G400 dying! What to buy?

[WyWyWyWy]

My trusty G400 is dying... it now shows some image corruption every 5 mins or so... like when you overclock it too much. (mine isn't overclocked)

So, I'm looking for a new card.

Was thinking either
1. G400 MAX
2. Radeon VE

The only thing I truly require is good dual-head support. I don't care too much about 3D performance, since I don't play FPS games. But I still do a lil bit care about it... since I play some lesser 3D games such as Warcraft and the upcoming Age of Myth.

However, G400MAX is still like 40pounds, and there is no more BBA VE around... what do I do? What do you guys reckon?

Anyway, any idea how do I underclock my G400?

Thanks.

RIP to my G400, soon.

EDIT:

Now... kinda fixed. Still looking for a new card though.
- The problem is definitely not PSU, SiS nor Windows.
- No problem in Linux/FreeBSD
- Revert back to original WinXP driver... no problem.
- Back to Matrox driver again, .82, .84, .86 all same problem.
- Likely to be memory corruption? Or not.
- Now underclocked to 105MHz... by using PowerStrip.

[RichL]

I bought a Super-Grace Radeon 7000ve (Powered by ATi) cheap. The 3dMark score was about the same as my G400Max (given it was running on a lower spec PC), but of course, you have the curse of ATi drivers.

[MetalCartman]

Definitely, go with the MAX!

Had a Radeon VE, just a piece of crap. The dual monitor and the TV-out setup drove me nuts. Also, the image quality plain sucks in comparison to the MAX.

Cheers.

[WyWyWyWy]

Any comments on GeForce?

Also, would G550 be a better choice than G400MAX?

[RichL]

Originally posted by WyWyWyWy
Any comments on GeForce?

Also, would G550 be a better choice than G400MAX?

The G400Max is generally accepted as the fastest of the G-Series cards made, ever.
The G450 & 550 are said by some to have marginally better 2d quality, and of course with the G500 you get headcasting, which is sure to impress the girls.*

But all round I'd say your best bet is the G400Max, if you can find one.



(*Sorry, been watching Jeremy Clarkson on TV )

[ZokesPro]

Originally posted by RichL
...and of course with the G500 you get headcasting, which is sure to impress the girls.*

LOL

[WyWyWyWy]

Yea... actually I've lurking on eBay, bit-tech, theoverclockingstore etc for a while looking for a G400 MAX. There is one on Aria that sells for about 40pounds inc shipping, which I don't think a G400 MAX should be this price.

Don't get me wrong, I'm (still am) a happy owner of G40, but I just don't think a G400 MAX worths 40 pounds... (ok it by itself is not expensive but the shipping is) And the fact that it is a basement item that might have cables missing...

The reason I asked about G550 is that... it has hardware T&L, doesn't it?

Oh a G-series doesn't support per-pixel alpha transparency which makes those cool effects on Windows a bit too slow...

HOWEVER!! Anyone wants to sell me a G400MAX for 25pounds inc shipping?

Thanks.

[Tempest]

Originally posted by WyWyWyWy
The reason I asked about G550 is that... it has hardware T&L, doesn't it?

It has shaders... Which are only supported in HeadCasting

[WyWyWyWy]

Originally posted by Tempest
It has shaders... Which are only supported in HeadCasting

Oh damn... now I remember I read that on here before!

[WyWyWyWy]

Hmm...

Also, what about...

Radeon 9000
     |
     |---DB15---> Primary Monitor
     |
     |---DVI---(DVI to DB15 Adaptor)---> Secondary Monitor
     |
     |---S-Video--> TV

Would this work?
I honestly know nothing about DVI-to-DB15 convertor...

Thanks.

[MetalCartman]

That would work, but not all three displays at once. Either two monitors or monitor + TV.

[WyWyWyWy]

Originally posted by MetalCartman
That would work, but not all three displays at once. Either two monitors or monitor + TV.

Eh? I thought ATI cards could do it? Because they have an extra TV-out chip.

I know Matrox G-series can't.

EDIT:

The TV-out is merely for mirroring, if that matters.

[MetalCartman]

Yes, but only two RAMDACs...