Est. 1998
Playing Out of Control Gaming

Retro reviews, vintage hardware, classic PC builds, and modern ways to keep old games alive.

Home › The Lab › Matrox Mystique G200
No Image

Matrox Mystique G200

Matrox Graphics, Inc. · 1999 · AGP Graphics Card
The one-card 2D/3D accelerator that gives Voodoo2 a run for its money, and throws in the games to prove it.
—
Not yet reviewed
About This Hardware

The Matrox Mystique G200 is a 2D/3D graphics accelerator from Matrox Graphics, Inc., built around the MGA-G200 chip. It competes directly with the Voodoo2, ATI Rage series, and NVIDIA RIVA cards, aiming to deliver competitive 3D performance alongside strong 2D and video output in a single-slot AGP solution. The base model ships with 8 MB of SDRAM, upgradeable to 16 MB via an expansion module. Key features include a 128-bit DualBus architecture, 32-bit true color rendering at all resolutions, trilinear filtering, full-scene anti-aliasing, triple buffering, alpha blending, and a 230 MHz RAMDAC. TV output is handled by Matrox's own MGA-TVO processor through both S-Video and composite connections, supporting simultaneous display at up to 1024x768. The card launched in 1999 at a suggested retail price of $149, bundling full copies of Motorhead, Incoming, and Tonic Trouble, along with a suite of game demos that varied by region. Installation is straightforward, with clear multi-language documentation and a driver suite that Matrox updates frequently. While Direct3D support is solid, OpenGL performance relies on a wrapper and remains less polished, though driver refinements are ongoing. The G200 forms the foundation for a family of optional upgrades, including a DVD decoder module, additional memory, and the Rainbow Runner G-Series video editing package.

Specifications
InterfaceAGP 2x
GPUMGA-G200
VRAM8 MB SDRAM (16 MB available)
RAMDAC230 MHz
APIsDirect3D, OpenGL (via wrapper)
OutputVGA, TV-Out (S-Video / Composite)
EraWindows 95 / 98
Bundled GamesMotorhead, Incoming, Tonic Trouble (full) + demos
Hardware Info
ManufacturerMatrox Graphics
CategoryAGP Graphics Card
Released1999
MSRP$149.00
How to Get One Today
Price
MSRP: $149.00
Notes & Warnings
Available new from major retailers. Bundled demo software may vary from box to box; check the included list. The printed manual incorrectly references S-Video and composite cables being in the box, but Matrox has acknowledged the error and corrected future printings.