[geeks] PCI-E video cards

[nate at portents.com]

> The nVidia Quadro FX1700 is a $400-500 card that they call mid-level
> workstation grphics. I can count on one hand the number of *machines* I've
> got that cost that much.

The FX series is a bit of an artificial cost, because the hardware is
typically very close (or the same as) the much, much cheaper consumer
hardware but it comes with CAD/high-poly optimized OpenGL drivers and
extra certifications (so in some cases if you're handy with a soldering
iron you can move a few surface mount resistors around on a consumer card
so it's identified as an FX card and you can use those optimized drivers,
though you'd have voided all warranties and wouldn't be able to get
support from any company).

- Nate