The Nvidia Quadro series[1] of AGP, PCI, and PCI Express graphics cards comes from the Nvidia Corporation. The cards' designers aimed to accelerate CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and DCC (digital content creation), and the Quadro series cards are usually featured in workstations (compared to the Nvidia GeForce product line, which specifically targets computer gaming). Competing products include the FirePro line of workstation graphics cards by AMD (made formerly by ATI Technologies, Inc.). Companies such as Matrox and Avid also focus on specialized hardware-accelerated graphics cards intended primarily for DCC.--wikipedia
for mac os 9 compatibility : anything lower then the 900 XGL (no "80" models - the "8" refers to AGP8x which the g4's are not)
for mac os 9 performance : the 700 XGL, 750 XGL + 900 XGL are the best cards (out of the 100% compatible ones because they are a match for the ti4400, ti4600)
but perhaps the 550XGL may be a good performer for those who want no fan 100% silent card
im assuming these cards can be flashed to their geforce ppc counterparts!!QUADRO(GPU) == GEFORCE lookup table
Quadro(NV10GL) == GeForce 256
Quadro2 MXR(NV11GL) == GeForce2 MX
Quadro2 EX(NV11GL) == GeForce2 MX
Quadro2 Pro(NV15GL) == GeForce2 Ti http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=122&card2=332
Quadro DCC(NV20GL) == GeForce3 Ti http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=132&card2=333
550XGL(NV17GL) == GeForce4 MX440(4x) (silent) http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=127&card2=490
580XGL(NV18GL) == GeForce4 MX440(8x)
700XGL(NV25GL) == Ti4400(4x)(64mb ram) http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=136&card2=489
750XGL(NV25GL) == Ti4400(4x)(128mb ram) http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=136&card2=486
900XGL(NV25GL) == Ti4600(4x)(128mb ram)(preferred) (p83) http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=135&card2=334
780XGL(NV28GL) == Ti4400(8x)(128mb ram)(gpureview.com lists this card as 4x but im sure the "8" denotes 8x)
980XGL(NV28GL) == Ti4600(8x)(128mb ram)
FX500 (NV34GL) == FX5200 (P118)
FX700 (NV31GL) == FX5600 (p162)
FX1000(NV30GL) == FX5800
FX1100(NV36GL) == FX5700 (p190?)
FX2000(NV30GL) == FX5800 (p128)
FX3000(NV35GL) == FX5900
FX4000(NV40gL) == Geforce 6800
FX550(NV43GL) == Geforce 6600
FX560(G73GL) == Geforce 7600
FX570(G84) == Geforce 8600
FX580(G96) == 9400/9500
see full chart : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nvidia_Quadro
While the Quadros have all the same features of the GeForce4, the Quadro4 cards include additional OpenGL functions not found in the consumer GeForce4 cards, such as hardware overlay and clipping planes.
search ebay for "nvidia p83"
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313.TR3.TRC1.A0.H0.XP83+nvidia&_nkw=P83+nvidia&_sacat=0&_from=R40and u can find the appropriate ti4600 equivelent with dual dvi or dvi/vga variants for 10-30$
amongst the occasional idiot trying to sell the 10year+ tech for 250$ per card (facepalm)
if u pay attention to the dvi/vga ports + capacitors u can tell which one is the 900xgl/4600 variety
vs the 700/750/ti4200/ti4400 variety
found this info on nvidia part numbers:
http://www.ebay.com/gds/Guide-to-nVidia-Video-Card-Model-Numbering-System-/10000000010410734/g.htmlx1xx-x2xx : very low end, embedded (ie: geforce 6 series 6200)
x3xx-x5xx : low end, "mainstream" (ie: geforce FX 5500)
x6xx : midrange (ie: 5600, 6600, 7600)
x8xx : high end (ie: 5800, 6800, 7800)
x9xx : higher end (ie: fx 5900, 7900)
nVidia-Quadro4-700XGL-64MBhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/nVidia-Quadro4-700XGL-64MB-180-10080-0000-A04-P80-graphics-card-E21-/291066669719?pt=US_CD_DVD_Blu_Ray_Drives&hash=item43c4ecea97this card.. i've noticed uses the same GPU chip as the geforce 4 ti4600but would probably be available much cheaper due to not being as prominently known and there is a modified rom for it on macelite site.
id bet it works with the same geforce drivers in mac os 9!!! although it does have 64mb ram instead of 128mb on the geforce 4 ti 4600.. but the memory is more about swapping + thruput i thik rather then a factor in actual speed of performance
as ive read japamac say the radeon 9800 128mb is no less fast the the 256mb version etc
note: there was also the 980XGL in the same "NV25" family but that card was AGP 8x, therefore would require taping pins? where the 700XGL is 4x and would be 100% compatible with 4x agp powermacs on closer look perhaps the 980XGL is more of a match up wiith the ti4600 xcept its 8x agp... and maybe the 700xgl is more of a match for the ti4400 ? either way they are all in the same gpu family, perhaps just clocked at different speeds/different ram sizes
The NVIDIA Quadro®4 XGL series sets the standard for professional graphics by delivering breakthrough application performance, graphics programmability and multi-display productivity. No other graphics vendor is able to deliver a top-to-bottom suite of workstation products, all certified by more professional applications than any other workstation graphics solution in the industry. Every NVIDIA Quadro4 product features NVIDIA's revolutionary nView(TM) multi-display technology—for improved productivity for every workstation professional. - See more at: http://www.nvidia.ca/page/quadro4xgl.html#sthash.N0dNog4m.dpuf --nvidia site about the XGL series
overview pdf
http://www.nvidia.ca/object/LO_20020215_7302.htmlyes as u can see the numbers line up that way ! 4400 = 700xgl, 4600 == 980xgl, even the ram sizes + speeds are identical
then i noticed: the nvidia quadro4 780xgl
this one uses the next step up gpu
NV28 vs the 750xgl still using the nv25
but is still agp 4x where the other nv28's are all agp 8x and also features 128mb ofvram
notice also it came out in november 2002,10mths after the ti4600..
same gpu as the GeForce4 Ti4800 but in 4x agp (4x agp ensure total compatibility with 4x powermac g4 no need to tape pins)
HERE WE HAVE IT
this card .. is both agp 4x.. + same numbers as Ti4600!
but less well known.. and probably easier to find a deal on
it also appears this card is DUAL DVI! remember the quadro series were for professional graphics workstations in the pro market
and geforce was aimed at consumer entertainment gaming thats why these ones are dual dvi!
checking ebay i see a good number of these cards available .. from dell + ibm systems
only problem is there is no rom file posted for the 900 XGL - if it doesnt work automatically that is..
but ive foudn other rom flashers referencing the card + references to mac version of the card so the rom must exist!
remember the geforce 4 cards are compatible with aLL POWERMAC G4's every model across teh board.. and all compatible with mac os 9.