When it comes to games, I like Quattro Pro quite a lot.
But while any comment I could make about the relative merits of the cards themselves would be merely a distorted echo of the things I have learned from you guys (especialy Sol, who helps me out quite a lot), I
can comment on the relative longevity and esstimated resale value of the cards.
As I see it, Clocker, you will be keeping the card for quite a long time as video cards go: 18 months maybe, and pushing it only moderately hard.
That to me suggests that it's worth your while to get one you will be happy with: that you don't want to be looking back in six months time and saying "I wish I'd spent the extra $50". Argument for a 128MB GF IV.
On the other hand, you won't get any benefit to speak of from the extra RAM for a good while yet, and by the time you do you will be already thinking seriously about a Parhelia II or a GF VI. Argument for a 64MB GF IV.
And if it comes to that, I doubt that you'll pick much difference between the GF III and the GF IV. Argument for a 64MB GF III.
On the other hand, resale value tends to be overly effected by the amount of RAM on the card (because buyers are stupid). (Except us, of course.
) Argument for a 128MB GF III.
Then again, you will get more for a second-hand GF IV than a GF III because IV is a bigger number. Argument for a GF IV.
But, contrary to that, the extra $$ you spend now, to get that resale value, will never ever go close to coming back to you when you sell it - i. e., if a 128MB GF IV costs $100 more than a 64MB GF III, it's reasonable to expect that you will get an extra $20 or $40 back when you sell it - i.e., a net loss of about $70. Argument for a 64MB GF III.
And, making it still more complicated, there are relativities to take into account: often the 128MB version is barely any dearer than the 64MB version, so you
will get your money back when you sell it.
Bottom line: you have two choices.
(a) Keep your eyes open for a bargain. Don't worry too much if it's a III or a IV, or how much RAM it has, just look out for something of quality (Leadtek, ASUS, MSI, Hercules, etc.) in a GF III
or IV with whatever amount of RAM it happens to have
at an especially attractive price. That is, just buy the one that makes the best value for money proposition to you. Be paitent, wait for your opportunity.
(b) Say what I say: "To hell with it! It's my money isn't it? I can waste it if I want to!" And race out and buy the best one in the shop. Tell them if you can't have it delivered by yesterday you don't want it.
But what about me? I'm happy with my G450s, thankyou. Despite their not actually being made by God. (Refer other thread.)
I have ECS 1.0 fixpack 1, a 32MB G450, Mozilla/2 1.0, Quattro Pro and a spanking new Mitsubushi 21 incher .... I'm happy.
PS: why am I running an incredibly expensive (~AU$400) 32MB G450 when, with the apps I run, I could get the exact same performance and the exact same picture quality out of my two 16MB G450s, my 16MB G200, or even my old 8MB G200?
Just because I can. :wink:
