LLD101

Dao Jones · Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:53 am Post subject: ATI versus nVidia for gaming

I don't intend to start a massive debate here, but I'm wondering if anyone has any personal experience with comparable cards from both manufacturers, and has seen a specific superiority in one or the other.

I just picked up an NVidia 6800 ultra @256mb today, and I'm looking forward to trying it out. It's sort older technology, and I think I paid too much for it (paid about $560 for it, although I got three free games with it). Anyway, reviews I read online seem mixed. I don't have much experience with PC gaming (I've only been doing it about a year), and while I very much liked my little 64mb ATI 9550 in my old laptop, I seem to have fallen into using nVidia cards. But I can't really be sure while provides the better experience.

Any thoughts?

FudGe · Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 6:22 am Post subject:

i prefer nvidia over ati for gaming. dunno why, i just think they perform better.

With my experience, ati has really crappy buggy drivers that always crash or blue screen. Haven't had any problems with the past 2 geforce cards ive bought.

MeshinLLD · Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Posts: 1284 0.00 Silvarrr

I perfer GeForce video cards personally for gaming, nVidia makes some good cards, which tend to have better overall perfermance in my opinion, but ATI can really pump out some power as well. If I had to make a choice on a long-term video card I would Go with the nVidia, specially if your using it in a laptop.

ATOMICMAN · Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 1:58 pm Post subject:

i used to like ati cards alot (like back in the days of 8500)

but they have lost some preformance and some major reliability that they used to offer, now theyre more buggy, cost the same, but dont offer the edge they used to over nvidia chipsets.

nowadays geforce>ati but there still are a few ok ati cards but i think your money is better spent with nvidia

Chronotrigger · Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 6:31 pm Post subject:

NVidia all the way and remember v ram means shit make sure the chip on it runs over a 1ghz to get realy good perfermancei also got a 256mb NVidia that is a lil lesspowerfull than yours i think im runin 400-800mghz
i forget ben a wile since i looked at specs tho i think i wil take advice on the other thread and get more ram probly 1.5-2gigs

MeshinLLD · Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Posts: 1284 0.00 Silvarrr

Generally 2gig ram is about all you'll ever need on a high performance system. More than 2gig ram is basicly if you want to run a server or something from your house lol. Ive only met a few people who had need for more than 2 gig, and theys because they were running multi-comp towers.

And as Atomic said above, nvidia is definently the way to go if your looking to invest in a good, reliable video card.

Dao Jones · Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:05 pm Post subject:

Well, I'm glad I went with the nVidia then, even if I overpaid. So far this card seems to be working well. BF2 max settings without a hitch. The real test is gonna be Oblivion. My 7300 @ 512 was a limping cow - hopefully this card's additional processing power will let me edge toward high settings.

Actually, since I'm academically curious, what do y'all suggest I should improve next on my gaming rig? I have:

3.4Ghz P4 processor
2Ggb RAM
256mb NVidia 6800 Ultra v-card
120gb SATA HD (@7200rpm)

Not sure what other aspects of the computer are relevant. I myself was thinking either getting a dual-core processor board, or dual-v card SLI board. I've seen both, and both seem tasty. The only problem with the dual core board would be needing a new processor, whereas the dual v-card board could just slot a second v-card I could pick up anywhere. (My ultra is SLI ready, I believe.)

ubermoose · Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:02 am Post subject:

Dual core
lots of ram
2 graphics cards, also ATM i think that only nvidia supports this.
and if you want to give yourself an aneurysm setting it up, dual SATA hard drives set up RAID 0. Twisted Evil

MeshinLLD · Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Posts: 1284 0.00 Silvarrr

Defiently go for the dual core, if your looking to really upgrade, more ram is always nice, dual cards, and nVidia isnt the only one that supports it, it is possible with radeon as well, but sorta buggy. Im not sure on GeForce.

And next time consider looking here as www.pricewatch.com For anything eles computer hardware related you need.

ubermoose · Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:01 pm Post subject:

Inexorable · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:58 pm Post subject:

[quote="Dao Jones"]Well, I'm glad I went with the nVidia then, even if I overpaid. So far this card seems to be working well. BF2 max settings without a hitch. The real test is gonna be Oblivion. My 7300 @ 512 was a limping cow - hopefully this card's additional processing power will let me edge toward high settings.

Actually, since I'm academically curious, what do y'all suggest I should improve next on my gaming rig? I have:

3.4Ghz P4 processor
2Ggb RAM
256mb NVidia 6800 Ultra v-card
120gb SATA HD (@7200rpm)

Not sure what other aspects of the computer are relevant. I myself was thinking either getting a dual-core processor board, or dual-v card SLI board. I've seen both, and both seem tasty. The only problem with the dual core board would be needing a new processor, whereas the dual v-card board could just slot a second v-card I could pick up anywhere. (My ultra is SLI ready, I believe.)[/quote]

Get 10k rpm or faster drives. Get a motherboard that has a raid controller built in, and link a pair of uberly fast hard drives in a raid 0 array.

Go with another of the same video card in SLI mode.

Dual processors isn't bad.. but still not many things that take advantage of them.

ATOMICMAN · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:19 pm Post subject:

Dao Jones · Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 2:59 am Post subject:

ubermoose · Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:41 am Post subject:

TBH, unless you intend to run something like doom3 in ultra high resolution on max settings. Or live in the arctic where you can just dump your pc in a snowdrift to cool it. [seriously they get HOT!]. Then there really isnt much point having 2 graphics cards.

NightWish · Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 5:00 pm Post subject:

nVidia

specificly

X-Micro GeForce 7900 GXT Hulk X /w 512mb ram. (dont even need to overclock this fucker, and dont even bother looking in Best Buy for one, only sell them in Tiwann, Japan, one store in Australia and possibly China.)