THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID for Matrox's stubbornness. While other graphics companies seem bent on dethroning NVIDIA's 3D chips, Matrox has been content to plug away in the business sector with its G400-derived products. Maybe it's because Matrox is a privately held company, so it doesn't have shareholders clamouring for a sexy new 3D product to drive up the company's stock price.

Not since the G400 MAX has Matrox had a card with 3D performance as a priority, and the G550 doesn't disturb this trend. Not being an exception, however, doesn't mean the G550 can't be exceptional at what it's designed to do. Like the G450 before it, the G550 focuses on features for the business world rather than 3D frame rates for gamers. We all know the G550 is a bit of an enigma, but is it really especially well suited for the business niche? Is its 3D performance really that bad? Let's find out.