G4 Video Upgrade

[dvkid]

So after having the Final Cut Studio package for months and months I've decided its time for me to upgrade my dual-1.42 MDD G4 video card to make use of the software. Currently I have an ATI Radeon 9000 PRO with an ADC and DVI port that I have connected two 15" Apple Studio Displays to using one DVI to ADC connector from Apple.

I am terribly confused by my choices in cards. Many of them feature a VGA and DVI port which would require I use a VGA to DVI converter and then another one of the DVI to ADC converters which suddenly bumps the price of the upgrade.

What are other G4 users using and what do ya'll recommend? My only requirement is that it be able to run Motion. Other than that I'd like it to be relatively affordable but don't see this beign a cheap ugrade (less that 300).

Thanks for any advice!

 

[TLRedhawke]

Unless you were planning to flash the firmware on a PC video card, you're pretty much always going to have ADC (or 2 DVI ports at the least). That G4 model (presuming it's a proper 2x1.42, not an upgraded model) should take any AGP 8X/4X cards. The best one would be the Radeon X800XT, but that goes for close to 500 of our Canadian dollars. In your case, a Radeon 9800 should probably do.

If you're considering flashing a PC card into a Mac card, have a look around the CubeOwner (http://www.cubeowner.com) forums and guides for some good advice.

 

[dvkid]

The problem I'm having is with a card with a DVI and VGA port I then have to convert the VGA to ADC using a high priced box or use a small converter to take ADC to DVI then a slightly cheaper box to go from ADC to DVI. This seems pretty roundabout. Even on the dual DVI cards I would then be using two DVI to ADC converter boxes to connect my Apple displays.

Does anybody know of a better way of making these conversions or is this it?

 

[Eidorian]

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/video/hardware/

Look here. I'm not a big fan of too many ADC devices. I try to stick with DVI.

 

[TLRedhawke]

If you're looking at Mac cards, rather than PC, you should run into very few without ADC, and very few that have VGA. This was the point of my previous post.

VGA cannot be converted to DVI or ADC, at least in any practical terms. You've got 2 ADC displays, so you'll want a card with DVI and ADC, like the one you have. Otherwise, you're going to be shelling out even more for converters and the like.

Most of the higher end Mac video cards have one ADC and one DVI. The really high end cards have 2 DVIs. I don't know where you're seeing a Mac video card with a DVI and a VGA that is higher than your current card.