PCI Express

Guys mind if I ask what is your experience with PCI express

I specked out a machine with a Quadro900 XGL card. I have such a card
at home and it works great.

The computer guy came back to me and said all new M/B have PCI express
and he recomended the "Elsa Falcox X80 256Mb Video Card"

Its not in the SW list so I am very hesitant to use it.

Kind thanks
Giorgis

 

Hasn't Elsa gone bust ? Last year I thinlk - Or has its name been
taken over and revived. Personally - if the video card is not on the
SW 'approved' list then its just not worth the risk.

Regards



Jonathan

 

That sounds like a game card. Stay with the SW list. Many computer
builders will tell you that what they sell will work because they have
no experience with SW hardware. Typically you will see IT people
suggesting hardware that will make a good file server and computer
builders suggesting what gives them the cheapest machine with the
highest profit margin. The systems that IT people typically suggest
are very expensive for the performance they provide and the computer
builders sell machines that while cheap don't function reliably or
fast.

 

And also, Nvidia has the Quadro in PCI Express.

Ask the computer guy if he is willing to guarantee a certain level of
performance on the benchmarks.

 

Be careful of "Elsa". I bought one of their "high end" cards a few
years ago; paid $1200.00 or something. Promptly after I got it, they
went out of business (I'm guessing they're back?). As it turned out,
the "Elsa" card I bought was nothing more than a Quadro2 card under
their own name. Stick with branded Nvidia cards is my advice...

Mike Tripoli

 

Giorgis,

I have been using a PCI-E motherboard and video card here at work since late
last year. I highly recommend them.

However, most people will agree (a few still don't) that an nVidia Quadro
card is the way to go. "Gaming" cards just don't cut it unless you never
open more than 4-5 files at a time. I am running a PNY Quadro FX1300
(PCI-E) with great results.

As far as which Quadro is right for you, it ultimately depends on what you
are doing. My theory has always been to basically get the highest one that
your budget will allow. It will last a lot longer for you for future SW
versions. But the lower end Quadro cards (such as the FX540) has been
confirmed by many to work well for simpler stuff.

There is also the option of using a cheaper GeForce gaming card and hacking
it to a Quadro card using the soft-Quadro hack. I personally can't confirm
how well this works. But I have read that many people have had good luck
with this. I am considering doing this myself on my a new home computer
that I am currently spec'ing.

Seth Renigar