ATI or NVidia

[CHayes1126]

I am recently in the market to buy a new Graphics card and I am kinda stuck on two cards. Either the ATI Radeon 800XT or the NVidia 6800Ultra. Any ideas on which one is the better card?

[kram 2.0]

Like "Intel or AMD", it's largely opinion based...I'll keep it there in the interest of preventing a flamewar. Both of them will perform fine - there's no "clear cut winner" - it's up to you to decide.

kram

[CHayes1126]

Thats good to know... considering NVidia's is almost $100 cheaper. Do they come with any special cables or software that may make one more appealing?

[kram 2.0]

Originally Posted by CHayes1126 Thats good to know... considering NVidia's is almost $100 cheaper. Do they come with any special cables or software that may make one more appealing?

Good news for you. The Radeon X850 XT, not the X800 XT, is the 6800U's direct counterpart on the ATI side. I did not know that the Radeon X850 XT prices have fallen to X800 XT prices.

Can you point out the two cards you are looking at in specific?

kram

[CHayes1126]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1077624680596

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1083712392168

[kram 2.0]

Originally Posted by CHayes1126 http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1077624680596 http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1083712392168

You're comparing a Radeon X800 XT to a GeForce 6800GT not an ultra.

ATI's counterpart to the GeForce 6800GT is the ATI Radeon X800 XL
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1108124982564

kram

[CHayes1126]

Ooops, so the ATI's best of the best is the 850XT and the Nvidias is the 6800Ultra?

[kram 2.0]

Originally Posted by CHayes1126 Ooops, so the ATI's best of the best is the 850XT and the Nvidias is the 6800Ultra?

ATI Radeon X850XT PE is ATI's best, but for performance/money considerations, the GeForce 6800 Ultra's counterpart is the Radeon X850 XT.

kram

[fedz]

I don't know what interface you're using, but I'll guess its AGP

This card is good value for money, and provides very high-end performance, but it is PCI-Express
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131414

This card is better than the last, and has loads of extra features:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102492

This is the best performing single card out now
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102519

However, Nvidia are about to release their G70, providing about double the performance of the best card now at relatively decent prices ($400-500). If you're prepared to wait for that the graphics card prices will drop dramatically across the board, and you can either get a good card for cheap or a ultra high end card

fedz

[Hi Ho]

Don't buy them at best buy. The cards you originally linked to are about $100 cheaper at Newegg.

[kram 2.0]

Originally Posted by fedz However, Nvidia are about to release their G70, providing about double the performance of the best card now at relatively decent prices ($400-500). If you're prepared to wait for that the graphics card prices will drop dramatically across the board, and you can either get a good card for cheap or a ultra high end card fedz

No offense, but I think the prices aren't going to fall for another few months - look how long it took the R9800 Pro to fall. Like Hi Ho, swooping by Newegg would be a less expensive alternative.

kram

[CHayes1126]

I work at bestbuy so I get a pretty good discount.

[fedz]

Fair enough...

I know that ATi prices didn't fall for some time, but the moment that Nvidia released the 6--- series the prices of the higher range FX's, such as the FX5900, fell pretty dramatically in a lot, but not all of the cases. The 6--- series and X--- series were also introduced at much higher prices than the Radeon 9800pro at the time (I believe the 9800pro was at $300, whereas the new cards debuted at $450-500). This explains the lack of a price drop until NV's 6600GT came into play.

Anyway, you're right it's better to get a card now, especially as the latest cards will still handle games for the next year or two with ease

fedz