Best Graphics Card?

[pixelboy]

Can people recommend a fast and stable graphics card for PC? (I'm returning to PCs after spending time flirting with Macs).

I run some pretty intensive 3D software (Maya, Vue etc) as well as doing a fair amount of editing, animation and graphics work (mostly through AfterEffects, Premiere Pro and Photoshop), so I need something that can cope with HD footage as a minimum.

I've already been recommended the AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ 939 dual core processor, to run on a DFI Lanparty nF4 SLI-DR SKT939 motherboard, but know nothing at all about graphics cards.

If anyone can help, I'll buy you a coffee.

[yellowjohn]

have a look here

http://tomshardware.co.uk/2004/10/04/vga_charts_iv/page5.html

[Bob A Job]

In my experience, Nvidia Gforce cards are ten times more stable than any others, i wouldnt even use a radeon as a mouse mat.

[fo3nix]

GeForces are my favourite, but I hear some good things about Radeons from time to time. How much are you wanting to spend, and how capable do you want it to be?

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp ?WebProductID=318043
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp ?WebProductID=364486

Latter will give you better performance, but it's also more expensive.

[Ralph]

A high end Nvidia Gforce card is good value for money, but for your needs, you should really be looking at a full on CAD workstation card. These will display multiple windows at full resolution and frame rate whereas a games card (Gforce is one example) will excel at one window at a specific resolution, usually full screen rather than windowed.

Nvidia Quadro are the best around but they range from the pricey to the are you serious, avoid the cheapest one. ATI FireGL cards are catching up and in some cases appear to have surpassed the Quadros, but again, they don't come cheap.