Video Cards

Matt,

I am currently using an NVIDEA FX 5600 running the latest SW approved QUADRO drivers (6.14.10.5303). This saves cash and I believe accomplishes the same improvements as the "quadro hack". I have had no problems for 6 months. I would like to hear if anyone else has tried this. What have you got to lose?

Dennis

Take a look at the ATI FireGL cards. ATI used to be taboo for SolidWorks, but they have really spend some time and energy to get back into the fray. They landed their SW certified status, and it is noted on the SW graphics card website.

They also have them priced very competitively it seems. There biggest card is the FireGL X2-256t, which has 256mb of RAM, and ought to provide enough power for almost anybody. Their lowest priced FireGL card is the T2-128, which has 128mb of RAM, and is the one I am currently running. It is plenty good enough for my approx. 250 piece assemblies and their related drawings.

Did I mention that the new ATI FireGL cards are also RealView capable if using SW2004 sp3? I did a review of the one I have and it is posted on our User Group (OKSWUG) website, which is here:

For more info on ATI FireGL cards, you can go to their website here... I know that Wayne Tiffany (a frequent contributor here) has the X2-256t card in his box. Last I knew, he had no real issues, so perhaps he can pop in and add to this.

Hope that opens more doors.

Mr. Pickles

Dennis,

I am still using a Quadro4 750XGL at work (great card) and a GeForce4 Ti4600 at home (good for games, limitations for SW). As you can see, I am using some cards that are a couple years old. The Geforce card has limitations opening only so many documents in SW before it craps out. I have been able to work around this, since I have never taken a lot work home with me (occasionally). I have NOT researched video cards lately, but I foresee a lot more going home with me in the future, so I need to update the card.

I have a couple questions regarding your FX5600.

1. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the FX series the next generation GeForce cards?
2. If so, you say you are simply using the Quadro drivers instead of the FX drivers to get the same effect as the Quadro hack. Does this eliminate the limitations that the GF4 cards used to have as described above?
3. I never did the quadro hack to my GF4 Ti4600 cause I was honestly afraid to. I was also concerned that it might degrade gaming performance as well since I use this box for working and gaming. If you are a gamer as well, have you noticed a performance change using your method with the Quadro drivers (better/worse).

Thanks,

I would agree - worth considering. I haven't had any issues *that I know of.* I have had crashes, but no way to pin them on anything specific, and it doesn't seem any more frequent than with the older card. The advertised price/performance seemed worth giving them a try.

WT

I used the 3D labs card for a test drive and I have to say I hated it. I spent more time crashing then anything else. They said it I was using the wrong Drivers but that's what there Tech support put me on. I got to a point to where I couldn't work anymore so I switched back to my Quadra 500 FX card and all my problems went away. They wanted to send it to me again for revaluation but I spent to much time crashing and it hurt me in my job in the fact I was crashing when a customer would call. The new drivers they created might fix the issues I was seeing but I'm not going to lose the time I lost in that card again. I'll stay with the Quadra cards because IMO they are reliable.

Regards, Scott

I have the Vp990 pro running on my system for 4 months now without any problems. My system is 3.06 dual Xeon with 2g of on board memory, Serial ATA hard drives, wireless mouse, photoshopCS, Solidworks 2003 sp5 & 2004 sp3.0 working. This is my home system. Excellent card plenty of memory, using the latest driver.

Just my 2cents worth.

I like my FX500. My old system had a 3D Labs Oxygen card, which worked fine until the on-board fan stopped working. I called Oxygen to resolve the problem, but the final fix was 2.5 months and three graphics cards later (one with another bad fan, one used and very dusty one with fan noise, one with heat sinks that worked).

I'm not sure how well they're doing over at 3D Labs if what I experienced is any sort of indication. I've had no crashes (NONE) with my FX500 and 64-bit AMD chips on two systems. (I love that!)

Jeff Mowry > However when I did a search on the newsgroups in google it

Seth,

I will try to answer sequentially:

1) Yes, I think the FX series is the latest non Quadro series 2) Yes, using the latest Quadro drivers has eliminated all of the limitations working in SW. 3) I am not a gamer and cannot speak to this issue.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Dennis

I'd be interested to know what sort of performance you are getting out of your FX5600 with QUADRO drivers, how does it perform with large assys, more than 10 open windows, real view, etc, etc.

If it's acceptable then for under £60 in the UK this card is a must?

Also, have you/anyone tried an FX 5700 or an FX5900/5950 under similar parameters as the price if these is also starting to tumble in the UK.

Kev

Kev,

Works well with large assy's and multiple windows. It works in RealView but have not checked all of RV's features yet.

Since the FX5600 uses the same drivers as higher 5000 series, I would think the Quadro drivers should work also. Maybe someone out there could give it a shot and let us know.

Dennis,

Forgot to check are you using the softquadro hack - rivatuner etc or are you just running the quadro driver in place of the geforce FX driver

Kev

Yeah, please clarify here. Your postings seem conflicting.

If it is the Quadro drivers, how did you force it to find the correct hardware?

I'm currently using a geforce fx5600. Have tried the quadro drivers but for me they were no different to the standard geforce driver in terms of performance.

Last week I installed the soft quadro hack and it made a marked improvement in performance but was also alot less stable. I used the 42.51 drivers as these are apparently the only ones that can be hacked for the 5600. Realview didn't work, but from my understanding the fx5600 doesn't share the same chip as the quadro fx's that support realview, it shares the same chip as the quadro go700.

I ended up taking the hack off as i ended up haveing alot more 'freezes' and my trackball kept on going psycho. Could have being a coincidence...

Matt

Thanks for the info.

I read your article and it sounds pretty good. Most assemblies I work on are in the 150 to 250 part range so it could be alright.

In your article you mentioned you liked it over your nvidia, what card was this?

I am in New Zealand and over the last few days have being trying to find who sells ati Fire GL cards but have drawn a blank. Majority of the cards you see advertised here are nvidia quadro fx1000 - 3000 and 3d labs. They are however almost twice the price you can get them in the states for.

Matt

Kev,

No hack was applied to the card. Installed the Quadro driver only.

Dennis

significantly

Matt,

I used to have a nVidia Quadro 4 550. Don't know about New Zealand. Perhaps you have to get it from Australia?

Mr. Pickles

I'll shoot an email to my ATI contact and see what they say.....

Dennis, One more thing, I'd just like to bump up Seth's question - how did you get it to recognise the card as a quadro?

Kev

Kev,

I do not believe it does recognize it as a Quadro.

Dennis

accomplishes