ATI or NVIDIA?

Question

Im trying to build or buy a awesome gaming and burning Desktop. now im not an extreme gamer but am starting to like the newer and newer PC games more and more. so i dont need the top of the Alienware setup, but i would like something that would allow me to play games that come out in two years time, easlily, with few upgrades. I like NVIDIA (compared to what i seen from a friend's PC to the ATI i have) but im trying to figure out what is better overall. so in your guys opinion. what the best graphics card to you? also which one would you like the best. Make and Model

ps im not that fimiliar with "computer jargon" and stuff like that (if you cant already tell) so give it so me in some plain english. Thanks

Answer 1

a couple things to clarify, ere getting to the beef...

«games that come out in two years time»
those games will be *VISTA* only, if you really want to play them, full throttle;
and if you want to use vista, you want to make sure you get a card that supports... DirectX 10 (!); the ATI X1000 series support the basic functionality of Dx10 (thanks to the collaboration of ATI to the Xbox 360)
or the latest NV8800 >:))

«awesome gaming and burning Desktop»
a desktop is more then just the video card (like a Hi-Fi chain is more then just the loudspeakers or the CD player aso. or the car is more then just the fat tires, the multiple exhausts asf.)
to be able to feed the video card, you need a powerful CPU, to keep the CPU in the air @ LEAST a GB of RAM (preferably two) and to feed the lot, RAID disks (four disks, coupled two by two attached to one ATA (RAID) controller)
if you want to get a X1950 or a 7900, that's what you want, too.

so, what does that leave you with?
a X1800 would seem a good start, giving you a more then decent gaming performance with (limited) compatibility w/ Dx10;
or a Nv8800, if you don't mind breaking the bank, that is.
even if you decide to wait & see what vista becomes & how the new games run on XP (they certainly will), the X1800 still seems a good option, still leaving the door open for an upgrade to NT6.
then again, in a couple years a 8800 will be available for a 100 bucks , so taking a 7300 now and upgrading when you decide to upgrade to Dx10 (will only be available in vista) once Dx10 games are common might be an alternative.

Answer 2

They are both really good cards when you have the mid- to upper level models. There are good things and bad things about both, but it really only comes down to personal preference.

Go to www.stupidcheapcomputers.net and look at the graphics and gaming systems that they have listed. You can always find something there that will play long, hard, and fast for years without taking out another mortgage on your house. Their XW9300 systems are built from the ground-up to be high-end gaming systems and they are always less than a comperable Alienware or VooDoo system.

Plus, their customer service is second to none.

Answer 3

at present, ATI has the finest GPU on the marketplace. that is referred to as the HD 5870. yet NVIDIA is popping out with its new GPU very quickly, so that you would favor to attend and spot what they pop out with. 6 months in the past, NVIDIA change into the finest, yet now, that is ATI. there's no doubt about it. do not enable any fanboys deceive you.

Answer 4

either should do you well. read the reviews and look at prices here. newegg.com..................great place to build a pc.

in your case your ati was just older and not infereior to your friends card. Both are excellent companies and highly competitive. They are both great. You should be happy with both. go with something between 175 and 275 dollars as these will be bargains and mid range which is what YOU want.

Answer 5

the best deals are use a dfi or asus nf4 motherboard an opteron cpu g-skill or mushkin pc 4000 overclocked to 2.8 or 3.0 ghz raptor harddrives raid 0 and a 7950gt video card delpends on your budget but tis is the best value

Answer 6

Ati is the best try a good card by ati

Answer 7

you will be happy with either of them. but for nvidia 7900 gt oc, for ati x1900 xt . either of those will be awesome for gaming. but its all up to how much you want to spend. check out www.ncix.com for more computer parts and reviews.

Answer 8

I prefer nvidia. They run faster and smoother than ATI in my experience.