How much for a second-hand Parhelia ?

[Zanna]

Now, I think, the price tag for an non-new parhelia are become smaller enough.

Or I think so. :-)

What is your opinion?

How much expensive would be an used
Parhelia (for example for the bulk 128, the retail 128 and the retail with 256 Mb) ?

And is your opinion at least a 256 Mb Parhelia could run Doom III in a reasonable way?

I saw the game box in the store near home.

I'm sooooo nervous, I can't buy it, because it doesn't run on my G400Max.

==========

Altough I have a problem.
I have to run some old apps in Windows 98.
And the Parhelia does not have Windows 98 drivers.

I don't want two PC on my desktop !!

Thanks.

[PAugustin]

I don't think any version of the Parhelia can run DIII properly. The 256Meg version wouldn't change much as it lacks the 3D raw power

SOme people here are able to play DIII on Parhelias but I think they are stuck to 640*480 or 800*600 low detail. CHeck in the gaming forum.

However coming from a G400max a Parhelia will seem such a powerful card that you might forget DIII
I had a G400max before buying my P8X a few month ago and I can tell you I'm more than satisfied !!!

[borat]

if you get a P8x, overclock it to its max under stock cooling and use the DX9 driver and these settings:

"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

funny thing
1024x768
bumpmapping off !!!this one is a killer, didnt like matrox half invent that and now it totally suckz
shadows no
high res effects no
anti alias no
specular yes

fraps says its between 8 and 58
mostly around big scenes around 16, interrior around 32 small walkways 38+

its a pretty old card, so i guess its 4x (ser# PBO11326) "

then its playable at high detail, never gonna be a doom 3 killer card though. Dont even think about surround gaming with doom3 either, it squashes the image down as well as across when you adjust the FOV for some bizarre reason.

[Zanna]

HI PAugustin!
Hi Borat!

Do you think the AGP8X have some truly speed increases over the AGP4X version, without considering, of coourse, the AGP itself?

If I remember the only difference between the two card are some HW bugs fixed and the AGP speed, it is true?

Maybe the 8X version is more overclockable?

=============================================

For the other questions on my thread starter post:

There is any way to utilyze decently a Win98SE O.S. on a Parhelia powered PC?

Solutions like virtual PC does utilize the card trough emulation of other, generic , hardware?

I mean, to have Win2kpro running and a virtual machine running Windows 98?

Thanks

[KeiFront]

Zanna, a Radeon or an NVidia card will give you a lot more bang for the buck than a Parhelia. Especially when games are concerned or if you still need to run windows 98 or linux and better overall drivers imho.

The Parhelia is just unable to run Doom III at an acceptable speed (doesn't matter which version 4X, 8x, 128mb, 256mb).

But if you can find one really cheap second hand go for it, it's a good 2D card with excellent multimonitor features.

[borat]

i absolutely know beyond all doubt that the P8x is faster, its a new core which includes all of the bug fixes you mention, but if you run powerstrip on it to identify its speed then you will find its clocked to 250Mhz core 300Mhz memory by default. mine will overclock to 300core 390 memory, others seem to get that speed out of their core without problem too, the memory seems more variable but 340-350 should not be an issue.

[UtwigMU]

I think you could get a used 4x bulk for about 200 Euros.

Otherwise the problem with getting a used AGP 4x core is that some of them exhibit banding problem about which you can't be sure untill you have tested the card.

If you plan to play occasional games, the AGP8x version will give you better performance due to higher clocks.

If you just need a 2D card, consider used AGP4x, although, the P750/P650 with triplehead upgrade (passive card) will offer similar features, except for ability for some plugins for professional applications such as Photoshop, 3ds max and videoediting.

As for Doom3, I'd try get at least the upcoming GeForce 6600 or Radeon9800 pro or GeForce 5900XT.

Although for Doom3, the best cards seem to be nVidia 6800 series.

[Wombat]

You should not buy a Parhelia if running Doom3 is a consideration.

[borat]

Originally posted by Wombat
You should not buy a Parhelia if running Doom3 is a consideration.

that sums things up perfectly.

[Zanna]

Thanks to all.

To run DOOM II for me is not so necessary, but I am damn so interested in this game!!

I am both a Matrox and ID Software fan.

For me is a bad thing to leave Matrox because I want to run decently DOOM III and is bad to run poorly DOOM III because I want to stay with Matrox...

Another thing to say is: I hate the G-Fart, then probabily I will buy another canadian product !!! (ATI is from Canada, it is true?)

And, far as I know, the ATI cards does have good drivers for Win98 !!

But a decent radeon for DOOM III cost much more than a second-hand Parhelia, it is true ?

For now, I think the best thing is to take a look in computer shops. I usually spend a lot of time considering all the pros and all the cons before make a buy.

And now the total cost (new graphics card + THE game) is not so little!

========

IF Matrox, in the past does have made W98 drivers for Parhelia and IF Matrox does have made good/fast OpenGL drivers for the Parhelia.... now I am not thinking about ATI !!

[Zanna]

Another thing I forgotten to say:

My G400Max, after the driver update for Windows2000 / XP, have managed so good the game TR:AoD.
(Yes, I am also a Lara Croft Fan )

[Wombat]

A decent RADEON is in the $200 range. Getting a Parhelia for less than that is maybe possible.

Buying a Parhelia now is bad because you're basically buying a product on which you can expect no future support.

[leech]

Of course I could always sell you my Parhelia. I need to sell it off at some point in the near future. Since I bought a 6800 GT. Weird thing is with my 6800 GT.... when I first installed the card, the 2D display was nice and crisp, but now I'm noticing that there is a ghosting effect, and it's getting worse, and just now I rebooted into linux, and now there is no ghosting effect.... odd, eh? Is it just the beta windows drivers I'm using? Time to post this in the write forums, I suppose....

Leech

[Venturer]

Originally posted by Zanna
Another thing I forgotten to say:

My G400Max, after the driver update for Windows2000 / XP, have managed so good the game TR:AoD.
(Yes, I am also a Lara Croft Fan )

Ciao Zanna!
Sono di Bologna e ho una Parhelia 4x 256MB da vendere! Ti interessa?

Hi Zanna!
I'm from Bologna and i have a perfectly working Parhelia 4x 256MB to sell! Are you interested?

Mail me to
venturer@tiscali.it

[Zanna]

Hi Venturer!!

Hi venturer!!

Sorry for te late response!!

Now I'm thinking about these choiches:

1) The new card Matrox will announce between 2004/2005 toi support PCI express and Longhorn.
2) A second-hand Parhelia (tell me the price! It's true that the 256Mb version is slower than the 128 retail? Can you send me a PM instehad of the e-mai?)
3) Buyng a new or second-hand ATI board. ATI can give me good Windows 98 Drivers.

Have you a solution for me? I need Windows98 + Parhelia on the same PC too.

Running a Virtual Machine with W98 would be a solution, with a Parhelia, I don't need this OS for gaming, but I don't know if is possible and well-functioning....

===

Spiacente per la risposta tarda !!

Adesso sto pensando a queste possibilita':

1) Comprare la nuova scheda che matrox dovrebbe annunciare tra il 2004 e 2005 per supportare PCI express e Longhorn.
2) Comprare una Parhelia di seconda mano (dimmi quanto vorresti realizzare.. è vero che la 256 Mb ha il clock più basso della 128 Mb retail?, mi puoi mandare un Messagio personale dal MURC?)
3) Comprare una scheda nuova od usata ATI.
A quel che ne so ATI fornisce drivers Windows 98 decenti (sopratutto li fornisce).

Mi puoi suggerire una soluzione? Ho bisogno di far girare ancora Windows 98 e la Parhelia sullo stesso PC.

Utilizzare una macchina virtuale con dentro W98 potrebbe essere una soluzione, utilizzando una Pharelia, non ho bisogno di W98 per giocare, ma non so se è possibile e sopratutto se funziona bene.