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**GNEP** · 3 October 2002, 03:12

2D - the best.
3D - certainly on your system I don't know of any games that will not run really smoothly.

I have an athlon 1.3 and a Parhelia, and run most things with full details, at 1024x768 with FAA and AF on. Could probably run at higher resolutions fine, but with FAA there is absolutely no need (even on a 19").

And soon I am going to pick up (1) a new desk and (2) a couple of 2nd-hand 17" monitors (can get fairly good ones for about 70 pounds each).

Surround gaming is, I hear, a whole lotta fun. And that's what games are about eh?

gnep

**mutz** · 3 October 2002, 04:25

...my system is very similar to yours. I wouldn't touch anything other than a Parhelia. And Matrox mature their products very well with new drivers, etc., so you can be sure it will only get better.

I'm still marveling at the thing, and I've only bought quality before...

**typedef enum** · 3 October 2002, 08:15

I'll chime in with my thoughts.

The Matrox drivers, believe it or not, are exceptionally solid. If you've been using other cards for the last couple of years (non Matrox), this might come as a surprise.

Matrox has also been very quick in addressing existing bugs when they crop up. There have been very few that I've seen, though I've only had my card for about 3-4 weeks now...

In terms of quality, you will be very hard pressed to find a board that delivers more than the Parhelia. From DVD quality to 3D, I would argue that everything pales in comparison...The _only_ thing I would possibly list as a "con" is the fact that the P is currently only supporting 2x Anisotropic Filtering, despite the fact the hardware can support up to 8x...

This is one of those deals that people _really_ need to send feedback to Matrox...I get the feeling that we won't see it without letting them know we would like it

Anyhow, back to the topic @ hand...Don't believe the negative crap you see posted about the Parhelia, simply because the vast majority of those that dismiss it have never seen one 1st hand, nor have review sites updated _anything_ with respect to newer drivers. Not once.

**dsp** · 3 October 2002, 14:11

typedef enum,

I'm hurt

, my review talks (albeit briefly) about the improvements of the newer drivers.

Spectrum,

It is a very nice card with enough power to let me play the games I use at 1024*768 with AA and Ansio smoothly. And the image quality is really good.

dsp

**leech** · 3 October 2002, 16:28

Hell, I play Rune at 800x600 with FAA on and it looks damn good, and runs exceptionally smooth. I would up the resolution if I saw the need to. I am running only a Pentium 3 @ 850, but I haven't had many problems at all getting things to run smoothly.

Leech

**typedef enum** · 3 October 2002, 23:01

dsp,

My comments were definitely not directed @ you...In fact, I thought your review was among the best that covered this product...

I was directing it @ the "other guys"...primarily, those that decided it wasn't worth their time (hint...Kyle...hint...) for one reason or another, and didn't mind saying so in public...or the ones who simply claimed it to be very poor because of 3DMark2001.

**dsp** · 3 October 2002, 23:20

typedef enum,

Don't worry about it, I wasn't that serious about my comments (note the smilely), but thanks for your comments.

**OasisPlaces** · 5 October 2002, 11:45

IT's not really that good of a card.. if you want 3 heads use and AGP card and a PCI card.

there's problems with noise on the screen when running
3D apps,

http://forum.matrox.com/mgaforum/Forum6/HTML/001299.html

it's only as fast as the last generation cards.

Opengl really sucks on the card you can't even run lightwave, or any other CAD/CDD app properly

There's no 9X/Me driver support

The 4600 or even ati 9700 is twice as fast..and are a bit cheaper

and lastly I bought one, and can't return it becuase the store I bought if from says they're going under and they don't want to deal with them anymore...so I have to deal with them directly.

Unless their next card fixes these problems and is twice as fast don't bother..

**Cobos** · 5 October 2002, 14:46

I always love people that register at MURC and then spends their 10 first and only posts on bashing Matrox.... very informative... If your store says Matrox is going under either they're full of crap or you misunderstood...

Cobos

**ZokesPro** · 5 October 2002, 15:24

Originally posted by Cobos
I always love people that register at MURC and then spends their 10 first and only posts on bashing Matrox.... very informative... If your store says Matrox is going under either they're full of crap or you misunderstood...

Cobos

Don't forget to add the

to your post Cobos.

**OasisPlaces** · 5 October 2002, 15:58

who's bashing?? It's just reality..

From Impression to G400 with the exception of the ICD
there was a steady progress.. G400 RULES!!
G450.. G550. well... Giant talking head.. e dual head need I say more..

and Parhelia.. it's a nice card, but who has 3 Flat panels?
and why is it so slow?? seriously.. WHY?? when the ati is based on the same technology costs about the same, and gives you twice the performance? and they are making 9x drivers as well??

OGL support really sucks on matrox.. it been like that for years
OPEN SOURCE PEOPLE!! if your guys can't do it.. let the 14
year olds!!! they'll get the job done!!!

Even all the review sites don't even put it in the lineup.. one site
put it in "just for kicks"

and the guy in the store who metioned they're going down used
to work there.. so it probably a good source.. or a disgruntled
guy.. 50/50... I'll give you that..

Unless matrox pulls a rabbit out of a hat for the next product
and not some sort G450 cost reduced slower junk
who are they going to compete with.. Number Nine.. STB.. ELSA?

ugh.. new parhelia1/2 with "Three Talking Brains" (old star trek episode).. new box.. guy on a toilet

They just should have quadroupled the speed of the G400 and added TNL.. stick with 2 independant heads and tv out.. that would be a product...

They should fire their ceo..doug..darrel.. bob.. woods??and find one with a business sense.. hell just plain common sense..they used to be the best on the planet.. now i think they rank under trident..

and what's with this..noise fixed on the next product.. next time print that it has noise on the box, so I can decide before i
pay for it..

By the way I own Impression, Marvel Millenium, Mysteqe with studio, a g400max, and a parhelia..

I just have to vent... the noise is annoying.. and lightwave on the parhelia doesn't work!!..works on the G400!!!!

and it's not my first 10 posts I just haven't come to this site in almost 2 years, just couldn't remember my login..

**Sinistral** · 5 October 2002, 18:19

and Parhelia.. it's a nice card, but who has 3 Flat panels?

At home i have 3 19" CRT monitors, and at work i use a new a Kick ass Panoram PV290 DSK. Im sure not a lot of people will have what i have, but you can use CRT's also. Not just LCD's. And as stated before, they really dont have to be the same quality, but it helps.

OGL support really sucks on matrox.. it been like that for years
OPEN SOURCE PEOPLE!! if your guys can't do it.. let the 14
year olds!!! they'll get the job done!!!

What problems? Throughout my 3 Month period with the Parhelia i have had zero problems in both games and proffesional 3D applications.

Even all the review sites don't even put it in the lineup.. one site
put it in "just for kicks"

Well good for them, thats their choice. If they dont want to include a card, because it doesnt excell in the Super Console domain, i dont mind.

and the guy in the store who metioned they're going down used
to work there.. so it probably a good source.. or a disgruntled
guy.. 50/50... I'll give you that..

This one time at band camp...?

They just should have quadroupled the speed of the G400 and added TNL.. stick with 2 independant heads and tv out.. that would be a product...

Do you like the idea of Rehashing current tech? You in no way want to see new and different ideas and possibilites?

I just have to vent... the noise is annoying.. and lightwave on the parhelia doesn't work!!..works on the G400!!!!

Like i said, i havn't had any problems with Maya, Softimage, Lightwave or Max with the Workstations at work or what i use at home.

OasisPlaces; why did you even buy the card? Or did you not even listen to your own precious 3DMark Reviews?

As for the original poster:

This card is a real treat IMO. I havnt had any problems with the card. And i continue to see Matrox further mature their drivers. Drivers which rival Nvidias IMO. And people were saying Matrox had a worse Driver support then ATI

. However, as ive always said, if you cant put to good use what the card offers (still dont know why OasisPlaces bought a Parhelia...). Find a card that does. Common Sense really.

**ElDonAntonio** · 5 October 2002, 22:53

Originally posted by OasisPlaces
They should fire their ceo..doug..darrel.. bob.. woods??and find one with a business sense.. hell just plain common sense..they used to be the best on the planet.. now i think they rank under trident..

It's pretty funny you claim to have info on Matrox "going under" while you don't even know it's a privately owned company and there's no board to "fire the CEO" (the CEO being the owners, Lorne Trottier and Bronco Matic).

**UtwigMU** · 6 October 2002, 12:26

That Matic might be expatriate Slovenian.

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