ATI vs NVidia

[otterman]

ATI vs NVidia... GO!

I've always been a fanboy of ATI (mainly because they accepted my application to sponsor a LAN party and sent us free stuff!.) They did have the jump on NVidia for a while but now a days I gotta admit NVidia is kicking ***.

What do you guys like better?

[adrianfromthecastle]

I dont game as much as I used to like when I was younger, but I've always been an ATI fan...

[redtop91]

They did have the jump on NVidia for a while but now a days I gotta admit NVidia is kicking ***.

That is pretty much what I was going to say.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I was never really a "fanboy" but I am absolutely an ATI fan.I don't like the way Nvidia does a lot of things. It also seems to me like most of the times games have major issues with videocards, those issues are with Nvidia cards.

I built the rig I'm typing on right now with a top-end Radeon 9800, which was already fairly old at the time. It handled everything fine, albeit not quite at full graphic settings.

That eventually blew up do to cooling issues (needed more case fans).I replaced it with a GeForce 6800 with 512 MB of memory (twice what the Radeon had).

Since switching to the 6800, I have had NOTHING but trouble. Games will spontaneously spaz out (visually), lag severely, and crash. Some games (or certain maps for games, like Garry's mod/Half Life 2) simply refuse to work with the GeForce, crashing seconds after loading.

I never ever--not one--had any issues like this with the Radeon (or my other Radeon in my other rig--another Athlon64 2.4ghz machine). And considering it didn't have near the horsepower the GeForce does, I'd say that's a pretty sad commentary on Nvidia and the GeForce.

My major problem is that I have an old system with AGP, so the GeForce is pretty much my best and only option these days. My next rig will definitely have an ATI card.

[otterman]

I built the rig I'm typing on right now with a top-end Radeon 9800, which was already fairly old at the time. It handled everything fine, albeit not quite at full graphic settings.

Mine right now has a Radeon 9800xt 256mb. I know it's kinda out dated considering all the new cards out but this thing still runs like a dream. I can run most games on all high or near all high and still get very good FPS. I think the only game recently that I noticed a major drop in FPS was in Prey when in this blue portal and I my frames dropped insanely low. Other then that it's still a great card imo. No problems what so ever with it

[teddy]

I was running an ATI 9600XT up until last week and it handled everything. From just daily surfing and movies to games like FEAR and AOE 3. But it's time for an upgrade and it will probably be ATI.

I think ATI has the upper hand as far as drivers and value for your money are concerned. The only thing I don't like about the ati cards is that they're power hogs.

[Roger_cha]

hey try tis one see if ya like it.... but i tell you one thing................. dont buy it when you see the price....

http://www.upgradenation.com/P....html

[shrapnail]

I spent some time as an IT guy.. worked on a lot of crap ppl would bring in and I can honestly say that even their top tier supports suck

It really doesn't seem to matter

ATI has a lead for a while, then nvidia.. it just goes back and forth

If anything Nvidia has a slight edge due to the fact that a large portion of game designers design games around their cards these days.

Whether you like one brand or the other seems to mostly spring from luck. Exa: I bought 2 ati cards that crapped out w/in 4 months; had a nvidia card for over a year and it's still good (though I don't use it in my main comp anymore). Roommate had the exact same thing pretty much happen but w/ opposite brands.

Either way you want to do your research; and if you do get a nvidia card don't get a crappy brand nvidia card (since so many companies build cards off of thier chipsets). As long as you get a decent setup you will probably be fine. Don't get thrown by the #s; make sure to check out what lvl of directx support is avail, ramdacs, and alway always download drivers directly off of there website.. never use the ones they give you on the cd.

oh, and if looking to upgrade.. make sure you keep in mind the directx 10 cloud looming on the horizon

[MinisterofDOOM]

Actually, most problems you'll have with video cards are software related, not hardware related. Doesn't matter who manufactures the card...they all use the same drivers.

On top of that, updating Nvidia drivers is such a huge ordeal it's a joke.

[shrapnail]

Actually, most problems you'll have with video cards are software related, not hardware related. Doesn't matter who manufactures the card...they all use the same drivers.

On top of that, updating Nvidia drivers is such a huge ordeal it's a joke.

a) hardware is a big deal. Some cards have heat sinks over the ram, some don't. some use fans, some don't. Some use adequate heat spread, some don't. Sure the card may work roughly the same, for a while. Then again who knows if built by a shody manufacturer half your ram could be shot when you get it.

b) updating nvidia drivers is easy as pie. It's just about the same as any other driver. Go to website, select where the drivers are.. choose region, os, and card and dl.. run proggy... doesn't get much easier than that

[Sil40_Mayhem]

I agree that the edge (much like the tide) ebbs and flows for each manufacturer. Up until the last generation before the "x series" (as I like to call them) of ATI cards, it seemed to me that NVIDIA had an iron grip on the graphics industry. However, recently, it seems that the scales have tipped back and forth over the last two years, with each edging the other out.

I was previously firmly planted in the NVIDIA camp, until my card (Quadro 2 based; yeah, I know, that's a workstation-grade card, but it was super-cheap and served the purpose) began to show signs of failure after many years of faithful service. I began looking for a reasonably priced replacement (read: below $150). For the money, the best choice at the time seemed to be a 256MB 9700 Pro (which, I think still had the 4 texture pipeline architecture instead of the stripped-down 2 pipeline version in the 9800). The closest NVIDIA that I could find to it, in terms of performance, was a much pricier (~$50) GeForce 5900 series. So, I swallowed my NVIDIA-laden pride and got the ATI. I have yet to be disappointed by its performance.

So, I would give the edge to ATI for the time being as dollar-for-dollar, it's a good performer. However, by the time I need to replace my adapter again (or upgrade), I could very well be running an NVIDIA again (if the price is right ).

[bcar240]

I was never really a "fanboy" but I am absolutely an ATI fan.I don't like the way Nvidia does a lot of things. It also seems to me like most of the times games have major issues with videocards, those issues are with Nvidia cards.

ATI's stuff has always just seemed a little more "polished" to me. I will give Nvidia credit where it's due though, their high end cards recently have been real screamers.

[MinisterofDOOM]

b) updating nvidia drivers is easy as pie. It's just about the same as any other driver. Go to website, select where the drivers are.. choose region, os, and card and dl.. run proggy... doesn't get much easier than that

That's not how it went last time I had to update. It told me I had to completely uninstall my outdated drivers before I could install the new version.

Also, as a widescreen user, I'm pretty irritated with Nvidia right now. The display scaling option has mysteriously disappeared from recent versions of the Nvidia control panel, but is still referenced in the help file.

I'm sick of all my 4:3 games looking like crap because Nvidia's drivers don't offer a no-scaling option.

[shrapnail]

I haven't been told i "had" too ever; but it's always a good idea to do that w/ hardware regardless

[Beancooker]

Read this. It is a decent comparison and review of both cards and how they work with different games. I think you will like this...

[C-Kwik]

I'm not necessarily partial to either chipset, but when it came down to it, NVidia always had the right product at the time I was ready to purchase. The last card I bought was actually for my GF's PC and we needed a good card that could handle a dual head set-up with a low wattage power supply. ATI could not touch Nvidia in this regard.

My biggest annoyance at times with Nvidia is their settings menu packeaged with the driver. I don't typically care for that much adjustment or control so I'd rather it not take up whatever resource it does. Just a barebones driver would be better for me.

[The Count]

I've always liked Nvidia myself

[danielekfuj]

no real preference, but i have an ati rage 128 pro (32 mb, not to be confused with cards that are actually worth money) on this computer, and an ati in my laptop too.

[DunnJH4]

Whaaaat? Why would you ever pick ATI? I did a lot of research recently building my new beastly desktop. NVIDIA is light years ahead right now, exspecially when just on 8800 GTX outperforms two of just about any top end ATI cards in Crossfire setup. Plus, ATI was never really ahead, they just lie about their speeds more. Just read into how they actually arrive at their supposed speeds. Now that A\MD owns them it justs seems like an even bigger train wreck.

[otterman]

Whaaaat? Why would you ever pick ATI? I did a lot of research recently building my new beastly desktop. NVIDIA is light years ahead right now, exspecially when just on 8800 GTX outperforms two of just about any top end ATI cards in Crossfire setup. Plus, ATI was never really ahead, they just lie about their speeds more. Just read into how they actually arrive at their supposed speeds. Now that A\MD owns them it justs seems like an even bigger train wreck.

ATI was a head of NVidia for a bit but now they're dominating. I'm leaning toward the NVidia 8800 for my next set up. What's your set up now?

[240Knightrider]

I mainly run ATI on all my customers machines. Mainly because its dependable and they love the price. NVidia seems to be a bit more expensive and im not convinced its worth it (unless your an avide gamer). It does its job and does it well.

[Veriest1]

I have an NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 in my laptop. It works like a charm but my desktop has an older NVIDIA card that has always been a big hassle. I'll probably be replacing it soon to take some strain off of my laptop which currently gets all of the gaming duties.

I'm really back and forth between the two brands.

[Yimbie]

I think both companies are great but lately nVidia has been really pounding ATI with it's 8-series cards. I currently have an 8800 GTX and it's absolutely amazing. I haven't had any problems with the graphics card and it runs very smoothly with my game (LOTRO). I think nVidia will lead ATI for a while but who knows what ATI has up its sleeve?

- Yimbie

[Uberck]

ati is for stable drivers, nvidia is for stable hardware (you can only choose one)

[yellowcar]

Go with ATI, NVidia used to be a better company but ATI has really moved past them. especially in development. Their attitide is better towards fixing issues with their drivers too (and it shows in the product)

[Camry]

I went with an NVidia card with my recent build. From all the reviews I've read, ATi cards have really loud fans. Don't know if that's a problem for you or not. This site should help http://www.gpureview.com/

[The Count]

Just got a NVidia 7600GS. Love it.

[j35us]

I've used Nvidia graphics since my first computer in '96 and they destroy ati completely. I'm just sad I'm stuck with this useless x1600 mobility radeon in my laptop thats keeping it from being really useful.

[shrapnail]

my most recent purchase was ati.. pretty much because for the price bracket they had the only viable card for the upcoming directx at the time of purchase.

If I had gone up a bracket.. or two.. i'd be with a nvidia card again.

It wasn't so much a "bang for buck factor" it was a bang-for-buck inside of a specific price bracket. That, with the invention of new cards, always changes

[BoostFab]

nvidia hands down the best, not just in graphics, but in system chipset. AMD owns ati now, so not sure what happen next. but NVIDIA has better drivers for linux, so be it for me. never looked back at ati since the all-in-wonder days.