G550 or P650 in a new PC ? please help me decide

Hi,
I'm about to order a new PC, and where I live
I have the choice of either a G550 or a P650 card.
There's no 450 or 400 models, and anything above
the P650 is out of the question budget-wise.

I've seen comparisson charts which show different numbers
but I'm worried of either spending too much on a P650,
or later regreting for choosing the cheaper G550.

I would really appreciate some user's real world experience.

The new PC will not be used for gaming.
Main use, besides internet, will be:
- Photoshop editing,
- Basic video editing,
- Watching videos on a conventional TV.

The new PC's specs should be:
P4 HT 2.8gz/ Abit AI7 mobo / 512 RAM / 7200 rpm 80-gig HD / Windows XP

So, for such needs and specs, I'd like to have some
idea of what difference it would make choosing the more
expensive P650:

- Would the image quality be noticeably better than
with a G550 card ?
- Would the P650 make videos look better on the TV ?
- Would the extra 32 megbytes have any perceivable impact over
the system's overall performance ?

Any word of advice is highly appreciated.
thanks for reading this
Augusto

On 15 Jul 2004 01:07:11 -0700, wrote:

| The new PC will not be used for gaming.
| Main use, besides internet, will be:
| - Photoshop editing,
| - Basic video editing,
| - Watching videos on a conventional TV.
|
| The new PC's specs should be:
| P4 HT 2.8gz/ Abit AI7 mobo / 512 RAM / 7200 rpm 80-gig HD / Windows XP
|
| So, for such needs and specs, I'd like to have some
| idea of what difference it would make choosing the more
| expensive P650:
|
| - Would the image quality be noticeably better than
| with a G550 card ?

No.

| - Would the P650 make videos look better on the TV ?

No.

| - Would the extra 32 megbytes have any perceivable impact over
| the system's overall performance ?

No, not for the uses you mentioned.

The only thing I can think of that possibly favors the P650 is more
years of support from Matrox. But I'm sure the G550 will be supported
with updated drivers for as long as you'll be using it.

Larc



§§§ - Change planet to earth to reply by email - §§§

Larc wrote

The only thing I can think of that possibly favors the P650 is more
years of support from Matrox. But I'm sure the G550 will be supported
with updated drivers for as long as you'll be using it.

Thanks, Larc
So I might save the money and maybe get extra RAM or else.
As far as compatibility issues with motherboards, should I feel safe
with the G550 in an Abit board (IS7-G or AI7) ?

best regards

wrote in message m...
Larc wrote

The only thing I can think of that possibly favors the P650 is more
years of support from Matrox. But I'm sure the G550 will be supported
with updated drivers for as long as you'll be using it.

Thanks, Larc
So I might save the money and maybe get extra RAM or else.
As far as compatibility issues with motherboards, should I feel safe
with the G550 in an Abit board (IS7-G or AI7) ?

The P650 and later models support AGP8X/0.8v signaling.
They'll have a longer lifespan than the G550 and earlier cards.

Rick

wrote:
Thanks, Larc
So I might save the money and maybe get extra RAM or else.
As far as compatibility issues with motherboards, should I feel safe
with the G550 in an Abit board (IS7-G or AI7) ?

Couple questions, do you plan to use dual monitors? If so, CRTs or LCDs?
If CRTs, there is little difference except the P650 can zoom the desktop
(PixelTOUCH) for each monitor independently. In the G550, PixelTOUCH only
works with primary monitor.

If you plan to use LCDs, the P650 supports higher resolutions
than the G550 when DVI (digital not analog) outputs are being used.

That's basically it,
Steven

Couple questions, do you plan to use dual monitors? If so, CRTs or LCDs?
If CRTs, there is little difference except the P650 can zoom the desktop
(PixelTOUCH) for each monitor independently. In the G550, PixelTOUCH only
works with primary monitor.

If you plan to use LCDs, the P650 supports higher resolutions
than the G550 when DVI (digital not analog) outputs are being used.

Since budget is at limit, I'll be keeping a 15-inch Sony monitor CRT,
to be used with a conventional 29-inch Sony television set. I
understand that even the G550 allows for watching videos on the TV
while doing other stuff in the CRT, right ?

When money is again available, I plan on getting a bigger CRT (LCDs
are just way expensive where I live). I'm between a totally flat
17-inch Samsung with dot-pitch 20, or an 19-inch Optiquest with
dot-pitch 26.

Could you give an example of when and how the desktop is zoomed ? Do
you mean changing the screen resolution (right-click,
Properties,Settings...), or is it something more at hand to quickly
use a key or mouse to change the desktop area's size ?

Oh, and by the way I got the following response from Matrox's support:

The Matrox P650 and G550 cards have been tested with many Asus and
Abit
motherboards and they work fine. There have been certain issues on
some Asus
boards but this has been fixed with updated drivers and bios for the
Matrox
cards.
For more information on this and other Matrox products you should
contact the Matrox sales team at 1-800-361-1408 or fill out the email
request
form found here. http://www.matrox.com/mga/contact_us...sales_form.cfm

So I did that, and again I was specific as to the use I will have for
the card
(Photoshop editing, and watching videos on the TV). The answer from a
lady of Sales dept.:

The P650 uses a more advance chipset, which will improve the
performance
of the card especially when using Photoshop and TV playback.
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have other questions.

So I wrote her again, asking her to elaborate on what performance
improvement would be perceivable in the intended use, if it'd be
better image detail/sharpness/definition/color and if it applied to
video image or the quality of text/icons on the TV, or both, and if a
difference could really be noticed at 1280x1024 resolution, so to
clearly justify the extra investment.
I'm waiting for another answer.

But here I have some good informatio to help. And I understand that
the P650 is better built to handle the electrical specs of the latest
motherboards, so it could last longer than the G550. I wonder how
critical is this aspect if we consider that a computer will be good
for some 6 years, not much more than that when new software and
working standards turn it obsolete.

But really, I'd like to know about this independent zoom capability,
and if the TV will look better with the P650 or if the system could
run slower with the G550, the two latter already anwered in this
thread.

Many thanks for everybody's help, and please be welcome to add any
comments.

Couple questions, do you plan to use dual monitors? If so, CRTs or LCDs?
If CRTs, there is little difference except the P650 can zoom the desktop
(PixelTOUCH) for each monitor independently. In the G550, PixelTOUCH only
works with primary monitor.

If you plan to use LCDs, the P650 supports higher resolutions
than the G550 when DVI (digital not analog) outputs are being used.

Since budget is at limit, I'll be keeping a 15-inch Sony monitor CRT,
to be used with a conventional 29-inch Sony television set. I
understand that even the G550 allows for watching videos on the TV
while doing other stuff in the CRT, right ?

When money is again available, I plan on getting a bigger CRT (LCDs
are just way expensive where I live). I'm between a totally flat
17-inch Samsung with dot-pitch 20, or an 19-inch Optiquest with
dot-pitch 26.

Could you give an example of when and how the desktop is zoomed ? Do
you mean changing the screen resolution (right-click,
Properties,Settings...), or is it something more at hand to quickly
use a key or mouse to change the desktop area's size ?

Oh, and by the way I got the following response from Matrox's support:

The Matrox P650 and G550 cards have been tested with many Asus and
Abit
motherboards and they work fine. There have been certain issues on
some Asus
boards but this has been fixed with updated drivers and bios for the
Matrox
cards.
For more information on this and other Matrox products you should
contact the Matrox sales team at 1-800-361-1408 or fill out the email
request
form found here. http://www.matrox.com/mga/contact_us...sales_form.cfm

So I did that, and again I was specific as to the use I will have for
the card
(Photoshop editing, and watching videos on the TV). The answer from a
lady of Sales dept.:

The P650 uses a more advance chipset, which will improve the
performance
of the card especially when using Photoshop and TV playback.
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have other questions.

So I wrote her again, asking her to elaborate on what performance
improvement would be perceivable in the intended use, if it'd be
better image detail/sharpness/definition/color and if it applied to
video image or the quality of text/icons on the TV, or both, and if a
difference could really be noticed at 1280x1024 resolution, so to
clearly justify the extra investment.
I'm waiting for another answer.

But here I have some good informatio to help. And I understand that
the P650 is better built to handle the electrical specs of the latest
motherboards, so it could last longer than the G550. I wonder how
critical is this aspect if we consider that a computer will be good
for some 6 years, not much more than that when new software and
working standards turn it obsolete.

But really, I'd like to know about this independent zoom capability,
and if the TV will look better with the P650 or if the system could
run slower with the G550, the two latter already anwered in this
thread.

Many thanks for everybody's help, and please be welcome to add any
comments.

wrote:
Couple questions, do you plan to use dual monitors? If so, CRTs or LCDs?
If CRTs, there is little difference except the P650 can zoom the desktop
(PixelTOUCH) for each monitor independently. In the G550, PixelTOUCH only
works with primary monitor.

If you plan to use LCDs, the P650 supports higher resolutions
than the G550 when DVI (digital not analog) outputs are being used.

Since budget is at limit, I'll be keeping a 15-inch Sony monitor CRT,
to be used with a conventional 29-inch Sony television set. I
understand that even the G550 allows for watching videos on the TV
while doing other stuff in the CRT, right ?

When money is again available, I plan on getting a bigger CRT (LCDs
are just way expensive where I live). I'm between a totally flat
17-inch Samsung with dot-pitch 20, or an 19-inch Optiquest with
dot-pitch 26.

Could you give an example of when and how the desktop is zoomed ? Do
you mean changing the screen resolution (right-click,
Properties,Settings...), or is it something more at hand to quickly
use a key or mouse to change the desktop area's size ?

The desktop zooming on the G and P series card enlarges the desktop.
Let's say you like using a 1600x1200 desktop. PixelTOUCH cycles the
desktop between 1x, 2x, 4x, 1x, ... I have this feature assigned to Alt +
Crtl + "Num +". Each cycle doubles the pixel size. So at 2x, you see a
800x600 area of the desktop but the actually screen resolution is still
the 1600x1200. Like wase 4x zoom you see a 400x300 area of the desktop
and the pixels are each 4x4.

As the cursor reaches the edge of the zoomed area, the desktop pans. The
panning is very smooth and is done in hardware so Windows doesn't realize
what is happening. Video overlay still works when the desktop is at full
zoom (4x). I have yet to come across any software conflicts with Matrox's
PixelTOUCH.

Being visually impared this is a great help. I can run at a high res
(1920x1440) but still be able to reed the screen.

BTW, like you I am not ready to get LCDs, yet. The displays are too
expensive and the pixel density isn't high enough for me. I would like a
17" LCD that can do at least 1600x1200.

Good luck,
Steven

Thanks for the descriptions, Steven. The desktop zooming seems indeed
a very nice feature. Have you ever tried it on a TV, if possible at
all ?

As to LCDs, they're not only expensive and, like you said, not
pixel-dense as desired. Unless I'm quite wrong, they require you to
stay in a center front area to view the whole screen, so when two
people look at it it goes out of perfect.
At least that's my experience with laptops' TFTs.



Steven Whatley wrote in message news:

The desktop zooming on the G and P series card enlarges the desktop.
Let's say you like using a 1600x1200 desktop. PixelTOUCH cycles the
desktop between 1x, 2x, 4x, 1x, ... I have this feature assigned to Alt +
Crtl + "Num +". Each cycle doubles the pixel size. So at 2x, you see a
800x600 area of the desktop but the actually screen resolution is still
the 1600x1200. Like wase 4x zoom you see a 400x300 area of the desktop
and the pixels are each 4x4.

As the cursor reaches the edge of the zoomed area, the desktop pans. The
panning is very smooth and is done in hardware so Windows doesn't realize
what is happening. Video overlay still works when the desktop is at full
zoom (4x). I have yet to come across any software conflicts with Matrox's
PixelTOUCH.

Being visually impared this is a great help. I can run at a high res
(1920x1440) but still be able to reed the screen.

BTW, like you I am not ready to get LCDs, yet. The displays are too
expensive and the pixel density isn't high enough for me. I would like a
17" LCD that can do at least 1600x1200.

Good luck,
Steven

OK, to wrap up this thread, I'd like to add some extra information
provided by Matrox. Again, it's tech talk which unfortunately I can't
evaluate other than agree that the P650 "is a better card":

"The P Series uses the Parhelia chipset, which offers UltraSharp
Display
Output Technology and over 1 billion colors with the 10 Bit GigaColor
techonology. The g450 or G550 board does not offer any of these new
technologies.

Please see the following comparison table for other differences:
http://www.matrox.com/mga/products/c...ies_parhelia.c
fm

The P Series offers Glyph Antialliasing technology for ultra crisp
text
rendering. The GSeries does not."