Greetings, Planning for a high-performance workstation (Intel Core 2 Duo Conroe). Here is the discussion on the CPU. http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/374733 Next, I would like to talk about graphics card (PCI Express). As mentioned in the post about CPU, I spend much time on developing software, including compiling multiple applications, and watching DVD. Sometimes I play PC games especially RPG and simulation. Great if the graphics card could provide exceptional visual effects when playing games (RPG) and watching DVD. What are some quality graphics cards that would match well with the new high-performance workstation? ATI or Nvidia? What quality is the driver software especially on windows platforms (xp and vista)? Which graphics card? Kuphryn
If you're after top image quality and features like that, it's ATi, no questions asked or answered. That might sound a little fanboy-biased, but while nVidia cards offer mildly higher performance (I mean very mild) ATi have long been known to produce better images. For example, ATi cards can run HDR rendering (for stunning enhanced lighting and visual effects) and Anti-aliasing (smoothing the rough edges on a picture) at the same time. With nVidia you have to choose one or the other. For high performance but not outlandish cost, one should look no further than the X1900XT, available for sub $300 at newegg, post-rebate.
Down to these graphics cards: ATI Radeon x1600 Pro 512MB PCI-E GEFORCE 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI-E Never bought ATI graphics card. Always bought Nvidia Nvidia features really stable windows driver software. ATI not as good before radeon driver software. I have noticed ATI graphics card displays clearer, more accurate images on windows platform. Noticeably better than Nvidia (Geforce 2). How good is ATI driver software on windows platform - present and future? ATI: clear, accurate image display Nvidia: stable driver software and great performance especially games even if hardware is old Experience says Nvidia. Optimism and desire says ATI. (Planning DirectX 10 graphics card when available.) Kuphryn
ATI's software is now every bit as stable as nVidia's forceware drivers, so knock that one on its head. You are right about ATi cards providing a better image and while nVidia have also advanced since the GF2 they are still no match for ATi in the quality department. One thing I'd say though is that the X1600 Pro is quite a lot slower than the 7600GT, so if they're the same price, you may be better off with the 7600.
If it has to be those two, so would I. The X1800GTO is a good card if you can get one of those though.
