a question i've always wondered about

[IlllI]

why is there not a sticky about 'video card suggestions' ? i think a good amount of posts here tend to be 'recommend me a video card for x system/budget/ bang for the buck ' etc

if there was a sticky they could consult that instead of asking basically the same question hundreds of others have already.

i'm sure i'm not the only one thats ever wondered about this

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

This should be a sticky, haha! You're exactly right! So many of these "Suggest a card for me" pffff here's a suggestion, buy me a card and we'll talk

Kudos

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: clandren
why is there not a sticky about 'video card suggestions' ? i think a good amount of posts here tend to be 'recommend me a video card for x system/budget/ bang for the buck ' etc

if there was a sticky they could consult that instead of asking basically the same question hundreds of others have already.

i'm sure i'm not the only one thats ever wondered about this

You're not!

Vote!! - comment in this thread .. make your voice heard!!!
[--it addresses the very issue you raised here]

NVIDIA vs. AMD *POLL ADDED*-How do we *constructively* discuss them on our forum ?

It is Current and it is Open there for All Constructive Suggestions for Video and it is *Pre-approved* and sanitized by the Admin for us.
--there is even a related Poll Question:

Shall ATF create a *single* stickied thread in Video for instructing members *How* to ask for help? (Total Votes: 34)

i can add more Polls

 

[nevbie]

Because no one wrote such a sticky-worthy post.

..there should be enough information in the video card reviews around the web though. Choosing a CPU or GPU is much easier than choosing most of the other parts in a PC, as everyone and their kids review these products.

People will always keep posting these questions. It's not that bad, many of them have slightly differing situations, and no guide will contain every possible detail mix. (like they would read that guide even if it was there..)

A forum with user results only would be interesting though.. stuff like mini-reviews and BFG's GPU scaling posts. =P

 

[JustaGeek]

There is too many factors to be taken into consideration for "suggestions" IMO.

I personally can not imagine a sticky to suggest hardware.

How about CPU...?

RAM...?

Hard Drive...?

Motherboard...?

Too many personal preferences come into play

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
There is too many factors to be taken into consideration for "suggestions" IMO.

I personally can not imagine a sticky to suggest hardware.

How about CPU...?

RAM...?

Hard Drive...?

Motherboard...?

Too many personal preferences come into play

that is why this Poll has the most positive response - especially when you consider that 7 negative votes on everything came within a couple of minutes of the poll being posted.

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...168418&highlight_key=y

Shall ATF create a *single* stickied thread in Video for instructing members *How* to ask for help?

Shall ATF create a *single* stickied thread in Video for instructing members *How* to ask for help? (Total Votes: 34)


View Results/No opinion
6 votes 17.65 (%)

No
10 votes 29.41 (%)

Yes
18 votes 52.94 (%)

Teaching them to HOW to ask would save us time

it would be similar to the one Blane made for General Hardware:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2090214&enterthread=y

It would instruct that they list every single detail of their rig, their preferences and future upgrade paths.

i see that a lot more members are voting there without comment
:thumbsup:

 

[will889]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
There is too many factors to be taken into consideration for "suggestions" IMO.

I personally can not imagine a sticky to suggest hardware.

How about CPU...?

RAM...?

Hard Drive...?

Motherboard...?

Too many personal preferences come into play

Not really -- you can easily separate it. If the STEAM hardware forums can do it then this forum can do it there's much more knowledge there than in the STEAM forums. Keys and Apoppin, BFG10K along with some valued members could easily make some stickies and guides.

 

[IlllI]

Shall ATF create a *single* stickied thread in Video for instructing members *How* to ask for help? (Total Votes: 34)

i can add more Polls [/quote]

ATF = alcohol tobacco and firearms

 

[IlllI]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
There is too many factors to be taken into consideration for "suggestions" IMO.

I personally can not imagine a sticky to suggest hardware.

How about CPU...?

RAM...?

Hard Drive...?

Motherboard...?

Too many personal preferences come into play

hmm i dunno.. it wouldnt have to be a definitive bible of sorts, could be a general guide. might be able to break it down into categories:

price (a lot who ask for help have specific price ranges already in mind)

agp vs pci-e (i see a lot asking for agp stuff here in the forum)

age of system (would encompass processor and ram )

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: clandren



hmm i dunno.. it wouldnt have to be a definitive bible of sorts, could be a general guide. might be able to break it down into categories:

price (a lot who ask for help have specific price ranges already in mind)

agp vs pci-e (i see a lot asking for agp stuff here in the forum)

age of system (would encompass processor and ram )

*Who* has the time to do it?

--i also have 2 jobs
--IF it has to be updated regularly - forget it - not me!
:roll:

otoh If we TEACH teh n00bs HOW to ask, we will eliminate 80% of the unnecessary "qualifying"

Blain had the right idea for GH:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2090214&enterthread=y

Originally posted by: Blain
PLEASE when POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

The above information IS NEEDED, in order that WE can help YOU make wise judgments on YOUR purchases :laugh:

i could adapt this for Video in 2 minutes

 

[IlllI]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Blain
PLEASE when POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

The above information IS NEEDED, in order that WE can help YOU make wise judgments on YOUR purchases :laugh:

i could adapt this for Video in 2 minutes

thats a good idea. i've -never- seen ONE person here give that much info when asking for advice lol


it kind of goes with my idea i had, which was to have something readable for the casual person. something simple and basic. it wouldnt have to get into heavy technical details, because i think most people who ask for recommendations arent too concerned about all the nitty gritty. i would presume that those with greater technical knowledge probably already have a good idea what to get.

also i'm thinking it doesnt have to be managed by one person. would be nice if a post ever got made that it could be edited by anyone who wanted to contribute any information.. although i'm not sure if that is technically possible to implement.

 

[s44]

Fluctuates too much on the latest deals at the Egg, etc.

 

[Anath]

Originally posted by: clandren

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Blain
PLEASE when POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

The above information IS NEEDED, in order that WE can help YOU make wise judgments on YOUR purchases :laugh:

i could adapt this for Video in 2 minutes

thats a good idea. i've -never- seen ONE person here give that much info when asking for advice lol


it kind of goes with my idea i had, which was to have something readable for the casual person. something simple and basic. it wouldnt have to get into heavy technical details, because i think most people who ask for recommendations arent too concerned about all the nitty gritty. i would presume that those with greater technical knowledge probably already have a good idea what to get.

also i'm thinking it doesnt have to be managed by one person. would be nice if a post ever got made that it could be edited by anyone who wanted to contribute any information.. although i'm not sure if that is technically possible to implement.

I agree cuz with updates in drivers, peoples personal views, etc. A big chart of video card in performance would just be way to chaotic

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: clandren

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Blain
PLEASE when POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

The above information IS NEEDED, in order that WE can help YOU make wise judgments on YOUR purchases :laugh:

i could adapt this for Video in 2 minutes

thats a good idea. i've -never- seen ONE person here give that much info when asking for advice lol


it kind of goes with my idea i had, which was to have something readable for the casual person. something simple and basic. it wouldnt have to get into heavy technical details, because i think most people who ask for recommendations arent too concerned about all the nitty gritty. i would presume that those with greater technical knowledge probably already have a good idea what to get.

also i'm thinking it doesnt have to be managed by one person. would be nice if a post ever got made that it could be edited by anyone who wanted to contribute any information.. although i'm not sure if that is technically possible to implement.

well, i have always wanted an AnandTech *Wiki* - for a long time
. . . unfortunately it seems that whenever i suggest something .. anywhere .. i get the response - "sure, do it"



and i have already been thinking long and hard on what you have brought up .. it is very valid, imo

 

[IlllI]

i have created a simple mockup of some ideas i had + from apoppin as well. Text

i've basically tried to avoid nvidia vs ati 'which is better' argument and have broken each side down based on respective performance within their own 'class' (couldnt think of a better word) and based on price alone. eg: best ati card under 200, best nv card under 200.


as far as agp cards go, i dont see that list changing much, since i think no new agp cards will be made after this year. as far as prices go? well could just take an average based on retail (excluding rebates etc b/c those tend to fluctuate from time to time and with different brands). also can have a note stating those prices are subject to change.

 

[Denithor]

I think there are a couple of real reasons this has not been done.

1) Too many system variables (each case is unique).
Is your P4/A64/X2/etc strong enough to run this or that card to the fullest? Do you have enough memory? Etc, etc, etc.

2) Relative GPU strength is well-documented.
(3850<3870=9600GT<8800GT<8800GTS<9800GX2<etc)
So we assume that people should be smart enough to pick out the card with maximum performance at the price level they can afford (obviously the old saying about assumption remains true).

3) But GPU/CPU scalability is not as well-known.
Let's face it, a lot of the questions people ask are valid for this reason alone. How much card will a P4-3GHz push before the system is considered CPU bound? Unfortunately there have not been as many comprehensive GPU/CPU charts produced showing where the break points occur.

 

[IlllI]

Originally posted by: Denithor
I think there are a couple of real reasons this has not been done.

1) Too many system variables (each case is unique).
Is your P4/A64/X2/etc strong enough to run this or that card to the fullest? Do you have enough memory? Etc, etc, etc.

2) Relative GPU strength is well-documented.
(3850<3870=9600GT<8800GT<8800GTS<9800GX2<etc)
So we assume that people should be smart enough to pick out the card with maximum performance at the price level they can afford (obviously the old saying about assumption remains true).

3) But GPU/CPU scalability is not as well-known.
Let's face it, a lot of the questions people ask are valid for this reason alone. How much card will a P4-3GHz push before the system is considered CPU bound? Unfortunately there have not been as many comprehensive GPU/CPU charts produced showing where the break points occur.

well those are all good points.. but again, my idea was not to have some technical bible of reference material. i see a lot of people over the years asking questions (a lot of the same questions actually) which leads me to think that maybe having a general guide could be of some use.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: clandren
i have created a simple mockup of some ideas i had + from apoppin as well. LOOK AT TEH DAMN THING!!!!!!! please

i've basically tried to avoid nvidia vs ati 'which is better' argument and have broken each side down based on respective performance within their own 'class' (couldnt think of a better word) and based on price alone. eg: best ati card under 200, best nv card under 200.


as far as agp cards go, i dont see that list changing much, since i think no new agp cards will be made after this year. as far as prices go? well could just take an average based on retail (excluding rebates etc b/c those tend to fluctuate from time to time and with different brands). also can have a note stating those prices are subject to change.

the problem is that few people actually click on links

i tried to give it more visibility when i edited you post in my quote

and in case ANYBODY missed it STILL

encore!

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/9205/mockiu2.jpg