Best budget Video Card for: Cad, Graphics applications.

[Seajnky]

Hi

I am building a computer for a friend of mine. Currently the pc will be a 3ghz, 1gig ram, 80gig ata hardrive.

Now I need to pick out a graphics card.
He wants to do work in
Photoship, Illustrator, Solidworks, Cad, 3dmax, Rhino, and other similiar programs.

I think most of the work will be done with adobe programs and Rhino, but he wants to be able to use other programs in the future.

What is a good card to get? I was thinking an ATI 9100 128 for less than $50 would be a good card. Would there be a better card in the same ballpark?

Thanks

[Seajnky]

if i bought a used Quadro off ebay... which one should I look for.

[Kurt]

A G450 is probably faster in 2D than your Quadro anyway...

Get a G400/G400max on eBay then

[Guru]

Originally posted by Kurt
A G450 is probably faster in 2D than your Quadro anyway...

Get a G400/G400max on eBay then

For solidworks??????? FX 500 should be fine if you can get one cheap!

[Seajnky]

5200 can be sofmodded into a 500fx.
might get one of those.

[K6-III]

Yup, Quadro all the way!

[Mcollector]

If going for a used Quadro, get at least a Quadro2.

[Mcollector]

If going used, I'd even consider a Diamond (ATI) FireGL2 (or 3 or 4). Realize they only do 32 bit color depth, so any program that insists on 16 bit color (like SereneScrene's Marine Aquarium) won't work. You might need to flash upgrade the video bios, but the FireGL[2,3,4] are impressive. The FireGL2 beats a Quadro (original), IMHO.

[Seajnky]

think I am going to order a quadro 700xgl

opinions?

64meg gonna be enough?

[Seajnky]

ordered a quadro 750 xgl 128 meg ram
for
$100 shipped

hope its good.

[Kurt]

Originally posted by Guru
For solidworks??????? FX 500 should be fine if you can get one cheap!

hmm...
good for "Photoship, Illustrator" though...