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Choices, Choices!

Mista.Gee

Mista.Gee

Mista.Gee

Associate
Joined
18 Mar 2006
Posts
759
Hey Chaps.

Need some advice, got two graphics cards im currently thinking of purchasing and have my eye's already set on these two.

ATI: http://www.gecube.com/products-detail.php?prod_cat_pid=213&prod_cat_id=214&prod_id=68856

nVidia: http://www.msicomputer.co.uk/index.php?func=proddesc&prod_no=1154&maincat_no=130&cat2_no=136

I've looked at the other options such as the 9600GT's and the 3870XT but I can't warrant the extra on them as I won't be using them that much for gaming especially at 1280x1024 max res will be using max setting though.

So these are the two cards i've rounded off, and currently waiting advice before I take the dip today.
 
ATI card no doubt. Newer tech, runs cooler, less power draw and runs HD much better than the 320mb Nvidia card.

You might get away with more AA with the 320Mb Nvidia card but at 1280x1024 the 3850 is more than good enough.

Also if you ever got a bigger screen then that 320mb GTS would start to show it's weakness.
 
Yeah,

Avoid the 320MB GTS..

Its old dead tech.

Gangster just bought one for £30 lol

The ATI card in this instance.

Can be clocked quite easily. Use less power and is more than enough for that res.
 
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The Asgard said:
Another vote for the 320 GTS. I even used mine at 1920x1200 :eek:

Push for a 512 GT if you can
Click to expand...

The 512mb GT is great advice but I question the vote for the 320mb card :confused:. The 2900 cards with older drivers started to overtake the 320mb card ages ago. What do you think it's going to be like now with loads more driver releases and on a much better revised card?.

The only benefit I could see would be use of AA but as I said in my first post. I can't see 1280x1024 being a problem for the 3850.
 
J.D said:
The 512mb GT is great advice but I question the vote for the 320mb card :confused:. The 2900 cards with older drivers started to overtake the 320mb card ages ago. What do you think it's going to be like now with loads more driver releases and on a much better revised card?.

The only benefit I could see would be use of AA but as I said in my first post. I can't see 1280x1024 being a problem for the 3850.
Click to expand...

Never played with the ATI but I have had 2x 320 so I base my vote on experience. The 320 is a very capable card especially at that resolution.
 
This is a hard choice but I don't want to make the wrong one either.

Both cards are amazing and at a good price at the moment, but it's like some of you have already said ATi is the newer tech, I've read some reviews about both cards and has been given good write ups.
 
The Asgard said:
Never played with the ATI but I have had 2x 320 so I base my vote on experience. The 320 is a very capable card especially at that resolution.
Click to expand...

Ahh no problem. I'm the opposite. I still have the 2900 card and have only experienced that one. My card was equal to the 640mb model and both the 2900 and the 8800GTS 640mb were faster than the 320mb Nvidia card. Although at 1280x1024 is the perfect resolution for the 320mb card to run at it's best and I can't remember what performed best at this resolution. I can't see AA being a problem for either card at this res.

My vote is still with the ATI card for the reasons above although I trust your opinion also but as we have both only tested one one of the cards each it's hard to give the best advice :).
 
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Mista.Gee said:
This is a hard choice but I don't want to make the wrong one either.

Both cards are amazing and at a good price at the moment, but it's like some of you have already said ATi is the newer tech, I've read some reviews about both cards and has been given good write ups.
Click to expand...

I've just had a look at a few myself and it does seem pretty close. What attracts me to the ATI card is the newer tech, the core being on a lower process so less power draw and heat. It can run at higher resolutions where the 320mb card will start to struggle (title dependant). It also provides the best HD experience. I feel you're more up to date with the ATI card with added security if you ever upgrade your screen size.

I'll stop wafting on now and let you decide hehe. It's like I'm debating with myself for this card :o.
 
Mista.Gee said:
I think its going to be the GeCube ATi 3850 512MB O.C'd beast me thinks.
Click to expand...

Lol that was quick :D.

:o I didn't even consider the memory size :o. That is perfect and what I would have advised if I hadn't been so lethargically alert.

I hope you enjoy your card :).
 
Mista.Gee said:
What's driver support like these days with the ATi cards? Before i take the plundge.
Click to expand...

Drivers are excellent. ATI have had the better/more efficient driver team for quite a while now. Monthly releases and not wave after wave of Beta drivers like Nvidia with no WHQL certified ones appearing for ages.

Oh and if in Vista then the ATI card has got excellent support where as Nvidia are still a bit shaky with Vista for some people.
 
That's good to hear then as i'm running Vista Premium at the moment, looking forward to playing WiC maxed out next week now just put my order in now.

Looking forward to it.
 
J.D said:
Ahh no problem. I'm the opposite. I still have the 2900 card and have only experienced that one. My card was equal to the 620mb model and both the 2900 and the 8800GTS 620mb were faster than the 320mb Nvidia card. Although at 1280x1024 is the perfect resolution for the 320mb card to run at it's best and I can't remember what performed best at this resolution. I can't see AA being a problem for either card at this res.

My vote is still with the ATI card for the reasons above although I trust your opinion also but as we have both only tested one one of the cards each it's hard to give the best advice :).
Click to expand...

I think from memory at that resolution the 320 was faster than the 640 in pretty much all the games.

tbh I don't think he can go wrong with either card both very capable.

Whats the difference in price between the 2 quoted cards and the £114 OcUK GT?
 
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