Matrox good for GPL etc?

I am thinking about getting a new PC, and plan to get Matrox dual-head video. My question is... is a Matrox G450 or 550 good enough for GPL, GP3 etc? I want excellent performance, not just workable. My current machine is a PII/400 with Matrox G200 and Voodoo2. This runs GPL ok, but I'd prefer more realistic graphics (I've seen screen shots of GPL on a GeForce 2 card), and also optimum frame rates in races. If the Matrox is not up to it, can you recommend something else, or can I still use a seconday card, like the Voodoo2 but better? Any advice gratefully received. Oh yes, the new machine will probably be a PIII/P4 1GHz up (256Mb RAM, maybe 512Mb), so I'm assuming CPU power won't be an issue Thanks, John

I have a P3 866 and a Matrox 450. Works really well in D3D. But if you wan real performance, I'd go with a Geforce card. They way out perform the Matrox card.. but then they are made purely for games. James "John Fryatt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:9jp5dh$7kb$[email hidden]...

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> I am thinking about getting a new PC, and plan to get Matrox dual-head > video. > My question is... is a Matrox G450 or 550 good enough for GPL, GP3 > etc? > I want excellent performance, not just workable. > > My current machine is a PII/400 with Matrox G200 and Voodoo2. This > runs GPL ok, but I'd prefer more realistic graphics (I've seen screen > shots of GPL on a GeForce 2 card), and also optimum frame rates in > races. > > If the Matrox is not up to it, can you recommend something else, or > can I still use a seconday card, like the Voodoo2 but better? > > Any advice gratefully received. > > Oh yes, the new machine will probably be a PIII/P4 1GHz up (256Mb RAM, > maybe 512Mb), so I'm assuming CPU power won't be an issue > > Thanks, John > >

"James Pickard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:9kV77.64233$[email hidden]... > I have a P3 866 and a Matrox 450. Works really well in D3D. But if youwan > real performance, I'd go with a Geforce card. They way out perform the > Matrox card.. but then they are made purely for games. I also have the Matrox G450 32mb but in a P3-800 machine. Works like a champ. Images are what you'd expect from Matrox; superb. While I can't remember frame rate numbers for GP3 they are very nice compared to what I was getting with the G200. Using the default settings in N4 at 1152x864 (I think) I'm getting 22-28 fps at Daytona on the roof cam on a E500 21-inch Sony. While not stunning compared to the GeForce its very driveable. I'm staying with Matrox. Gameplay is good and 2D - which I'm in probably 70% of the time- is unmatched. Looking forward to the G550 with higher framerates for games. Bob

James, Sounds good. The issue I have is that I also want the card to be great for 2D (Adobe Photoshop) which is where I understand Matrox score. With your G450 does the steering wheel of the car still show jaggies, or does it look completely round and smooth? I've seen a screen shot a GeForce set up like that. John "James Pickard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:9kV77.64233$[email hidden]... > I have a P3 866 and a Matrox 450. Works really well in D3D. But ifyou wan > real performance, I'd go with a Geforce card. They way out performthe

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> Matrox card.. but then they are made purely for games. > > > James > > > > > "John Fryatt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:9jp5dh$7kb$[email hidden]... > > I am thinking about getting a new PC, and plan to get Matrox

dual-head

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> > video. > > My question is... is a Matrox G450 or 550 good enough for GPL, GP3 > > etc? > > I want excellent performance, not just workable. > > > > My current machine is a PII/400 with Matrox G200 and Voodoo2. This > > runs GPL ok, but I'd prefer more realistic graphics (I've seen

screen > > shots of GPL on a GeForce 2 card), and also optimum frame ratesin > > races. > > > > If the Matrox is not up to it, can you recommend something else,or > > can I still use a seconday card, like the Voodoo2 but better? > > > > Any advice gratefully received. > > > > Oh yes, the new machine will probably be a PIII/P4 1GHz up (256MbRAM,

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> > maybe 512Mb), so I'm assuming CPU power won't be an issue > > > > Thanks, John > > > > > >

For the record GeForce chips are used in Elsa Graphichs carsd which score real well for 3D Cad aplications. Not just for games. BTW I use a Matrox G400 for gpl and it works pretty well wit D3D. -- John G "James Pickard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:9kV77.64233$[email hidden]... > I have a P3 866 and a Matrox 450. Works really well in D3D. But if you wan > real performance, I'd go with a Geforce card. They way out perform the > Matrox card.. but then they are made purely for games. > > > James > > > > > "John Fryatt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:9jp5dh$7kb$[email hidden]... > > I am thinking about getting a new PC, and plan to get Matrox dual-head > > video. > > My question is... is a Matrox G450 or 550 good enough for GPL, GP3 > > etc? > > I want excellent performance, not just workable. > > > > My current machine is a PII/400 with Matrox G200 and Voodoo2. This > > runs GPL ok, but I'd prefer more realistic graphics (I've seen screen > > shots of GPL on a GeForce 2 card), and also optimum frame rates in > > races. > > > > If the Matrox is not up to it, can you recommend something else, or > > can I still use a seconday card, like the Voodoo2 but better? > > > > Any advice gratefully received. > > > > Oh yes, the new machine will probably be a PIII/P4 1GHz up (256Mb RAM, > > maybe 512Mb), so I'm assuming CPU power won't be an issue > > > > Thanks, John > > > > > > >