didn't you say you could softmod a Radeon or Geforce Card to become a FireGL or Quadro card?
Sofmodding any HDXX00 card is possible and I think it would be excellent for this application.
You can take a 2600XT and softmod it to a firegl V5600. You have to change drivers and patch scripts. Essentially you can make a 100 dollar video card perform like one 5x the price. Or take a 2900PRO and make it an 800+ firegl card.
Here's teh most recent patch script:
[Common]
SrcFile = ati2mtag.sys
BakFile = ati2mtag.old
HlpFile = newbietechFireGLX2000.rth
MakeCRC = 1
Packed = 1
;common script for 669x+
DstVar0 = force RV610GL capabilities
DstVar1 = force FireGL 5600 capabilities
DstVar2 = force FireGL 3600 capabilities
DstVar3 = force FireGL V3600 Mobility capabilities( HD2600 mobility)
DstVar4 = force FireGL V5600 Mobility capabilities( HD2600XT mobility)
DstVar5 = force FireGL V8650 capabilities (HD2900 XT)
DstVar6 = force FireGL V8600 capabilities (HD2900 Pro)
DstVar7 = force FireGL V7600 capabilities (HD2900 GT)
Src0 = 6A 67 8D 83 E0 01 00 00 50 E8 89 C9 FF FF 85 C0 74 09
SCM0 = FF FF FF 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF
Dst0 = 6A 67 8D 83 E0 01 00 00 50 E8 89 C9 FF FF 85 C0 90 90
DCM0 = 00 00 00 FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00
Src1 = E8 00 00 FF FF A8 04 75 0B 6A 2E
SCM1 = FF 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF F0 FF FF
Dst1 = E8 00 00 FF FF 24 FB 90 90 6A 2E
DCM1 = 00 FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Src2 = FF 75 08 E8 79 60 00 00 85 C0 74 2E 33 C0 EB 3B
SCM2 = FF FF FF FF 00 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
Dst2 = FF 75 08 E8 79 60 00 00 85 C0 74 2E 33 C0 EB 38
DCM2 = 00 00 00 00 FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
#Src3 = 81 7B 18 10 05 00 00 0F 82 17 01 00 00
#SCM3 = FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF 00 00 FF FF
#Dst3 = 81 7B 18 10 05 00 00 90 E9 17 01 00 00
#DCM3 = 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 FF FF 00 00
Src4 = 85 BE D8 00 00 00 75 2E 68 84 00 00 00
SCM4 = FF 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
Dst4 = 85 BE D8 00 00 00 90 90 68 84 00 00 00
DCM4 = 00 FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Src5 = 83 F8 2C 74 3D 83 F8 34 75 56 8B 45 F8 66 3B 46 04 74
Dst5 = 8B 45 F8 66 8B 46 04 89 45 F8 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 EB
Src6 = E8 5F 83 FF FF F6 C4 20 74 08 6A 2E
SCM6 = FF 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
Dst6 = E8 5F 83 FF FF F6 C4 20 90 90 6A 2E
DCM6 = 00 FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Src7 = 85 C0 74 0D FF 75 0C FF 75 08 E8
Dst7 = 85 C0 90 90 FF 75 0C FF 75 08 E8
Src8 = 83 F8 40 75 1D 66 81 BD 00 00 FF FF 02 10 75 00 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF
SCM8 = FF FF FF FF 00 FF FF FF 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
Dst8_0 = 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF 66 25 00 00 66 0D C5 94 66 89 85 FE FE FF FF 90
Dst8_1 = 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF 66 25 00 00 66 0D 8C 95 66 89 85 FE FE FF FF 90
Dst8_2 = 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF 66 25 00 00 66 0D 8D 95 66 89 85 FE FE FF FF 90
Dst8_3 = 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF 66 25 00 00 66 0D 81 95 66 89 85 FE FE FF FF 90
Dst8_4 = 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF 66 25 00 00 66 0D 83 95 66 89 85 FE FE FF FF 90
Dst8_5 = 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF 66 25 00 00 66 0D 0A 94 66 89 85 FE FE FF FF 90
Dst8_6 = 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF 66 25 00 00 66 0D 0B 94 66 89 85 FE FE FF FF 90
Dst8_7 = 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF 66 25 00 00 66 0D 0F 94 66 89 85 FE FE FF FF 90
Here's the guide on how to implement it:
CGTalk - [HowTo] Ati Radeon -> Ati FireGL (softmod)
all info taken from guru3d forums, credit where its deserved.