DVD Playback and
Bundled Software
This is
one area where the G450 really shines. I've used other DVD software programs
in the past, but Matrox's own DVD player gives fantastic performance. I
tried to resize the movie during playback and did about everything I could
think of to cause the performance to drop. The software resized the windowed
screen without a hiccup in performance. I have a screenshot below - unfortunately
the movie image wasn't captured. What is evident though is the layout of
the controls for the software DVD player. The image is quite large at 1024x768
(my normal desktop setting) so feel free to click on it to get a good look
at the DVD controls.
Big kudos to Matrox and the inclusion
of this software. Also included on the CD were Micrografx's Simply 3D and
Picture Publisher. Simply 3D allows you to create and edit 3D images while
Picture Publisher is a very versatile tool that lets you manipulate your
images.
On the back of the box that the
Millennium G450 came in are a couple of screenshots of games that support
the multiple monitor function of this card. Matrox didn't fall through in
this area at all. Matrox threw in demo versions of Dogs of War, Hydro Sport
racing, Kyodai Mahjongg, Rollcage Stage
II, The Rift, and best of all, Star Trek Armada. Although there is no demo,
Flight Simulator 2000 supports the DualHead technology of the G450 so you
flight sim enthusiasts have something to look forward to.
