PCIe / PCI question

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hstearns4

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Dec 6, 2004
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I'm developing specs for a new photo editing workstation. Based on prior experience, I went with the assumption that I would just order another Matrox G550 card. Thats when I ran into the realization that the motherboard I selected has no AGP slots. It has two PCI Expressx16, one PCIExpressx4, one PCIexpressx1, and 3 PCI slots. After further research, I found that Matrox does support a PCI version of the G550, but its not a PCI Express card.

So a couple of questions, its been awhile since I've looked at this. Is the G550 still a decent choice for dual monitor photoshop type applications? If so, and I go with the "low profile PCI version" of the card, does it matter which variety of PCI slot I use or can it only go in a standard PCI slot?
 
You seem like a long time satisfied Matrox customer. I wont try to change that but I will say that whether in your price range or not the PNY Quadro cards are better for what your doing. Other than that, I'm sure the pci version should be just as good as the agp version as I don't see the bus changing the graphics that badly. I mean your doing photo editing not Cad 3d modelling. Now what you need to find out is the following. The card is low profile but is the bracket low profile. There are such things as low profile videocards with standard brackets. If it is a low profile bracket you will probably be able to request a standard bracket. I know you can with quadro. Same thing the other way around. If standard bracket you can request the low profile bracket.
 
Thanks for the heads up on the braket. I'm doing mostly 2D photo editing in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. and not 3D CAD modelling. However, I'm not necessarily stuck on Matrox so if there are better cards out there for the $ I'm definitely interested. My budget for a video card is about $200 so the top end PNY Quatro are out of my price range, as are the Matrox Parhelia.

Is there a PNY Quatro card in my price range that would rival the G550 for the work I'm doing?
 
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