SPCR

I'm looking for a video card with the following qualities

passively cooled (duh!)
top-notch 2D
DVI output
cheaper than Matrox G550

Any suggestions?

Probably the best cheapest alternative would be something like an ATI-7500, 9100 or 9200se. I have the impression they have better 2D than nVidia, and hey can all be had for well under CA$100.

Thanks Mike

I have the impression they have better 2D than nVidia...

Yes, I hear that too. But how good are they compared to Matrox? Anyone with the first-hand experience using both Matrox and one of models that Mike mentioned?

I have G450 at work and I love it. I want same quality at home, plus DVI. It's just that I don't want to pay extra $$$ for the dual heads. I have no use for them.

Did you have a look in eBay? There is a few for around 45$

look at http://www.tecchannel.de/tecdaten/show.php3?article=583. Seems you will not come around a G550...

Amplitude VGA (mV) = signal level
Anstieg VGA (ns) = rise time
Abfall VGA (ns) = fall time
Signalform = signal form
RGB- Deckung = rgb convergence
Wertung = end points

jojo4u,

thank you again for a very informative link!

I just wish they would test more cards :)

I'm currently switching from my Radeon9700Pro (made by Club3D) which suffers from the hallmark ATI problem "shimmering lines" as well as slight ghosting.

These are not monitor or cable related problems, but can be directly attributed to the video card itself.

The trouble is finding a good substitute card that offers good gaming performance and superior image quality at 1600x1200@85Hz.

I have no idea how the new Asus or 9800XT cards perform compared to G550.

And I know I can't afford ATI's FireGL X2-256 :)

If you bump into more information about video quality that is as good as that, please post here as well.

cheers,
Halcyon

german magazine c't (of course...) reviewed a bunch of up to date ATI and Nvidia cards. The did signal measurements as seen on the posted page. Unfortunately I don't have it available. Let's see if a can ask my friend to scan some pages....

Thanks! That would be really nice.

C't is not available at newsstands here in Finland, although many of the not-so-good German computer mags are (right next to those definitely-not-good-at-all Finnish computer mags

jojo4u wrote:look at http://www.tecchannel.de/tecdaten/show.php3?article=583.

jojo4u, thanks for posting that link. I guess I will be getting G550 after all.

Now, I have to select 17" LCD monitor with a DVI input.

My first question is: are there any LCD brands that would work with G550 better than the others? Is monitor/card compatibility an issue?