Best 2D card multiple monitors

[Cayman]

I posted in Motherboards, but now checking on video cards. I'm thinking of buying the Matrox Parhelia 128MB version for Photoshop able to use two monitors and need good color for Photoshop 7. What do you guys think of this? 3D is not required. Is there a better one?<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR><BR>Cayman

[Avid6eek]

For the same price you can buy a Radeon 9700 PRO and still have excellent image quality (better than nVidia boards), your dual monitors, and an all out better performing card. <BR><BR>Edit: <b>AND</b> the Matrox card doesn't come with cool red PCB.

[zaltec]

If you can go for it, get the 256<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> The 128 is definately the best 2d card out there<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Matching monitors is a must for true colour. Sometimes one monitor displays slightly different colours to another. One of those things<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"><BR>And Shiznit, Cayman already owns a 9700PRO, it's in his sig<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

[Colin]

Cayman if you're only going to use two monitors, why not get an older G450 or G550? They'll do the job just as well as a Parhelia... Parhelia is good if you want triple head.

[Cayman]

So the 550 is just as good for 2D as the Parhelia? We want the best possible picture for working in Photoshop 7. Other than price is there a downside to the Parhelia?<BR><BR>Thanks again,<BR><BR>Cayman

[Colin]

Cayman, please understand I do not do 2D apps for a living, but I <b>hear</b> the image quality of the G450 and 550's are just as good as the Parhelia. <BR><BR>If you can afford to get a Parhelia go for it... I'm sure you'd never have enoguh desktop sapce so the third head would come in handy.

[Avid6eek]

<br><br><< <i>If you can go for it, get the 256<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> The 128 is definately the best 2d card out there<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Matching monitors is a must for true colour. Sometimes one monitor displays slightly different colours to another. One of those things<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"><BR>And Shiznit, Cayman already owns a 9700PRO, it's in his sig<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"></i> >><br><br> Oh, damn, then give me your Radeon 9700PRO and buy whatever the hell you want <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

[Cayman]

I don't want to get rid of the 9700 it's for gaming...the 2D card will be for Photoshop. Totally different computer. I love the 9700....<BR><BR><BR>Cayman

[Avid6eek]

Yeah, but think of it in a financial point of view....The $20 I give you for your Radeon 9700 PRO can help pay for your new Matrox Card, and you can pick up a new 8MB TNT card for your gaming system.. In case your a little confused, let me sum it up for you...<BR><BR>1.) You get <b>2</b> <b>Brand New</b> Video Cards.<BR>2.) I help <b>pay for</b> your new Matrox Card.<BR>3.) You <b>Save Money</b>.<BR><BR>Seems like a damn good deal to me. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

[Cayman]

Interesting point...But can you imagine what the new games would look like on the TNT 8MB card....oh my god! I don't think it makes financial sense, but I thank you for your offer. Your a very generous person. Of course for the $20 I would have to pay the shipping? Would FedEx be okay? LOL<BR><BR>Cayman

[Avid6eek]

LOL.....yeah, FedEx overnight would be nice <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

[Joe]

if you are truely serious about photoshop and other 2d applications then i would go for something like the 3dlabs wildcat 4 <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.3dlabs.com/product/wildcat4/index.htm">http://www.3dlabs.com/product/wildcat4/index.htm</a> ... now this isnt your everyday cheap card lol. its designed for 2d and 3d rendering. so it will give you plenty of room for if you want to move into the 3d department. this card probaly has the best picture quality available and will keep your colors true on dual monitors. but if you are not looking to spend this much. honestly i think the radeon9700pro is your best bet. the colors are a bit off on dual monitors but you arent going to get much better in the way of sub 500 dollar cards. even the parhelia is off in colors from what i hear and it supposedly does not perform that much better then a 9700 in the 2d market. and to be honest ... if you are only interested in photoshop. then the 9700pro will be fine for you. photoshop is more ram intensive then anything.

[zaltec]

If you want to use a Wildcat4 you have to use Intel boards and Intel Xeon Processors<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Otherwise it doesn't work...the graphics controller inbuilt to the chipset on the server board is essential for the card to operate. Also it is only DX7.0 compliant, making the Matrox Parhelia a much more viable alternative<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> And the Matrox has very little colour difference, I use it on HD monitors and it's impossible to see, the software just tells you it's there.