Better than a G550

I am looking to improve video playback quality.

Currently I am using an FX5200, but I have a G550 and Radeon 9800 Pro not
being used (long story).

Is the G550 likely to be better than the FX5200?

Would the 9800 Pro be better than the G550?

Would a P650 be better than the above?

Any views/comments?
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]

My experience with the ATI 8500 series and Nvidia Ti 4200 is that the Matrox
will have superior TV out quality. The ATI has very poor resolution and the
Nvidia was a little better but neither was as good as the G450 that I
currently use. I believe that Matrox knows how to "do" video and ATI surely
does not. I will be measuring the performance of my FX5600 Ultra for TV out
quality soon, no more ATI stuff for me. I measured the TV out using TV test
signals recorded on a DVD test disk and a Tektronix TV Waveform monitor.

Mike T

"Doug Ramage" wrote in message
...
I am looking to improve video playback quality.

Currently I am using an FX5200, but I have a G550 and Radeon 9800 Pro not
being used (long story).

Is the G550 likely to be better than the FX5200?

Would the 9800 Pro be better than the G550?

Would a P650 be better than the above?

Any views/comments?
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]

If 3D speed isn't an issue and video playback quality is your primary
concern, find a Matrox G400 Max and scrap everything else. Matrox
switched certain components to an integrated design in later models in
order to reduce costs, and while video quality is still good, later models
don't have the same jump-off-the-screen-and-down-your-throat quality
as the G400 Max.

Rick

"Mike T" wrote in message .. .
My experience with the ATI 8500 series and Nvidia Ti 4200 is that the Matrox
will have superior TV out quality. The ATI has very poor resolution and the
Nvidia was a little better but neither was as good as the G450 that I
currently use. I believe that Matrox knows how to "do" video and ATI surely
does not. I will be measuring the performance of my FX5600 Ultra for TV out
quality soon, no more ATI stuff for me. I measured the TV out using TV test
signals recorded on a DVD test disk and a Tektronix TV Waveform monitor.

Mike T

"Doug Ramage" wrote in message
...
I am looking to improve video playback quality.

Currently I am using an FX5200, but I have a G550 and Radeon 9800 Pro not
being used (long story).

Is the G550 likely to be better than the FX5200?

Would the 9800 Pro be better than the G550?

Would a P650 be better than the above?

Any views/comments?
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]

In message , Rick writes

If 3D speed isn't an issue and video playback quality is your primary
concern, find a Matrox G400 Max and scrap everything else.


And any ideas for a newer 4/8x AGP board?

The earlier G400 series needs a pin (R68) shorted I believe to give 4x
AGP ?
--
David

"David Livingstone" wrote in message ...
In message , Rick writes

If 3D speed isn't an issue and video playback quality is your primary
concern, find a Matrox G400 Max and scrap everything else.


And any ideas for a newer 4/8x AGP board?

With the same video out quality? No.

The earlier G400 series needs a pin (R68) shorted I believe to give 4x
AGP ?

Yes.

Rick

Thanks, Rick.

Is there more than one version of the G400 Max?
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]

"Rick" wrote in message
...
If 3D speed isn't an issue and video playback quality is your primary
concern, find a Matrox G400 Max and scrap everything else. Matrox
switched certain components to an integrated design in later models in
order to reduce costs, and while video quality is still good, later models
don't have the same jump-off-the-screen-and-down-your-throat quality
as the G400 Max.

Rick

"Mike T" wrote in message
.. .
My experience with the ATI 8500 series and Nvidia Ti 4200 is that the
Matrox
will have superior TV out quality. The ATI has very poor resolution and
the
Nvidia was a little better but neither was as good as the G450 that I
currently use. I believe that Matrox knows how to "do" video and ATI
surely
does not. I will be measuring the performance of my FX5600 Ultra for TV
out
quality soon, no more ATI stuff for me. I measured the TV out using TV
test
signals recorded on a DVD test disk and a Tektronix TV Waveform monitor.

Mike T

"Doug Ramage" wrote in message
...
I am looking to improve video playback quality.

Currently I am using an FX5200, but I have a G550 and Radeon 9800 Pro
not
being used (long story).

Is the G550 likely to be better than the FX5200?

Would the 9800 Pro be better than the G550?

Would a P650 be better than the above?

Any views/comments?
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]

There was more than one version of the G400. If I remember
correctly there was only one version of the G400 Max.

If it's AGP4X compatibility you're concerned about, check the
part number and look for a "4A", e.g. G4+MDH4A32GB.

Rick

"Doug Ramage" wrote in message ...
Thanks, Rick.

Is there more than one version of the G400 Max?
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]

"Rick" wrote in message
...
If 3D speed isn't an issue and video playback quality is your primary
concern, find a Matrox G400 Max and scrap everything else. Matrox
switched certain components to an integrated design in later models in
order to reduce costs, and while video quality is still good, later models
don't have the same jump-off-the-screen-and-down-your-throat quality
as the G400 Max.

Rick

"Mike T" wrote in message
.. .
My experience with the ATI 8500 series and Nvidia Ti 4200 is that the
Matrox
will have superior TV out quality. The ATI has very poor resolution and
the
Nvidia was a little better but neither was as good as the G450 that I
currently use. I believe that Matrox knows how to "do" video and ATI
surely
does not. I will be measuring the performance of my FX5600 Ultra for TV
out
quality soon, no more ATI stuff for me. I measured the TV out using TV
test
signals recorded on a DVD test disk and a Tektronix TV Waveform monitor.

Mike T

"Doug Ramage" wrote in message
...
I am looking to improve video playback quality.

Currently I am using an FX5200, but I have a G550 and Radeon 9800 Pro
not
being used (long story).

Is the G550 likely to be better than the FX5200?

Would the 9800 Pro be better than the G550?

Would a P650 be better than the above?

Any views/comments?
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]

Rick, my research seems to confirm your recollection that there is only a
single version of the G400 Max. But all G400s appear to be AGP 2x and 4x
compatible - although this may mean just the later ones?
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]

"Rick" wrote in message
...
There was more than one version of the G400. If I remember
correctly there was only one version of the G400 Max.

If it's AGP4X compatibility you're concerned about, check the
part number and look for a "4A", e.g. G4+MDH4A32GB.

Rick

"Doug Ramage" wrote in message
...
Thanks, Rick.

Is there more than one version of the G400 Max?
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]

"Rick" wrote in message
...
If 3D speed isn't an issue and video playback quality is your primary
concern, find a Matrox G400 Max and scrap everything else. Matrox
switched certain components to an integrated design in later models in
order to reduce costs, and while video quality is still good, later
models
don't have the same jump-off-the-screen-and-down-your-throat quality
as the G400 Max.

Rick

"Mike T" wrote in message
.. .
My experience with the ATI 8500 series and Nvidia Ti 4200 is that
the
Matrox
will have superior TV out quality. The ATI has very poor resolution
and
the
Nvidia was a little better but neither was as good as the G450 that
I
currently use. I believe that Matrox knows how to "do" video and
ATI
surely
does not. I will be measuring the performance of my FX5600 Ultra
for TV
out
quality soon, no more ATI stuff for me. I measured the TV out using
TV
test
signals recorded on a DVD test disk and a Tektronix TV Waveform
monitor.

Mike T

"Doug Ramage" wrote in message
...
I am looking to improve video playback quality.

Currently I am using an FX5200, but I have a G550 and Radeon 9800
Pro
not
being used (long story).

Is the G550 likely to be better than the FX5200?

Would the 9800 Pro be better than the G550?

Would a P650 be better than the above?

Any views/comments?
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]

All G400's can work at either AGP2X (3.3v) or AGP4X (1.5v)
signaling. But Matrox had a hardware error in the original G400's
which prevented them from autoswitching to 1.5v. Shorting free
resistor slot R68 on the board was the workaround for the problem.
Matrox incorporated the fix in later revisions of the card and
eventually added a "4A" to the part number to denote full AGP4X
compatibility.

Rick

"Doug Ramage" wrote in message ...
Rick, my research seems to confirm your recollection that there is only a
single version of the G400 Max. But all G400s appear to be AGP 2x and 4x
compatible - although this may mean just the later ones?
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]

"Rick" wrote in message
...
There was more than one version of the G400. If I remember
correctly there was only one version of the G400 Max.

If it's AGP4X compatibility you're concerned about, check the
part number and look for a "4A", e.g. G4+MDH4A32GB.

Rick

"Doug Ramage" wrote in message
...
Thanks, Rick.

Is there more than one version of the G400 Max?
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]

"Rick" wrote in message
...
If 3D speed isn't an issue and video playback quality is your primary
concern, find a Matrox G400 Max and scrap everything else. Matrox
switched certain components to an integrated design in later models in
order to reduce costs, and while video quality is still good, later
models
don't have the same jump-off-the-screen-and-down-your-throat quality
as the G400 Max.

Rick

"Mike T" wrote in message
.. .
My experience with the ATI 8500 series and Nvidia Ti 4200 is that
the
Matrox
will have superior TV out quality. The ATI has very poor resolution
and
the
Nvidia was a little better but neither was as good as the G450 that
I
currently use. I believe that Matrox knows how to "do" video and
ATI
surely
does not. I will be measuring the performance of my FX5600 Ultra
for TV
out
quality soon, no more ATI stuff for me. I measured the TV out using
TV
test
signals recorded on a DVD test disk and a Tektronix TV Waveform
monitor.

Mike T

"Doug Ramage" wrote in message
...
I am looking to improve video playback quality.

Currently I am using an FX5200, but I have a G550 and Radeon 9800
Pro
not
being used (long story).

Is the G550 likely to be better than the FX5200?

Would the 9800 Pro be better than the G550?

Would a P650 be better than the above?

Any views/comments?
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]

Rick, thanks again for the info.
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]

"Rick" wrote in message
...
All G400's can work at either AGP2X (3.3v) or AGP4X (1.5v)
signaling. But Matrox had a hardware error in the original G400's
which prevented them from autoswitching to 1.5v. Shorting free
resistor slot R68 on the board was the workaround for the problem.
Matrox incorporated the fix in later revisions of the card and
eventually added a "4A" to the part number to denote full AGP4X
compatibility.

Rick

"Doug Ramage" wrote in message
...
Rick, my research seems to confirm your recollection that there is only
a
single version of the G400 Max. But all G400s appear to be AGP 2x and
4x
compatible - although this may mean just the later ones?
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]

"Rick" wrote in message
...
There was more than one version of the G400. If I remember
correctly there was only one version of the G400 Max.

If it's AGP4X compatibility you're concerned about, check the
part number and look for a "4A", e.g. G4+MDH4A32GB.

Rick

"Doug Ramage" wrote in message
...
Thanks, Rick.

Is there more than one version of the G400 Max?
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]

"Rick" wrote in message
...
If 3D speed isn't an issue and video playback quality is your
primary
concern, find a Matrox G400 Max and scrap everything else. Matrox
switched certain components to an integrated design in later
models in
order to reduce costs, and while video quality is still good,
later
models
don't have the same jump-off-the-screen-and-down-your-throat
quality
as the G400 Max.

Rick

"Mike T" wrote in message
.. .
My experience with the ATI 8500 series and Nvidia Ti 4200 is
that
the
Matrox
will have superior TV out quality. The ATI has very poor
resolution
and
the
Nvidia was a little better but neither was as good as the G450
that
I
currently use. I believe that Matrox knows how to "do" video
and
ATI
surely
does not. I will be measuring the performance of my FX5600
Ultra
for TV
out
quality soon, no more ATI stuff for me. I measured the TV out
using
TV
test
signals recorded on a DVD test disk and a Tektronix TV Waveform
monitor.

Mike T

"Doug Ramage" wrote in message
...
I am looking to improve video playback quality.

Currently I am using an FX5200, but I have a G550 and Radeon
9800
Pro
not
being used (long story).

Is the G550 likely to be better than the FX5200?

Would the 9800 Pro be better than the G550?

Would a P650 be better than the above?

Any views/comments?
--
Doug Ramage

[watch spam trap]