Nvidia or ATi for 3D CAD (Catia)?

[Nealio]

Just speccing up a new desktop machine for home which I want to use for CATIA and, if I'm honest, probably a few games as well.

My CAD machine at work has a proper Quadro FX card but I cant afford one of those!

So basically I'll be getting a consumer grade card. Probably Radeon 5770 level or equivalent nvidia.

Is there anything to choose between nvidia or ATi consumer grade cards for CAD? Any incompatibilities or driver issues etc?

 

[JBuk]

The Quadro FX 580 is reasonbly priced and offers decent acceleration

 

[Emlyn_Dewar]

Cheap 8800GT flashed to Quadro FX3700?

 

[Blackbadger]

How can you afford Catia and not a Quadro/firegl card ?

I thought a basic license would start at around $10000 -$27000

 

[L4Isoside]

Probably from work

 

[kylew]

How can you afford Catia and not a Quadro/firegl card ?

I thought a basic license would start at around $10000 -$27000

Sometimes, when people spend money, it means it's gone and they have to earn more.

 

[kylew]

With regards to a card for CAD, I really don't get Quadros and FireGLs, I know they're supposed to be designed to run for longer at 100% for a lot longer, however, for just 3D viewports, a decent graphics card should do.

I currently run 4850s which do me well for 3DS Max, Sketchup, Mudbox and any other CAD software I've got.