The Best...

[stix_kua]

When it comes down to it? Who makes the better video card? ATI or nVidia.

I am looking to buy a new card. Something if in the price range of $75 to $150...This is USDs!

[fishybawb]

In that sort of price range, I'd go for either a Radeon 9600XT or Geforce FX5700 Ultra. Their performance is comparable, but the 9600XT is the better bet for most games due to its better DX ability.

[stix_kua]

Originally posted by fishybawb
In that sort of price range, I'd go for either a Radeon 9600XT or Geforce FX5700 Ultra. Their performance is comparable, but the 9600XT is the better bet for most games due to its better DX ability.

But aren't they both Direct X 9 cards?

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Yes, but the FX series struggles a lot in "true" DX9 hardware environments, for example, in Far Cry performance was maintained by using a hybrid of SM1.x and SM2 shaders to keep performance up on the FX, while the Radeon 3xx's got everything in SM2.0.

In Half Life 2, which is going to be the first, full SM2.0 game (i.e. no hybrid mode), under the DX9 path the Geforce FX cards apparently fall over and die performance wise. Hence HL2 using the DX8.1 code oath as a deafult for the FX series.

--Jakk:t

[stix_kua]

Originally posted by Bigjakkstaffa
Yes, but the FX series struggles a lot in "true" DX9 hardware environments, for example, in Far Cry performance was maintained by using a hybrid of SM1.x and SM2 shaders to keep performance up on the FX, while the Radeon 3xx's got everything in SM2.0.

In Half Life 2, which is going to be the first, full SM2.0 game (i.e. no hybrid mode), under the DX9 path the Geforce FX cards apparently fall over and die performance wise. Hence HL2 using the DX8.1 code oath as a deafult for the FX series.

--Jakk:t

Well thanx....

Looks like I'll stick with ATI for another generation of video cards.

[Vampiel]

In that price range, ATI no question.