If you could any Video Card: which one?

[garym]

I am putting together a new system for SpeedEdit and possibly VT5. I'm settled on everything, but having trouble selecting a video card. I want to use dual monitors and I want something fast - but, as usual, I don't want to mortgage my house to buy it.

What card would you get?

[radams]

A Nvidia GTX 285 OC and with as much memory as possible.

I went with the MSI 285 2G OC...which has 2 gigs of memory, it is over clocked, and is the most quite and cool card on the market.
It is around $360-400

Cheers,

[garym]

Thank you. Are you talking about this card?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127437

[radams]

Hi Garym,

Yup that is the card...thou check around to see if you can get a better price.
The 1 gig version is about $60-80 cheaper...but I like that this card has 2 gigs to work with.

Good for 3D work...wish it had 4 gigs like the Quadro FX 5800 or Tesla.

Cheers,

[ScorpioProd]

So Ray, since you mention 3D, is this card powerful in OpenGL as well as DirectX?

[radams]

:)

Well if you're needing the custom Quadro drivers...then not completely
But if you are running LW then this should be perfect :)

OpenGL does work fine, it's just that the Quadro cards/drivers have been tweeked to do both hardware and software acceleration, overlays, & AA etc...

But I'ld rather pay $400 than $4000 thank you very much :)
And the Quadro isn't 10 times the speed or throughput...so I'll go with the Geforce 285...

Cheers,

[ScorpioProd]

Plus isn't the Quadro weak on DirectX support? Or isn't that the case anymore with the latest ones?

[3DGFXStudios]

How about a GeForce GTX295 1.8GB 2xDVI/HDMI?

[radams]

How about a GeForce GTX295 1.8GB 2xDVI/HDMI?

Well, the 295 is a mixture between the 280/260...and is really two gpu's thru SLI connection on one card..so the memory is split between them.

Two things...

1) most applications can not take advantage of multiple GPUs.
(Unless it is for gaming). So a single 285 with 2 gigs of memory will give you much better overall scale and memory throughput (it is faster)

2) if you need more monitors/outputs two 285's will give you 4 DVI and 2 HD analog...and will be at least 30% faster processing and overall throughput with 2 gigs of memory per GPU.

So the 285 is scalable and will also take less power, less heat, and quieter.

The 295 is a nice card...but just use it for what is best at...and don't think your getting a better card vs the 285 (in dual sli mode) it isn't...

The 295 will be about 20- 30% less than that of the 285's (in dual mode) throughput. With only some software that can see the second GPU or take advantage of it. the memory per GPU is only 896 megs and runs at the speed of the 260...

The one thing that is good about the 295...is that in one card you do get two dual link dvi ports along with an HDMI which can all have different or cloned displays on a single card....

If you need the room for other cards on your system or don't have enough PCIe2 slots...this would be the way to go...if you do have the slots and want the raw power...go with two 285's....

Cheers,