Compatible AGP Graphics Card for G5 Dual 1.8

Question

Hi,
Following on from my recent post with regards screen rotation, could anyone recommend compatible AGP cards for a _Dual 1.8 G5_ ? My mac is used for colour critical work, but not sure where to turn!
Thanks in anticipation.
*Hardware Overview:*
Model Name: Power Mac G5
Model Identifier: PowerMac7,2
Processor Name: PowerPC 970 (2.2)
Processor Speed: 1.8 GHz
Number Of CPUs: 2
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 3 GB
Bus Speed: 900 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 5.1.4f0
Serial Number: CK3472EQQF6
*GeForce FX 5200:*
Chipset Model: GeForce FX 5200
Type: Display
Bus: AGP
Slot: SLOT-1
VRAM (Total): 64 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0321
Revision ID: 0x00a2
ROM Revision: 2060
Displays:
CG241W:
Resolution: 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Display Connector:
Status: No display connected

Answer 1

Hi Kool,
I have to agree with the upgrade to a 9800XT. I too have a G5 dual 1.8, with the GeForce 5200FX/64 as stock. I upgraded to the 9800XT/256 last year, as I wanted to improve performance in Aperture. However, running benchmarks and the real world did not seem to compare well. For sure, running various benchmark tests showed that the 9800XT should indeed have been much faster.
However, in real use, it didn't. Certainly some things are - a few games run better - Redline is one I use a fair bit, and that can be driven harder, but not enough to make it better to play. But, almost everything else is pretty much the same, Finder feels pretty much identical either way. Perhaps one exception to this is the overall look of the display, it just feels much better with the 5200FX in, in Finder the text in the menus is much smoother, where with the 9800XT it is jagged.
One thing that did surprise me most is that Aperture performs much worse with the Radeon card. The adjuster controls are terrible to use, where with the GeForce they are almost completely smooth. Like the Finder display, photos seem to have much better colour range too.
I'm currently considering selling the Radeon on eBay, and trying to find a 5200FX with a bit more VRAM onboard. There are a lot of flashed PC cards on eBay at the moment, but I'm not sure if this would be a step backwards in losing the 'Ultra' badge.