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ATI vs. iNvidia

C

corvus

n00b
Joined
Jan 9, 2006
Messages
2
I know these are the two big names in video cards, how do they really compare? I'm looking to buy a new video card and I'm not even sure which brand to look at. Price range is between $150-$200. :confused:
 
**nVidia

Best ATI choice : Sapphire X800GTO^2. Can unlock and overclock to an X850XT, and costs about $200. Amazing bargain.
Best nV choice : XFX 6800GS XXX Edition. Great card, factory-overclocked, performs better than a 6800GT. Also roughly $200.
 
Realistically, there is no difference. The performance difference anymore is so negigiable that it really doesn't matter. Just get whatever brand you preferr (or whatever is cheaper if you're that type or person).
 
nVidia 6800GS series card is your best bang for your buck! Don't know what games you play...but at least you will have SM3.0 support!!!
 
Sapphire X800GTO - I agree. I have seen this card mentioned as an overperforming value card multiple times. I lean towards nvidia's cards but I bought an X850XT just to try it out and if the X800GTO can come close to that card for $200 then you will be doing alright.

Terra - TAG, you're it
 
What about a 6800GS? There in the $200 range aren't they and performe better than the X800?

Whay close the thread? Some people are just looking for an honest opinion and don't really know about !!!!!!s and girls (though has anyone met a fangirl yet?). Just looking for shopping advice ya know.
 
Why close? He has a legitimate, if somewhat vague question. You guys all love to talk about how great the products of your camp are on your own playground, yet you won't venture out to try and convert someone else to your side who is genuinely undecided and seeking guidance? Unless someone decides to turn the debate personal, this thread will remain open.

Personally, I prefer ATI for lower power consumption (not true on X1800 parts), although I tend to use NV cards in customer builds. X800XL was the best card I could get without an external power connector, and it was only $200 back in October. The landscape has changed quite a lot since then. My latest customer builds have 7800GT and 6800GT SLI.
 
OP said:
ATI vs. nVidia
Click to expand...

Oh shit OP, you've done it now!!! :eek: :p

6800nu is a nice card for the money. Don't be afraid to look in the classifieds for used gear, a lot of people are switching to PCI-E and are selling off their old cards. I picked up my 6800nu for $130 used there and the pipes unlocked perfectly (completely a gamble) and OCed it nicely.

And the question that should have been asked with reply #1, what platform are you on, AGP or PCI-E?
 
hey i stil recomend nvidia 6 series for thoes mid range gamers.. ( these cards are conciderd mid range now..) i wouldnt go any lower then the 68xx series.. cause then you just loseing money
and i am selling my 6800GT that clocks passed ultra speeds no problem for cheap..
 
Find a price range your shopping at. Once you have that locked in then check because one bests the other in just about every other price class. It's impossible to say who is better between the 2. But with the proper research you can learn who is the best bang4buck at your price range. ;)
 
corvus said:
I know these are the two big names in video cards, how do they really compare? I'm looking to buy a new video card and I'm not even sure which brand to look at. Price range is between $150-$200. :confused:
Click to expand...

If you are on AGP I would buy an ATI card if you are on PCIe I would buy NV.

AGP = GTO2 or X850 used or new (no deals on ATI stuff look for 6800GT or ultras)

PCIe = 6800GS or 7800GT used or new

Can't beat the deals you can find on those platforms.
 
I'm still running on AGP because I bought the BFG Tech 6800 GT OC not too long ago and I don't want to upgrade yet. The card is amazing. Without aftermarket overclocking (beyond what BFG did) the card will run anything at 1024 res and all maxed settings. I think it would outperform any ATI. And price wise it's not too bad; they seem to have flooded the market now that so many people are switching to PCI.
 
we are getting to the point where even the mid range cards offer more performance than any gamer needs IN GAME. I can play BF2 on 1280 X10 4X AA 16X AF with not a hitch anywhere. The flame wars over video cards are just freakish at this point. Both companies products are great. These people should be jumping up and down that the marketplace has delivered such great products, not flaming each other becuase one card or another gets 5 fps more in some game.
 
I stick with ATI mainly because:
1) I know their drivers and can set them up with ease
2) They're a Canadian company
3) They're a respectable company that from my experience takes care of their users

None of this is a diss on nvidia, but I like the idea of not using a 3rd party manufacturer to deal with for warranty and the like. Card breaks.. I'm sending it to ATI. If your nvidia card breaks, you're stuck sending it to whoever made it in whatever country they are in.
 
heatlesssun said:
Some people are just looking for an honest opinion and don't really know about !!!!!!s and girls (though has anyone met a fangirl yet?).
Click to expand...
Thats because girls don't fall in love with hammers and screwdrivers-- not to mention video cards-- like so many guys do.
 
Personally, since the midrange cards offer about the same performance, I'd just get the brand that you're currently using so that you won't have to worry about installing the oppositions drivers. By using the same brand as you are now, you will likely be able to just swap the video cards and keep on going.
 
DamienThorn said:
Personally, since the midrange cards offer about the same performance, I'd just get the brand that you're currently using so that you won't have to worry about installing the oppositions drivers. By using the same brand as you are now, you will likely be able to just swap the video cards and keep on going.
Click to expand...

simple enough, I was looking very deeply into the 150-200 dollar price range and you really cant get a perfect answer - i decided that I, and I, prefer the 6800gs by XFX, but I would really just go for whatever GPU maker you've had previously, and I also like the nVidia because I like the software control options, Catalyst control aint bad, but....
 
Trimlock said:
X800XL or the X1600XT, both sub $200 right now and perform awsomely
Click to expand...

The X800XL is no where near sub-200 and the x1600xt doesn't perform "awesomely"

it is good for 150, just not great
 
Alright fine.

I prefer ATI because I have always liked their products better. Neither mine nor my friends ATI cards have ever been bad, Customer support has always been good, and the drivers always work better. Nvidia has been the opposite, bad cards, bad support and bad drivers. Despite the fact that I currently recently bought an Nvidia card (Due to the fact that a 6200 is the best low end Sub $100 AGP card I could find) It has already has had some problems, and my next card will be an ATI one.
 
Gob said:
I prefer ATI because I have always liked their products better...Customer support has always been good, and the drivers always work better.
Click to expand...
You haven't been using their products that long then :p. ATI used to have crappy CS and the worst drivers in the industry. I switched from then to NVidia during that phase. Then ATI got their house in order, and NVidia developed some godawful power and cooling problems, so I switched back.

I'm sure I'll switch again at some point in the future. Competition is good.
 
I prefer nVidia because of shaders models 3. Always good to have a feature supported.
 
Ok. I so it seems like there is a pretty wide spread for one reason or another, but if both brands are about equal, then my question is: Which card is equal to which other one? Is the Radeon X850 closer to the nVidia 6800GS or 7800GT? What do you look for in a video card to judge its performance?
 
The X800XL is no where near sub-200 and the x1600xt doesn't perform "awesomely"
Click to expand...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814131423

really? and you must not of been keeping up with the driver releases on the X1600, in a few cases its able to keep up with the 6800GS, and supports far more features, but seeing as this guy is asking for an AGP platform these all seem pretty useless right now

Is the Radeon X850 closer to the nVidia 6800GS or 7800GT? What do you look for in a video card to judge its performance?
Click to expand...

the X850XT is faster then the 6800GS, the pro is slower, but still a good card, to judge the performance you look at review sites and determine what fits your needs the best

if you were looking to purchase either the X850XT or the 6800GS i'd probably recommend the GS, it can be found for pretty cheap both just as solid
 
masher said:
You haven't been using their products that long then :p. ATI used to have crappy CS and the worst drivers in the industry. I switched from then to NVidia during that phase. Then ATI got their house in order, and NVidia developed some godawful power and cooling problems, so I switched back.

I'm sure I'll switch again at some point in the future. Competition is good.
Click to expand...
Its an opinions, Ive never had problems with an ATI driver, whether on my computer or a friend's.
 
Gob said:
Its an opinions, Ive never had problems with an ATI driver, whether on my computer or a friend's.
Click to expand...
Not knocking your opinion...their drivers are quite good at the moment, and have been for a few years now. Back in "the day", however, they got a well-deserved reputation for some of the worst drivers around.
 
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