In response to popular request/support, here goes. The following list includes only hardware currently on the market at this time, regardless of hardware platform or specific software compatability. If you have any suggestions/opinions regarding where or what cards should be on these lists, please do post about it.

In the performance category,

Performance
1. Sun Microsystems XVR-4000
2. 3DLabs Wildcat Realizm 800
3. 3DLabs Wildcat 4 7210
4. Sun Microsystems XVR-1200
5. nVidia Quadro FX4400
6. 3DLabs Wildcat Realizm 500
7. ATI FireGL V7100
8. nVidia Quadro FX4000
9. 3DLabs Wildcat III 6210
10.

Bang for the Buck
1. 3DLabs Wildcat Realizm 800
2. 3DLabs Wildcat Realizm 500
3.
4.
5.
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10.

Performance Under $600.00
1.
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10.

Bang for the Buck under $600.00
1. 3DLabs Wildcat Realizm 100
2.
3.
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10.

Noteworthy mentions:


I will fill in the list as I have the time.

that's quite a detailed breakdown.

I honestly don't know what I would put at the top of the list.

For performance, I would think Sun Microsystem's XVR-4000.

Best bang for the buck - that can vary depending on application.

DCC - Realizm 100
General/Multipurpose - VP990
CAD - Wildcat 4 7210 (based on my experiences with the WIldcat II 6110)

I think that sgi's on V10, (I don't remember) and IBM's using GTX-6000 still.

Quadros and FireGL don't cut it anymore. From an architecture standpoint, they're too much like their mainstream consumer products, and as a result, it's performance and image quality suffers big time.

This place looks like a good start, they even have CAD graphics accelerator roundups! (requires free registration) -Just what I was thinking might be of interest..

Quote: Originally Posted by konai_konai666 This place looks like a good start, they even have CAD graphics accelerator roundups! (requires free registration) -Just what I was thinking might be of interest..

I've seen that before; I also have access to much more current industry information that--IMHO--is a more reliable basis upon which to base my opinions for ranking each card. Cadalyst is a source I would also recommend for unbiased comparisons. However, I am still researching a number of candidates for the list as I haven't had personal experience with more than roughly a dozen of the cards I have on/am considering placing on the list.

One intersting thing to note is that many of the professional display adapters for non-windows capable platforms are derived from 3DLabs, Matrox, and (recently) XGI components.

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I've decided, based upon my limited access to a number of the newer professional graphics adapters, that I will be limiting these lists to the top ten, rather than twenty.