[fishguy]

Excuse a newbie question but what applications will get a speed boost from having a better graphics card? I'm pondering a G5 purchase and don't know if I should save the cash or go for a better card. I'll also be getting a new 23" ACD. I don't game - that is why I ask. However, I do photoshop and video editing - iLife and Final cut express. If the graphics card has no impact on video I may just stick with stock config.

[hmurchison2001]

If you plan on keeping your Mac for say at least 3 years buy the fastest card you can afford.

Panther already leans heavily on the GPU for the Quartz Extreme display system. Tiger, coming out by mid 2005, will rely even more on the GPU. Apple is taking so much of the windowing core tech and pushing that off to the GPU to free up your CPU. Thus..the faster your GPU is the faster your OS and applications will run.

While I'd hesitate to recommend the new nvidia 6800 for you because of its $599 cost(less whatever the standard G5 card is BTO) you may want to get the fastest ATI card 9800XT for an additional $350. Going forward fast GPUs are going to be far more useful than just gaming.

[mosespatrader]

Even the 9600XT is a good choice. It's only a $50.00 upgrade on a custom built PowerMac. But it is far better than the stock nvidia card. The 9600XT has twice the memory as as the nvidia card.

[SafariX]

Heres a second vote for the 9600xt. Worth the 50 bucks.

[hmurchison2001]

http://www.barefeats.com/rad9800s.html

9600xt is the best value right now. Then you can wait to see what a potential upgrade in the future may bring you as far as speed.