New Graphics Card - Quadro or Gaming

[cadboi08]

Hi

I am looking at buying a new graphics card for my PC. I'll be using AutoCAD, Revit and 3DS Max. I have a couple questions.

a) Firstly, where exactly would you benefit from a good graphics card in the above programs? And what happens if you have a cheap card? I have heard some people talk about how important a good graphics card is, whereas others say that just about any card will do.

b) Would I be better of getting an entry level Quadro FX card or a good gaming card, like say the HD4850 (or 8800GT)? I'm looking to spend around the $200-250 mark.

Cheers

[f700es]

I have a Quadro FX 3450 at work and it seems to be WAY better than a gaming card. My game card at home is only a 6600GT and it's not a PCIe card either but it is no where as fast as the Quadro.

[cadboi08]

I have a Quadro FX 3450 at work and it seems to be WAY better than a gaming card. My game card at home is only a 6600GT and it's not a PCIe card either but it is no where as fast as the Quadro.

Thanks for the reply. That's a pretty decent card but and worth over 1k iirc.

I can only afford something around the $250 mark, so I got two options that I can think of at the moment.
a) an entry-level Quadro FX450 or FX550, which is very basic and only 128MB.
OR
b) I could get a very good gaming card like the HD4850, but not sure how that would compare with the quadro in CAD and 3D work, or if it would be any good at all.

Hmmm :?

[ReMark]

It also will depend on the software. AutoDesk announced they were moving from OpenGL to DirectX with 2009. I wish CADalyst Magazine would do a side-by-side comparison of two computers set up exactly the same except for the graphics cards and actually prove which one is better at running 3D using 2009.

[f700es]

Have a look over at http://www.gpureview.com/
and compare the cards you are looking at. IIRC you can hardware flash a Geforce FX card to be a Quadro. IMHO stay away from ATI cards. nVidia seems to have better drivers. Good luck

[cadboi08]

Cheers


It also will depend on the software. AutoDesk announced they were moving from OpenGL to DirectX with 2009.

How does that influence the card? Are certain cards more suited to one than the other?


Have a look over at
www.gpureview.com/and compare the cards you are looking at. IIRC you can hardware flash a Geforce FX card to be a Quadro. IMHO stay away from ATI cards. nVidia seems to have better drivers. Good luck

Found some 3DS Max 2008 benchmarks.
Quadro FX3700 512MB v Geforce 8800GT 512MB

http://www.hothardware.com/Articles/Nvidia_QuadroFX_3700_512_MB/?page=6Looks like there isn't much difference at all between the cards in 3ds performance, but the 8800GT is about $1000 cheaper.

The only thing I'm worried, or not sure about, is the artifacting that some people experience in AutoCAD and 3DS Max with the gaming cards (Geforce and Ati gaming cards) and also Autodesk driver support. What does this mean if autodesk doesn't support the graphics card?

I'll look into the soft mod to go geforce > quadro if that works.

PS. Excuse the 'code' links, still to newb to post links