Nvidia Quadro FX 2000 or 1000 (or something else)?

[MattJ]

I'm about to buy a workstation configuration from Alienware (the MJ-12 if you want to know) and for graphics cards, they offer the Nvidia Quadro FX 2000 or 1000. I guess they're both supposed to be professional level cards but there is quite a price difference between the two (about $525).

About now, I'm wondering if I'll notice the difference if I go with the 2000, and after reading some of these message boards, I'm wondering if I'll notice the difference going with a professional GFX card at all.

I need some experienced advice. This is my first workstation purchase and I'm new to 3d programs altogether (though I'm very excited about Lightwave).

Thanks,

[Aegis]

I would say that if your primary application is LightWave it's probably not worth the moolah. In it's current form LW makes very little (if any) use of the advanced OpenGL features of these GPUs. This may change in the future but for now running LW on a top-of-the-line GeForce FX 5900 will give you similar performance to that of a Quadro FX 2000.

If however you happen to be a heavy user of Softimage/Maya or Max which all support the advanced features of the pro chipsets (some to greater degrees than others) then it could be worth your while. Me? I'd stick a GeForce FX 5900 or an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro in that sucker and spend the cash you would've spent on a pro card on some more RAM instead... or a nice fast SCSI RAID... or some DVDs... or SplineGod's great online LightWave courses... most likely though I'd end up spending it on the missus... tsh... :(

[Bytehawk]

beware of ati
unless things have dramatically changed their opengl support for 3D apps is mediocre

[MattJ]

Thanks for writing guys. Unfortunately, I made my purchase this afternoon before checking the bulletin board and I got the FX 2000 anyways to be on the safe side. $600 on the safe side!!! (sigh).

Well, at least I'm covered on the gfx side of things, though I could have gone for 2GB of RAM instead of 1GB. It really is a sweet system that I got though, I should see it in about a month. I won't bore you with the details, but if you're interested I'll list the specs of my new workstation in this post and you can all tell me how I did.

Thanks again.

[Bytehawk]

would love to see the specs, am shopping for a new system in about 3 months (still on a 700 mhs PIII)

[MattJ]

My new computer:

I went with Alienware model MJ-12

Processors: Dual 2.4 Xeons

Motherboard: Supermicro X5DA8; Intel E7505 chipset; 533/400 Mhz FSB; expandable to 12GB

RAM: 1GB Corsair PC-2100 DDR SDRAM

GFX Card: Nvidia Quadro FX 2000

Hard Drives:
- 1 80GB Seagate Barracuda
- 1 73GB Seagate Cheetah SCSI

Displays:
- two 19" NEC Multisync Flat CRT's

In the fall, the new 800 Mhz FSB Xeon boards are coming out, but I couldn't wait that long. I'll get the system in about a month. I'm long overdue - my current computer is from 1997 and is a Pentium II. It freezes up just thinking about Lightwave.

[MattJ]

Oh yeah, the best part of all is that I paid no sales tax on the system (it would have been over $400) and only $15 for FedEx shipping!! I looked at workstations from HP, Dell, Boxx, etc. and this was the best price since I live in California and Alienware is in Florida.

[Earl]

Originally posted by MattJ
It really is a sweet system that I got though, I should see it in about a month.
Doh! In a month it'll be obsolete. :rolleyes:


(hopefully it's obvious that I'm joking) :D

[Matt]

be interested on your opinion on the card because I'm close to buy a new system, one thing holding me back is the GFX card, i.e. do I wait and go for a FX card.