Graphics card recommendation
 

OK, so my gf4 4200 blew up yesterday and i am not too happy 'bout it. Anywho, my brother is planing on getting a new card soon and consequently will be giving me his gf4 4600 :D

Anywho, basically he does a lot of 3d modelling and graphics application stuff and i was after a good recommendation for a card suited to that side of things, as opposed to more gaming related stuff (if there's too much of a difference between the 2 anyway?)

i only really know the site tomshardware and looked at their reviews for thiings
here but it's quite hard to determine out of all those cards. I haven't really been looking at this sorta stuff recently either, so i am a bit out of the loop in terms of whose in front, what's better generally and more reliable...and so on.

i guess anything between 200 -> 400 US dollars. ( note i made an approximate adjustment for american dollars :D )

Thanks for any help

edit: also, does anyone know much about the opengl basedf workstation cards, like the quadro or firegl cards?

If you're getting a GF4600, stick with it!

I do all of my modeling and animation in Maya with a Radeon 8500 and it is definitely fast enough.

Oh, and you can also soft mod your GF4600 into a Quadro card, just to a google search and you'll come up with all sorts of help.

A true "workstation" card will cost you significantly more if you're trying to outperform a "gaming" card. About $1000 more.

200-400bucks basically lets you choose any of the cards on the market! Your brother could go all out and go GeForce 5950 Ultra or Radeon 9800XT. Both should be 400 or less these days.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=1896

this is a link for a high end video card shootout. Hope this Helps.

The best card for your money is an ATI Radeon 9600 XT. $150-$180 depending on where you look.

Or he could get a $220 Geforce 5900 and flash it's bios to a 5950, making it a 5950.

$220 geforce 5900 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...alog=48&depa=1

How to: http://www.explosivelabs.com/forums/...=&threadid=913

If you're not gonna play many games and are going to do a lot of graphics programs, then the TI4600 will be perfectly fine. It's still one hell of a card for gaming. I honestly wouldn't upgrade. The only way you'll get an upgrade from the TI4600 is if you got a Radeon 9700 Pro, GeForce FX 5900 or 5950 Ultra, or Radeon 9800 Pro/XT. Those cards can be found in your price range, but like I said before, if you're not a hardcore gamer, there's no use in upgrading. The TI4600 is still good enough for games and the apps you'll use. Save your money. :)

-Lasereth

Yeah, save your money, that card is more than enough. Im running a two year old Radeon 8500, and it still runs everything I throw at it without a hitch.

Yeah, your brother should just keep his card and buy you a new 1.

Radeon 9600Pro or higher

if he wants a 3d modeling card, then he should look at cards like a Matrox Parhelia

Go with bitboys! They make the best cards! If you don't believe me just ask them.
http://www.bitboys.com/img/pictures/axewafer_pic3.jpg

Seriously, get him to give you the money and buy yourself a new top of the line video card and give him your old one.