Posted by c0nsumer on 16, 2000 at 2:11 AM:
In Reply to: ATI Xpert 98: PCI or AGP ?! posted by Pier on 15, 2000 at 3:03 PM:
: I've surfed a bit around, and found the ATI Xpert for around $40, but as I can choose between an AGP and a PCI version, I'm now wondering which to get. Does it even matter, or should I go for e specific one (I noticed most/all ppl are talking about the PCI-version)
Honestly, it doesn't really matter at all. All AGP is is a quicker, wider bus that basically allows the 3D card to use normal system RAM as it's own. A nice, new 3D card is absolutely USELESS for MAME. Unless you're running a special 3D port, MAME is 2D only. I'm personally going to use an old Matrox Millenium. This is because Matrox cards traditionally have a very high frequency RAMDAC (the part that converts the digital signal from the video card to the analog output that the monitor needs) which will give an extremely sharp, consistant, high-quality picture. This is probebly the most important thing, at least in my opinion, in a display you'll be staring at quite a bit. You should be able to find a used card of this sort for pretty cheap, maybe $40 at most.