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NVIDIA's New Pro Graphics Quadro FX 3000 Reviewed
SpinnerBait writes "NVIDIA recently took the wraps off their next generation Workstation Graphics
card, the Quadro FX 3000. This card is based on the same general GPU
architecture as the NV35 but optimized for CAD and DCC applications.
This article over at HotHardware shows what the new Quadro FX 3000 is capable of
and it makes a strong showing. However, you've got to pay to play (or
work) on this card, that's for sure."
I've yet to find anything that gives my Quadro4 a real workout.. I'll stick with what I have for now.
Okay, I know what a CAD program is but what is a DCC application?
I have never understood how this breed of cards exists to this day. Really... the difference between a "stock" GeForce and a workstation class Quadro GeForce... just doesnt justify the cost difference anymore.
When you go back about 3 or 4 years ago... when you contrasted a Oxygen video card, or a FireGL vs a TNT or 3DFX card, you could see where the extra money went. But now, todays commerical grade video cards are more then capable. In fact, alot of people I know that work as graphic artists, use traditional Radeon or GeForce 4's in their workstation machines. Outside of say... Pixar, I just dont understand people buying the workstation class cards.
Now, to go back to this arguement... its nice to see that nVidia managed to get rid of the vacumn cleaner sized fan!
Having RTFA I am surprised that they liked the card.
I mean how can you say that the Quadro is a good card when it costs 6 times more than the competition and is less than 10% faster?
6 times for for 10% faster? No thanks.
In Soviet Russia, the television watches YOU!
Is it just me, or has the computer industry gone a little too far with the whole "bigger is better/more-more-more"
I mean, currenty video cards render full color frames faster than the human eye can perceive
Currently, I am addicted to Desert Combat, which is a mod for Battlfiled 1942. I consructed a top of the line gaming system just for this game. 3.0Ghz Pentium and Tyan 9700 Pro, 1 Gig 'o ram.
The game is buttery smooth most of the time, even with AA and AF on and at a resolution of 1600x1200.
But, the producers of the mod have a habit of updating the in game textures with every release, which makes the game look even more gorgeous, but will eventually start to tax my system. Not only that, Battlefiled supports upto 64 players, and with the advent of broadband in almost every home, don't be surprised to see games with a max of 128 players. So asking your card to render moving players, tanks shooting shells, blood and gore, lets not forget the choppers and amphibious assault vehicles, your "I mean, currenty video cards render full color frames faster than the human eye can perceive" seems irrelevant.
When you see so called "gaming benchmarks", please remember they are on avergae. They rarely point out the times when there are so many things being rendered, that you will see a bit of a slowdown, even with top of the line cards.
Quake is old school now. HL2 and Doom will be the new standard.
I am going to go camp for HL2 right after this post. I better hurry, so I can be first in line.
I work as a CAD developer and you won't belive how much Quadro cards can outperform regular Geforce cards (don't get me strarted about ATI and thier crappy drivers for the FireGLs).
The single biggest limitation of the GEForce cards is they are optimized for 1 window. A Quadro card OTH can have open multiple windows in a 3D cad program . (e.g. Geforce 4's choke after having 3-4 moderatly complex parts open and a good Quadro 4 can handel 12-15 windows no sweat). AutoCAD is pretty light on the GFX card so a older quadro might suffice but something like Inventor or Solidworks or Catia can really benefit from these cards. If one of your engineers sees a 20% speed up in generating drawings of a complex assembly, or a 10% speed up rotating a gear assemlby, 3K is money very very well spent.
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