have some 2D benchmarking for the performance figures. But most are obviously geared much more for 3D.
The particular program that I had/have would do much more 2D testing. It did have 2 - 3D tests, but they could be disabled. And it was mainly for testing 2D cards performance with about 15 total tests (that was also averaged after quite a few test runs)
I recall to get valid tests, you needed to let the test run at minimum 3 times.
Anyhow, I will look for it later tonight - But more than likely I will have to do it tomorrow - As I am leaving this minute....

 

[STRONGBADF1]

The r,g&b "bars" are more aparent in the card A photo but the card B photo is sharper/clearer by far.

I voted for card B.

Why do I have the feeling your going to tell us card A is better...


SBF1

 

[WmAx]

Thank you to those that participated.

Card A = PNY Technologies Nvidia Geforce 6200 128MB AGP

Card B = Matrox G450 32MB AGP

The overwhelming majority(there are actually 5 more votes than the ones on the poll that I counted because I asked this same question to several people last night) at this point have picked card B as sharper, and I agree. I have re-packaged the PNY card and it will be returned. I wanted to be reasonably sure that the difference was noticeable, and not just a figment of my imagination.

Final Vote Tally(including votes not made on the poll directly by AH users):

A is better than B: 2
B is better than A: 12
A is the same as B: 3

-Chris

 

[claudermilk]

Awww. you would have to tell me they're AGP cards! I'm starting to spec out a new PC for image editing, and the last piece to the puzzle I haven't gotten a good feel for is the graphics card. But the mobos on my list are all PCI-e. It sure is hard to find good information on a decent budget 2D card (now if you want a bleeding-edge 3D card, there's all manner of reviews out there )

 

[WmAx]

Awww. you would have to tell me they're AGP cards! I'm starting to spec out a new PC for image editing, and the last piece to the puzzle I haven't gotten a good feel for is the graphics card. But the mobos on my list are all PCI-e. It sure is hard to find good information on a decent budget 2D card (now if you want a bleeding-edge 3D card, there's all manner of reviews out there )

If it's just 2D you are worried about, get the Matrox G450 in PCI form.

-Chris

 

[Sheep]

If it's just 2D you are worried about, get the Matrox G450 in PCI form.

-Chris

PCI-E

You know,

Usually the CPU bottle-necks the graphics card. Although thats for gaming, it might have an affect for 2D as well.

 

[WmAx]

PCI-E

You know,

Usually the CPU bottle-necks the graphics card. Although thats for gaming, it might have an affect for 2D as well.

I know what PCI-E is. But I don't think PCI would bottleneck 2D. The PCI Matrox cards are cheap enough in used form off of ebay that it it's worth a try for the poster.

-Chris

 

[brian32672]

Actually PCI would bottleneck the card. He would be way better off using the PCI-E slot. (BY FAR)
Also even for image editing, a good 3D card I would still suggest. Specially if its at least 128MB.
The cpu will do most of the calculations, but the gpu would render those calculations quicker.
If it was just text, or browsing then 2D is fine. (until you get into some of the 2D commercial cards that cost big bucks (starting at around 1,300.00+ for a 2D card), the speed and technology in the 3D cards would be better off in this case)(PCI-E card with 256MB memory and a fast core clock for rendering images much faster can be had for as little as 60 or 70 shipped)

Yes movie makers mainly use commercial 3D cards but they will also use 2D cards (but those cards are in the 4 to 5,000.00 range)