whats your advice on a graphics card?

[eli]

I really cant decide on the graphics card that im going to get. Should I get a radeon or a geforce?

thanks

[Google]

[jadison]

1) How much money do you have to spend?

2) What are your primary needs from this video card?

A) Do you want to hook ur TV up to it?
B) Do you want PVR (personal video recording) capability and be able to watch TV on your pc monitor?
C) Do you want ultimate gaming experience?
D) Looking for quality 2D graphics?

I could ask a few more questions - but looking at your setup and the fact that you want to OC and from what I've seen and read I'd recommend an ATi Radeon AIW 9700 Pro. Expensive, but the product kicks ass in games (the latest esp), has an array of audio/video features and capabilities incl PVR, TV hookup, an elite remote control, breakout box which lets you connect sound system, etc, and a nice software suite -> this card has it all and for once the All-in-Wonder version performs on par with the regular Pro in games and other 3d performance apps.

[[TN] Nathan]

Eli,

Any recent member of the ATI family will give you the best bang for the buck. If you are looking at saving a little money and still getting a great card, I would have to recommned the Radeon 9000/9500 family of cards.

Are you going all out or are you on some sort of budget?
_________________
Owner & Administrator
www.Tweaknews.net
www.Pocketbookpinch.com

[eli]

well the ati AiW sounds pretty cool, but im not really going to be watching TV on my computer, and I am do not really need all those features. Yes I would like good 2D graphics, but the only way I could get that is by spending $350 on a matrox parhelia, that arnt that good unless you have three monitors. I would like to get a good card, I was thinking about waiting for the new RV350, and R350, they sound pretty good, but when do you think they will be released? I was going to go with the NV30, but that doesnt sound so good any more because its going to be cancelled. So I would like to buy Nvidia, but I think that ATI has the lead, and that I'll be better off getting one of there cards. I don't need the best, I think the radeon 9500 pro is good, right? or maybe even the 9000 pro. Just out of curiosity, which has better performance the geforce 3 or the radeon 9000 pro? anyways, 2D graphics arnt really a big thing for me, I want clear text, and sharp image, but I think ill be ok not getting a matrox parhelia.


Thanks!

[[TN] Nathan]

Get the ATI, it has been known to have excellent 2D capabilities.

Do NOT throw your money away on a Nvidia, all hype.

Radeon 9000pro will kick the snot out of a GF3.
_________________
Owner & Administrator
www.Tweaknews.net
www.Pocketbookpinch.com

[eli]

Really! I used a geforce 3, and thought they were great. Thats good to hear. Ya so I'll go with ati, and I'll get the 9500pro, because I can afford it. Just out of curiosity, do the catalyst drivers work for all the whole radeon family, or do they just work for the higher end models?


Thanks a whole bunch

[[TN] Nathan]

Catalyst are for all radeon cards
_________________
Owner & Administrator
www.Tweaknews.net
www.Pocketbookpinch.com