ATi is, erm...ok. their customer support blows, for all makers. their cards glitch all the time. and they dont really stand up to Nvidia's performance. but yes they are cheaper
In the current climate of graphics cards, ATi is the far better choice between the two manufacturers.
I'd stretch your budget for a card if you can and haul yourself an ATi HD 4850 (or if you cant, the HD 4770).
I wont babble on about statistics or benchmarks since we'd be here all day.
Well, okay, I will.
Nvidia have struggled to produce anything better than the 8800GTX (9800GTX/9800GTX+ is a copy of the 8800 GTX, and the GTX 290 is an 8800 GTX with more of everything). Those are very high end, expensive cards, which are evidently not in your price range, but the story is more or less the same with lower end cards within Nvidia. 8800GT = 9800GT = GTX250 (except again, the GTX250 has more of everything). There havent been any significant changes to the architecture of any Nvidia GPU's since the 8800 series.
ATi on the other hand have moved away from the stupid HD 3xxx series of cards, on to the far more efficient and higher horsepower 48xx series and more recently, the HD 4770, which is a great medium range card. Much better than the 9600 GT, thats for sure, and about 80 quid. In fact, the HD 4770 is better than the 9800 GT (8800GT copy) so its a very good choice.
So yeah.
Stretch it if you can for an HD 4850.
But if you can't, get an HD 4770.
Nvidia really arent worth a look right now, unless you are very specifically into folding, in which case you should get a 9600 GSO. I doubt that applies to you.
In the current climate of graphics cards, ATi is the far better choice between the two manufacturers.
I'd stretch your budget for a card if you can and haul yourself an ATi HD 4850 (or if you cant, the HD 4770).
I wont babble on about statistics or benchmarks since we'd be here all day.
Well, okay, I will.
Nvidia have struggled to produce anything better than the 8800GTX (9800GTX/9800GTX+ is a copy of the 8800 GTX, and the GTX 290 is an 8800 GTX with more of everything). Those are very high end, expensive cards, which are evidently not in your price range, but the story is more or less the same with lower end cards within Nvidia. 8800GT = 9800GT = GTX250 (except again, the GTX250 has more of everything). There havent been any significant changes to the architecture of any Nvidia GPU's since the 8800 series.
ATi on the other hand have moved away from the stupid HD 3xxx series of cards, on to the far more efficient and higher horsepower 48xx series and more recently, the HD 4770, which is a great medium range card. Much better than the 9600 GT, thats for sure, and about 80 quid. In fact, the HD 4770 is better than the 9800 GT (8800GT copy) so its a very good choice.
So yeah.
Stretch it if you can for an HD 4850.
But if you can't, get an HD 4770.
Nvidia really arent worth a look right now, unless you are very specifically into folding, in which case you should get a 9600 GSO. I doubt that applies to you.
WRONG
ATI VS. Nvidia ATI looses.
Sure you get more bang for your buck, in some cases. their is a reason they are so cheap, Because they break down or always have problems like no other.
And you said the 8800gt=9800gt=gtx250. You are so wrong its not even funny. I have an 8800GT, It is an amazing card, but the 9800 and the 250 dominate it in everything, Better CPU, more Ram, More everything.
They are not the same card with a different cooler and tag just strapped on. And the 4850? piece of junk. ATI has the worst graphics drivers support in history.
The only game i saw that the 4770 beat an 9800gt was FAR CRY 2, and thanks because that game was built around an ATI card.
And news flash, THEIR IS NO SUCH THING AS A GTX 290. Their is a 295 but that is a dual-gpu card, In completely different class, And that still beats the 4870x2, The gtx 285 is the best single gpu graphics card out, Only thing that will beat is the GTX 300 series, Which wont be out for a while. Just because you read that ATI is better then Nvidia on the internet, Doesn't make it true.
[12:51:19 PM] Sean: Actually, Alex is cool, I forgot 8-)
First of all...Nvidia has improved upon their cards every release. after the x850's release way back when. ATi's cards have been going down hill while Nvidia had been improving. take the GTX 260 core 216 for example. even the 4870 cant beat it on the benchmarks, or in general performance. now the 4890 came along...it beat the 260. but not the 280, 275, 285, and the massive 295 which have all come out during the 4870's time. and even if the architecture has not changed from the 8800, why is it ATi STILL fails to compete in the slightest. the 8800 is still in use and if ran in a dual SLI can keep up with your 4850, while being quite a bit older and much cheaper.
I also noticed that you argued the lowest end of the Nvidia cards. those being the GTX250 and the 9800 GT.
the GTX version of the 9800 keeps well up with the 4770, and not to mention the 9800 GX2 which well over powers both the 4850, and the 4770.
another point. the GTX290 does not exist... dont copy/paste from the internet :nono:
Quite wrong, both of you. My brother happens to have an 8800GT, and I an HD 4850. My 4850 surpasses his 8800 easily.
ATi driver support has always been behind Nvidia, but only under Linux has it been a failure. I believe you mentioned the astounding quality of XFX products?
ATi is the better in terms of current performance to price ratio. Nvidia still gives a good kick though,
' Wrote:I said dual 8800s and XFX are good for customer support. I am aware that they make two Radeon cards.
This is a budget PC upgrade thread, SLI is not a budget solution for users. As well its inefficient, along with Crossfire.
The 4850 is a powerful card, there is no denying it. This isn't about what is better or what is best, this is about what is best for and what is better for. Clue in man.
i am aware of the threads topic. i wasnt arguing with you, i was arguing with McNeo and his copy/paste post. he was trying to compare cards performance. as for price
the GTS250 beats the 4850, and they are in fact the same price range
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