No fan of ATI or NVIDIA, other choices

A

AiMnDtel

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 10, 2005
Messages
133
I am a non-gamer

Looking for a video card AGP or PCI-e
Requirement's are:
-Passive cooling
-Near flawless DVD playback
-Great 2D performance
-"NO" ATI or NVIDIA video cards

I do not need hyped up $500.00+(CDN) plus video cards.
 
The Chrome S27 is not passive, but I bet it would not experience too many problems if you did not use the provided fan. It has flawless DVD playback and is about as powerful as a 6600 DDR2 edition. It's made by S3.

Next to ATi and Nvidia, S3 and Intel are the two biggest graphics chipset producers.
 
Matrox - but I do not believe their DVD post-processing can touch ATI or NVIDIA.
 
It would be a lot easier to get an ATi or nVidia. Why don't you like either of the companies?
 
dvd playback? if you use a software decoder what's the difference?

and I'm running off a matrox G450 right now, fantastic 2d quality, I suggest that.
 
winston856 said:
It would be a lot easier to get an ATi or nVidia. Why don't you like either of the companies?
Click to expand...

The reason I do not like either of these companies is that. all there marketing is towards gamers, and the need to change video cards every 6 months.
Who needs Quad SLi 512mb video cards?
Just give me a cool and quiet video card, which can keep up to my CPU. and meets my requirements.
 
well you have suggestions so thwere you go, and anyways for your needs why would you need to upgrade 6 months? Thats your choice not the companys. They have many levels of cards for different needs and capabilitys. Don't buy one if you dont want too, your just missing out on nicer dvd decoding is all.
 
I'd go with Matrox. I've used them for years before I started to game on the PC. G400 with my Matrox RT2000 editing system, G450 on our RTX.100 systems at teh studio.
.
I would think that DVD playback would be pretty darn good as they make pro video editing systems.
 
AiMnDtel said:
The reason I do not like either of these companies is that. all there marketing is towards gamers, and the need to change video cards every 6 months.
Who needs Quad SLi 512mb video cards?
Just give me a cool and quiet video card, which can keep up to my CPU. and meets my requirements.
Click to expand...


But they also have the mid and low end segments of their lineup. Just get yourself a 6200 or something. All those low end cards have passively cooled flavors.

Also, you don't need to change video cards every 6 months. CS: S and BF2 still play fine on a 6800GT.
 
AiMnDtel said:
The reason I do not like either of these companies is that. all there marketing is towards gamers, and the need to change video cards every 6 months.
Who needs Quad SLi 512mb video cards?
Just give me a cool and quiet video card, which can keep up to my CPU. and meets my requirements.
Click to expand...
That's not a very good reason at all for not going ati or nvidia lol.
 
AiMnDtel said:
The reason I do not like either of these companies is that. all there marketing is towards gamers, and the need to change video cards every 6 months.
Who needs Quad SLi 512mb video cards?
Just give me a cool and quiet video card, which can keep up to my CPU. and meets my requirements.
Click to expand...

I think you have the wrong idea about ATI and Nvidia. Yes they have a market for gaming cards but theres a larger buisness for them in normal desktop operations and heavy graphic rendering. If you look you'll be able to find a decent cheap quiet ATI/Nvidia card for dvds that is passively cooled.

Bottom line is: If you don't game, why do you think you should upgrade? I still have an ATI Radeon 9250 running in my folding rig which is just fine and passive cooled.
 
Dollar for dollar, the best DVD playback is going to come from either ATI or Nvidia. You can find other manufacturers that will get you DVD playback, but you'll spend more money for less of a return. If you hate the big two so much that you'd be willing to spend more for less, then go with an S3 or Matrox part. Otherwise, I'd suggest THIS or THIS
 
AiMnDtel said:
The reason I do not like either of these companies is that. all there marketing is towards gamers, and the need to change video cards every 6 months.
Who needs Quad SLi 512mb video cards?
Just give me a cool and quiet video card, which can keep up to my CPU. and meets my requirements.
Click to expand...


I dont understand your logic here
 
AiMnDtel said:
The reason I do not like either of these companies is that. all there marketing is towards gamers, and the need to change video cards every 6 months.
Who needs Quad SLi 512mb video cards?
Just give me a cool and quiet video card, which can keep up to my CPU. and meets my requirements.
Click to expand...

:rolleyes:

you want an X1600/X1300/7600/7300
 
X1600s are availible with passive cooling as well as 7600s.

Oh and your logic doesnt make any sense. If you dont want a gamer's card then dont get one.
 
After I fried my BFG, mota installed an old Matrox G400. He said it was one of the best 2D cards ever made and since I don't game or need 3D, that I'd never notice the difference. He was right. :)
 
AiMnDtel said:
I am a non-gamer

Looking for a video card AGP or PCI-e
Requirement's are:
-Passive cooling
-Near flawless DVD playback
-Great 2D performance
-"NO" ATI or NVIDIA video cards

I do not need hyped up $500.00+(CDN) plus video cards.
Click to expand...

non-gamer cards don't cost $500.00+(CDN) as others have said already

if you are a non-gamer buy a non-gamer card, but i have to agree with most, the DVD playback on the NV and ATI cards will be superior in most cases
 
MrWizard6600 said:
:rolleyes:

you want an X1600/X1300/7600/7300
Click to expand...

QFT, you would be best served by an X1300 as it has great DVD playback.

2D quality really isn't an issue anymore, most cards are great in this respect.

PS> No flame intended, but your rationale is stupid, and it forces you to overpay for subatandard crap.

Also note, I happen to dislike Matrix, due to lousy drive support.
 
Get an X1300. It's under $100, passively cooled, works great for playback, and even runs some games (although at really low resolution and detail).

If you read the threads on this forum, you might get the impression that NVIDIA and ATI only make expensive SLI gaming cards. But they also make low-end cards targeted for business and budget users. They are very good for the price you pay. We just don't talk about them here very often.
 
AiMnDtel said:
The reason I do not like either of these companies is that. all there marketing is towards gamers, and the need to change video cards every 6 months.
Who needs Quad SLi 512mb video cards?
Just give me a cool and quiet video card, which can keep up to my CPU. and meets my requirements.
Click to expand...

With all due respect,

that is a stupid fucking reason.
 
ok we have all agreed his logic is flawed, enough.

i would suggest nVidia due to the pureVideo playback, it is very nice and sharp looking.

the new purevideo beta drivers rock.

a 7300 or 7600 would serve you well and if you went 7600 you would be able to game if you felt like it or run other 3D applications.
 
AiMnDtel said:
I am a non-gamer

Looking for a video card AGP or PCI-e
Requirement's are:
-Passive cooling
-Near flawless DVD playback
-Great 2D performance
-"NO" ATI or NVIDIA video cards

I do not need hyped up $500.00+(CDN) plus video cards.
Click to expand...


Why not, they both offer better options than anything else, except perhaps Matrox under very special conditions. Just buy this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814125028
 
Some people do not comprehend the English language well.
I am looking for alternatives to ATI and NVIDIA
Matrox is a possibility, S3 Chrome is non-existent in Canada
Has anyone have any thoughts on Volari?
 
People understood you find. You gave very specific reasons as to WHY you didn't want the cards. If you simply want an alternative, fine.

Matrox..
 
AiMnDtel said:
Some people do not comprehend the English language well.
I am looking for alternatives to ATI and NVIDIA
Matrox is a possibility, S3 Chrome is non-existent in Canada
Has anyone have any thoughts on Volari?
Click to expand...

I comprehend English very well, better even than some people are able to compose sentences in it. Forgive me for making rational proposals. I'll stop wasting my time. /ExitThread
 
snowwie said:
dvd playback? if you use a software decoder what's the difference?
Click to expand...

Plenty. Try watching DVDs upscaled on a 120" projection screen. You can even tell the difference between AVIVO and PureVideo - of course you have to be obsessed with it like audiophiles are with speakers. There is plenty of difference in the way standard definition is decoded and upscaled to HD.
 
I am assuming you don't have a mobo yet, as you state pcie or agp. If I were you I would go integrated graphics. They are okay if you only doing day to day stuff.
 
AiMnDtel said:
I am a non-gamer

Looking for a video card AGP or PCI-e
Requirement's are:
-Passive cooling
-Near flawless DVD playback
-Great 2D performance
-"NO" ATI or NVIDIA video cards

I do not need hyped up $500.00+(CDN) plus video cards.
Click to expand...
this is one of the few situations that I would recomend onboard video ;)


Keyser0804 said:
I am assuming you don't have a mobo yet, as you state pcie or agp. If I were you I would go integrated graphics. They are okay if you only doing day to day stuff.
Click to expand...
Gah! beat me by 2 min :p
 
AiMnDtel said:
Some people do not comprehend the English language well.
I am looking for alternatives to ATI and NVIDIA
Matrox is a possibility, S3 Chrome is non-existent in Canada
Has anyone have any thoughts on Volari?
Click to expand...

What I understand is that you want to pay more for an inferior product because of the fact that you don't like how certain companies market graphics cards that you aren't in the market for in the first place.

This card meets and exceeds all of your requirements except for the brand, and is not marketed to be a gaming card, or a card you upgrade with any sort of frequency.
 
AiMnDtel said:
The reason I do not like either of these companies is that. all there marketing is towards gamers, and the need to change video cards every 6 months.
Who needs Quad SLi 512mb video cards?
Just give me a cool and quiet video card, which can keep up to my CPU. and meets my requirements.
Click to expand...

Then go w/ the XFX 7900GT w/ dual link DVI, it's extended heat sink/pipe, no fan, no noise, only $294 at Newegg

Or a cheap 7600GS for under $100, some taiwanese manufactuers like Leadtek uses silent pipes, no fan, no noise.
 
AiMnDtel said:
The reason I do not like either of these companies is that. all there marketing is towards gamers, and the need to change video cards every 6 months.
Who needs Quad SLi 512mb video cards?
Just give me a cool and quiet video card, which can keep up to my CPU. and meets my requirements.
Click to expand...
Well AMD and Intel try to push you to upgrade often as well (dual core, HT, MMX, etc). Are you also going to be running a Cyrix CPU?

You could try the Volari. However I doubt it even comes with DVD playback software so your CPU will have to handle the load.

I would like to see more competition in the video card market but you really only have the top 2 that offer anything other than a basic video card.
 
gorilla show said:
why don't you want ati or nvidia? sorry if i didn't catch it.
Click to expand...

The reason I do not like either of these companies is that. all there marketing is towards gamers, and the need to change video cards every 6 months.
Who needs Quad SLi 512mb video cards?
Just give me a cool and quiet video card, which can keep up to my CPU. and meets my requirements.
Click to expand...

If you want cool and quiet, then you have plenty of options. Just get a cheap GPU from any manufature, and it wont really matter in the long run for you, exept that DVD quality will be sup-par anything other then nVidia or ATi. Having that pointed out to you, ANYTHING will work for you.

Go to froogle, search for Graphic Cards, search by price, then choose the cheapest thing that's fanless. Problem solved.

EDIT: Not to mention that you don't give a CPU, and CPU/GPU are related. So, if you're looking for the cheapest GPU to 'keep up with your CPU' then you're going to want a cheap CPU as well. And also, if you show us a Chrome or Matrox GPU that is HDCP compliant then post it in that forum! The only two are listed are nVidia and ATi is, maybe they're the only companies that make them?!
 
oh ok, must've skipped that. well, there aren't too many other options, and gaming is pretty much the mainstream ultimate in flexing PC muscle, so just put the marketing part aside and look for what's best for you. On the other hand, if you truly must step away from both companies then Matrox would probably fit the bill, although you would be going way out of your way to satisfy something really simple.
 
yevaud said:
I comprehend English very well, better even than some people are able to compose sentences in it. Forgive me for making rational proposals. I'll stop wasting my time. /ExitThread
Click to expand...

Problem is, your proposals aren't exactly rational. What do you say to that?
 
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