NVidia NV40 or Matrox Parhelia

[Schwez]

I'm a Video Editor building a P4 3.2Ghz WinXP PC with 1Gb RAM and some serious HD space. I'm a little undecided on my graphics card. In addition to handling large avi files, I will be doing quite a bit of AVI -> MP2/4 encoding, and creating DivX's & XviD's.
I know the NV40 AGP card doesnt get released until later in the year, but I'm having a hard time deciding between my purchase of this card, or the
Matrox Parhelia. The Matrox card (128Mb, 8Mb buffer, dual head, TV out) is alot dearer, but it seems to be the Video Editors choice as its on-board processor is allegedly one of the best (according to other editors). The NV40's draw-card to me, is its integrated Mp2/Mp4 encoding capabilities. Bear in mind this card is also 128Mb, 8Mb buffer, TV Out. It's also considerably cheaper than the Matrox card, currently retailing at around $AU700, according to Techwatch.com.au. By the time the NV40 is released however, the Matrox Parhelia's price may drop somewhat.
Can anyone offer up any advice on which card to go for, and why??
Thanks.

[alex zorrilla]

If you are considering the upcoming NV40, I would suggest waiting. The rumors I hear are that it will be officially announced mid-April, and mass production will start in May.

Quite honestly, I do not know which one will be better for you. That is another reason that I suggest you wait. Much of what you have heard about the NV40 until now has probably been speculation. Maybe very well informed speculation, but speculation nonetheless. Once the NV40 comes out, chances are somebody out there will test the features you are interested in.

By the way, MPEG2/MPEG4 encoding? Where did you read that? Decoding would not surprise me, but encoding does.

--Alex

[alex zorrilla]

By the way, MPEG2/MPEG4 encoding? Where did you read that? Decoding would not surprise me, but encoding does.
OK, now that the Geforce 6800 previews are starting to come out, I found one that actually does mention the encoding capability:

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/nv40_11.html

--Alex