Will a G400 Max be enough for me?

[Ribbit]

Hi all,

I've recently built myself a new PC (AMD 1.6GHz - or 1900+ if you think that way) and I was hoping to put a Parhelia in it, but I'm a little disappointed in what I've seen, so I'm going to wait a while for it to mature and maybe compare it with the consumer 3DLabs P10 boards when they arrive.

In the meantime it's got an old 2MB Millennium for now (if anyone knows where I could get another 6MB for it, tell me!), but obviously I want something better for games (and work). I'd like to stick with Matrox, since they have the best/most open Linux support. So I'd appreciate any comments on how a G400 Max would perform with games like the following:

- Falcon 4 SP3
- IL-2
- Rally Trophy
- RTCW (maybe)

and how well it would likely handle:

- Lock On: Modern Air Combat
- Strike Fighters: Project 1
- No-One Lives Forever 2

Also, if I end up trying to buy one, how do I tell if a G400 is a Max as opposed to a regular DH? (Visual inspection/model number) How about whether it can do AGP 4x or only 2x? How much should I pay for one? I found one for auction in the UK, but the seller wanted £90 - that seemed a bit high to me.

Thanks in advance...

[Kruzin]

G400MAX (or even a standard G400) should run all of these games, but some of them will need to be tuned down pretty far in res and detail to make playable. Parhelia would have no problem with any of them.

On G400s, the easiest way to spot a MAX is by the fan. MAX's have fans, standard G400s don't.
There is also white sticker with a part# on every G400 series product that will start with "G4+". With this part#, you can determine the exact model, and if it can do 2x or 4x. There is an FAQ on Matrox's forums that can tell you how to ID the cards from this #.

[Reckless]

The Max will do well enough except maybe RtCW. Sure it'll play but I've had random lockups (graphics go techno) and it can get very slow.

[Ribbit]

Originally posted by Kruzin
G400MAX (or even a standard G400) should run all of these games, but some of them will need to be tuned down pretty far in res and detail to make playable.

But they should all be playable and smooth, right? I don't mind having to turn down the res/eye-candy for now (I had to do plenty of that with the G200).

I couldn't find that FAQ you referred to - I found out the base numbers for each family (Mil, Mil2, Myst, etc.), and how to tell if a G400 is AGP4x capable, so I guess I've got enough. Do you know how the model number varies with Max/non-Max cards? Also, I remember reading that the memory chips are marked differently - do you know how?

I found a G400Max on a UK auction site - claims to have all manuals/software/cables (there's no picture). The seller wants £90 (that's about $135, or 145EUR). Is that reasonable?

[thop]

Re: Will a G400 Max be enough for me?

Originally posted by Ribbit
if anyone knows where I could get another 6MB for it, tell me

http://shopmatrox.com/europe/products/categories.asp?CategoryID=29&Column=2 ?

[magog]

Originally posted by Ribbit
I found a G400Max on a UK auction site - claims to have all manuals/software/cables (there's no picture). The seller wants £90 (that's about $135, or 145EUR). Is that reasonable?

I would say to expensive!

[Ribbit]

Re: Re: Will a G400 Max be enough for me?

Originally posted by thop
http://shopmatrox.com/europe/products/categories.asp?CategoryID=29&Column=2 ?

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see any Millennium upgrades there or anywhere else @ shopmatrox (although they still sell Mystique upgrades).

I saw on the US/Canadian sites that a refurb G400 Max is US$130, and an AGP4x version is CAD$200. I thought £90 was a bit high - if the auction seller doesn't sell his (no bids yet) maybe I can talk him down.

Thanks for all your help guys.

[DosFreak]

Just like to comment on the Linux Driver Support.

Nvidia
Matrox
Ati

in that order for best Linux support.

[Ribbit]

DosFreak:

Nvidia = binary-only kernel drivers (yuck!), instability, issues with things like video playback which they refuse to fix or even acknowledge (the MPlayer docs talk about purple lines through the middle of the playback window). I know a lot of people are very happy with their Linux support because they can play games fast, but for me it's in completely the wrong spirit.

Disclaimer: I've never owned an nVidia card, the above is what I've picked up reading around.

[Wombat]

Matrox's Gx00 drivers were great. nVidia's are supposed to perform well, but it's too much of a pain in the ass to match up the right kernel with the right nVidia binary, and compiling your own kernel makes life much tougher. Matrox really couldn't care about Linux these days though.