does it matter if i use a ati or nvidia graphics card in my computer?

Question

im going to upgrade my computer's graphics card, its an athlon dual processor. I swear I remember the only thing that makes a difference is if it is agp or pci-e. Is this true or can I only use one or the other?

Answer 1

Thats pretty much the biggest obstacle for getting a graphics card. AGP, PCI, PCIe x1 and PCIe x16 are the different connections that your motherboard will use and yes they are all different and only will work with that connection. So you need that piece of info first then decide on which one to get, ATI and nVidia are the brands and pretty much work the same in my book.

Answer 2

Which brand (ATI or Nvidia) is a matter of personal preference and budget... Both companies make AGP and PCI-E cards, so either brand will work. It's the type of slot on your motherboard that limits your choices... You cannot put a PCI-E card into a computer that only has an AGP video slot, and vice-versa.

Here's the latest roundup of graphics cards for gaming from Tom's Hardware. Good luck!

Answer 3

Depends whether your CPU motherboard accepts AGP or PCI-E cards.
Check your specifications of the motherboard.

Answer 4

That is all you need to know basically...Nvidia and ATI are extremely competitive and you can't go wrong with either and the fan base is pretty even although Nvidia has had better luck lately .