Which Graphics card?

[olson]

You should have put another option for "Other" since those are both dual GPU cards (two processors slapped on a single card). I'd suggest not using a dual GPU setup, and you'll probably hear the same thing echoed from other users. The performance benefits are usually only in games and the heat, power consumption, and drivers are horrific. I think a Radeon 4870 would be the best way to go, not a 4870 X2. You also might want to consider a lower end workstation card since Maya is hit or miss with gaming cards. Cheers!

[cignox1]

I'm not an expert, but I just wanted to say that you might be interested in the AMD FirePro V8700. Sure, it costs 1000$, but it is a professional card...

[imashination]

Yup, you just listed 2 dual core gfx cards, both are a waste of money. I'd put my money on the geforce 285, but I havent had an opportunity to play with a radeon for the past year or so.

[RobotClayton]

Yup, you just listed 2 dual core gfx cards, both are a waste of money. I'd put my money on the geforce 285, but I havent had an opportunity to play with a radeon for the past year or so.

The gtx 280 will offer similar (nearly identical) performance for quite a bit less. BFG still sells them on newegg. I'm pretty sure BFG has lifetime warranties on their cards.

[hubevolution]

I am a bit confused I though only Quadro cards should go well with maya, GeForce cards can have artifacts and limitations, am I wrong ?

[olson]

I am a bit confused I though only Quadro cards should go well with maya, GeForce cards can have artifacts and limitations, am I wrong ?

More or less, that's the case. A gaming card can be used if the limitations are acceptable. No hardware rendering, funky paint tools, overlapping polygons displayed chunky, ramps and dialogs sometimes appear rainbow static like, the list goes on. If used for production either in a studio environment or for freelance mainly in Maya its worth it to get a workstation card instead of a gaming card. For learning or hobby, part time use, whatever else its probably not worth getting a workstation card. Cheers!

[janks]

As far as I know, the hardware in the Nvidia Quadro and Geforce cards is the same (or at least very close). I haven't done it myself but there are ways to mod Geforce cards into Quadro cards, take a look at these links:

http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=539&pgno=0
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=630932

Of course, soft-modding your card is something you do at your own risk, there is always a possibility something goes wrong I guess..