Any computer geeks out there? I have a question...

[kg_veteran]

If you had to choose between the ATI Radeon 9200SE and the GeForce FX 5200, both with 128MB of DDR memory, which would you choose? And why?

[u2sarajevo]

ATI Radeon would be the best option for one reason only (although both are great cards): DirectX9 Pixel Shaders.

NVIDIA, did release a ForceWare driver that features an optimizing compiler for DirectX9 pixel shaders, but it will not be able to eliminate the limitations imposed by the GPU architecture.

[Chiwas]

Choose the standard of the market, Nvidia. Less problems in the present, a lot less problems in the future. Most programs are made filling first the needs -capabilities- of it.

Besides, it has a way better user interfase, which was the main problem of Nvidia in the past. They resolved it pretty well.

IMO.

[TripleDipping]

I remember the days 3Dfx reigned supreme. Very well supported by software and game developers. Alas...


[img]i/expressions/musicnote.gif[/img] Memmmmmories...... [img]i/expressions/musicnote.gif[/img]

[Fidel]

Originally posted by: kg_veteran
If you had to choose between the ATI Radeon 9200SE and the GeForce FX 5200, both with 128MB of DDR memory, which would you choose? And why?

The GeForce costs a little bit more then the ATI and is not worth the extra money. Right now ATI has an edge in both performance and picture quality. Personaly I´d spend a little bit more and buy an ATI 9600 SE or Pro card. That´s the rule I allways go by when buying a graphic card or hardware in general. I never buy the state of the art product (which would be the ATI 9800 XT right now) cause it usually comes with a hefty price "bonus" for all those geeks that allways want the newest technology. So I go with the "second best" technology available. It doesn´t get outdated too quick but you can buy it for a reasonable price.

[Chiwas]

I was thinking, we are making the same mistake that most companies: selling without knowing what the customer really wants.

What do you need the accelerator for, KG, and what aspects from it would you prefer to be working better?

Colors
Speed
Memory
Shades
Lightning
Volumetric
User interfase
Antialising
Anisotropic filtering
OpenGL
Direct3D
Quality of images (colors, details, shadows)
Performance (speed and 3d)
Refresh rate
Resolution
Frame synchronization
Timing modes

Also, it depends on the programs you wan to run, the speed of your PC (processor), the RAM memory, and the platform it will work on.

I have seen my old 32 MB 3dfx card in an old PC working better than my 128 MB Nvidia in a modern PC with the same program. Better colors and better antialising, for example.

[kg_veteran]

I don't understand all those technical terms you posted, but basically I just want to be able to play some of the newer games that require higher level graphic cards.

I have a PIII, 1 gig with 128 MB RAM and am running WinXP.

[madape]

Just go out and buy an XBox and save yourself $1500.

[kg_veteran]

The X-Box costs $179; the video card costs $75.

[Chiwas]

Both cards would work pretty well for your needs.

The ATI has more technical abilities, but the GE FORCE surely is more stable being Nvidia.

Tell you what: buy the one with TV. Period.

[Blonde Bomber]

kg-

It depends on what type of games you will be playing..

but you can't go wrong with the Radeon 9800 Pro Ultimate . Its a bit pricy but its the best on the market.

There is a good write up here that compare all the video cards on the market in different price ranges. It will most likely answer all your questions.

Hope this helps....

[madape]

Originally posted by: kg_veteran
The X-Box costs $179; the video card costs $75.

and your computer system costs how much?

You can buy a computer that surfs the internet, plays music and videos, and does all the home-office related tasks you need for as little as $500.

What do you need more processing power, memory, video-cards, etc, etc, etc for besides games? Don't continuously upgrade your computer just to play the latest PC games. Buy a console game system. Save yourself some cash.

[kg_veteran]

Point well taken.

[Chiwas]

Updating your PC is the best hobby on Earth! You never end...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[sike]

Any computer geeks out there?

kg, this made me laugh so hard!

[Fidel]

Originally posted by: kg_veteran
I don't understand all those technical terms you posted, but basically I just want to be able to play some of the newer games that require higher level graphic cards.

I have a PIII, 1 gig with 128 MB RAM and am running WinXP.

KG, with that configuration a new graphic card won´t make much of a difference. Modern games aren´t about graphics only and your slow system will allways slow them down. I don´t know which card you own right now but for a PIII system anything more then a GeForce2 doesn´t make much sense. The data won´t be produced quick enough to exhaust the capabilitys of an ATI 9600 card or anything in that category. Well the games would run a little faster no doubt but the difference wouldn´t be nearly as big as you might think. If you really must buy a new card don´t go for anything more then the ATI 9200 SE.

If you allready have something like a GeForce2 it would be a much better idea to upgrade your memory to 512 MB. That should give you a performance boost with both windows applications and games (to be honest I don´t know how anyone can run XP with just 128 MB, it must be pretty slow). Ultimatly you will need to upgrade your processor if you want to play the newer games. So maybe madpes suggestions of simply buying an XBox really makes more sense.

[kg_veteran]

If you allready have something like a GeForce2 it would be a much better idea to upgrade your memory to 512 MB. That should give you a performance boost with both windows applications and games (to be honest I don´t know how anyone can run XP with just 128 MB, it must be pretty slow). Ultimatly you will need to upgrade your processor if you want to play the newer games. So maybe madpes suggestions of simply buying an XBox really makes more sense.

Upgrading the memory would cost more than the video card, but if that's what I need to do, I might consider it.

The computer runs quickly enough; I don't consider it all that slow.

The X-Box idea makes the most sense; now it's about convincing the boss.