Buyer's Remorse... at DVinfo.net

Robert Brandon · August 11th, 2007, 03:54 PM

A while back I read that the Quadro fx line of video cards worked very well with most NLEs (because of OpenGL support) So, I purchased a fx3450 off ebay(Dell pull) for about $350. After reading more, it seems almost everyone is recommending the far cheaper 8600 series nvidia cards. My question is, is the fx overkill? Did I purchase an expensive card that isnt really neccessary? It seems as if I read that Adobe and Avid both utilize the card very well, but not so much for Vegas. Unfortunately, Vegas is about all I use now, yet I will be using both others soon. So, should I try to resell this card on Ebay, and us the extra cash for something else?

Chris Soucy · August 12th, 2007, 12:43 AM

a totally unanswerable question. If the card works, use it. If it doesn't - get rid of it. If you don't have/ use the software that can take advantage of it, get rid of it if you need the cash. If you're going to be getting the software that can use it, keep it.

Bottom line - what do you want to do? This stuff is simply tools to do a job, nothing more, nothing less. It isn't about mag wheels, paint jobs or bored out cylinders. They're tools. If you need 'em, get 'em. If you don't, well, you're wasting your money. But hey, it's your money!

What more can I say?

CS

Glenn Chan · August 12th, 2007, 01:21 AM

Only MBE2 (magic bullet editor's 2) in Vegas will take advantage of the card. Everything else is processed on the CPU.

2- The card will lose value if it sits around.

3- It might be better to get the gaming cards instead of the workstation cards... the hardware is pretty similar, except the firmware + drivers for the workstation cards unlock certain features or optimize the performance for workstation use (which is sometimes bad for gaming performance).

Peter Moretti · August 12th, 2007, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Brandon

... It seems as if I read that Adobe and Avid both utilize the card very well, but not so much for Vegas. Unfortunately, Vegas is about all I use now, yet I will be using both others soon...

If you are going to use Avid, you should definitely hold on to that card.

Robert Brandon · August 12th, 2007, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Moretti

If you are going to use Avid, you should definitely hold on to that card.

Thanks for a perfectly clear answer to an unanswerable question;)

Emre Safak · August 12th, 2007, 04:12 AM

Vegas does not care what your video card is; you could use your motherboard's integrated card and spend the money on a fast HD for better performance.

Peter Moretti · August 12th, 2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Brandon

Thanks for a perfectly clear answer to an unanswerable question;)

If you have Avid, keep it. If you MIGHT be buying Avid in the future, then you could throw it back up on ebay and see what you can get for it.

Still, it seems like a lot of hassle, unless you can get some good $ for the card.

Robert Brandon · August 12th, 2007, 08:25 PM

I do have AVID now, but I normally use vegas. I am learning Avid little by little, with plans of being able to use it exclusively. I appreciate the responses, and I guess Ill just keep it. I thought there may be advantages to using a newer game card that I wouldn't be taking advantage of. However it appears that its vice versa, so as long as Ill be using avid, I might as well have it. Thanks

Peter Moretti · August 13th, 2007, 01:27 AM

Robert, that sounds like a good decision, IMHO. Anyway, you got an outrageously good price on that card. And to run Avid, you need a Quadro or similar card to meet Avid's specs.

I actually think you buying that card for that price was a brilliant move ;).

Robert Brandon · August 13th, 2007, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Moretti

Robert, that sounds like a good decision, IMHO. Anyway, you got an outrageously good price on that card. And to run Avid, you need a Quadro or similar card to meet Avid's specs.

I actually think you buying that card for that price was a brilliant move ;).

Thanks! I thought it was a good idea at the time... Thanks for re-enforcing it!

August 11th, 2007, 03:54 PM	#1
Robert Brandon Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 58	Buyer's Remorse... A while back I read that the Quadro fx line of video cards worked very well with most NLEs (because of OpenGL support) So, I purchased a fx3450 off ebay(Dell pull) for about $350. After reading more, it seems almost everyone is recommending the far cheaper 8600 series nvidia cards. My question is, is the fx overkill? Did I purchase an expensive card that isnt really neccessary? It seems as if I read that Adobe and Avid both utilize the card very well, but not so much for Vegas. Unfortunately, Vegas is about all I use now, yet I will be using both others soon. So, should I try to resell this card on Ebay, and us the extra cash for something else?

August 12th, 2007, 12:43 AM	#2
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,682 Images: 18	Yet again............ a totally unanswerable question. If the card works, use it. If it doesn't - get rid of it. If you don't have/ use the software that can take advantage of it, get rid of it if you need the cash. If you're going to be getting the software that can use it, keep it. Bottom line - what do you want to do? This stuff is simply tools to do a job, nothing more, nothing less. It isn't about mag wheels, paint jobs or bored out cylinders. They're tools. If you need 'em, get 'em. If you don't, well, you're wasting your money. But hey, it's your money! What more can I say? CS

August 12th, 2007, 01:21 AM	#3
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Only MBE2 (magic bullet editor's 2) in Vegas will take advantage of the card. Everything else is processed on the CPU. 2- The card will lose value if it sits around. 3- It might be better to get the gaming cards instead of the workstation cards... the hardware is pretty similar, except the firmware + drivers for the workstation cards unlock certain features or optimize the performance for workstation use (which is sometimes bad for gaming performance).

August 12th, 2007, 04:12 AM	#6
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	Vegas does not care what your video card is; you could use your motherboard's integrated card and spend the money on a fast HD for better performance.

August 12th, 2007, 08:25 PM	#8
Robert Brandon Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 58	I do have AVID now, but I normally use vegas. I am learning Avid little by little, with plans of being able to use it exclusively. I appreciate the responses, and I guess Ill just keep it. I thought there may be advantages to using a newer game card that I wouldn't be taking advantage of. However it appears that its vice versa, so as long as Ill be using avid, I might as well have it. Thanks

August 13th, 2007, 01:27 AM	#9
Peter Moretti Trustee Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sherman Oaks, CA Posts: 1,259	Robert, that sounds like a good decision, IMHO. Anyway, you got an outrageously good price on that card. And to run Avid, you need a Quadro or similar card to meet Avid's specs. I actually think you buying that card for that price was a brilliant move ;).