AMD vs. Nvidia features

[romich]

Hello everyone. In August I've bought HD 7950, but currently I'm becoming disappointed with it. Of course, it still plays most of the games quite well at 1080p, but I'm getting jealous of those Nvidia-specific features, like G-Sync and ShadowPlay.
So, what features do both companies have to brag with? Those I've recalled/Googled:
Nvidia:
PhysX — physics engine, simulates debris, cloths, fluids. Some AAA-games use it, and it looks pretty cool (on YouTube at least).
ShadowPlay — capturing 1080p@60fps video with minimal FPS loss.
G-Sync — I didn't really get it how it works, but looks like it smoothes the variable framerate, removing tearing and on-screen glitches.
FaceWorks — realistic facial expression, currently works only on the Titan.
CUDA

AMD:
Mantle API — as far as I understood, it's a layer between hardware and resulting image, like DirectX or OpenGL. Currently there are no games utilizing this. Will it yield something in future, taking into account that next-gen consoles are AMD-based?
TressFX — I've encountered it in only one game (unlike PhysX). It only gives realistic hair? Any future games to use this technology?
Eyefinity — ability to connect quite a few displays to one or two cards.
FreeSync — free alternative to Nvidia's G-Sync, but currently doesn't work as well as the latter.
FireStream

Something I got wrong/forgot? IMO, if you play on a single monitor, Nvidia looks more appealing. I'm planning to sell my HD 7950 and get GTX 770 or 780.

 

[tg2708]

I was thinking about the same thing too, their is just something that draws me more to nvidia than amd without having no true gripe with the latter. Just purchased a 770 today to tie me over for awhile. My 7970 while its ok I just don't feel satisfied for some reason but its more along the line of going nvidia because i have never had them before.

 

[Lonbjerg]

You are comparing PR to actual products....really?

 

[96Firebird]

Just a few clarifications...

Nvidia also has Surround, which is like AMD's Eyefinity. I'm not sure on the specifics of how many cards can be connected to one card, but I think they are the same now...

Freesync - We don't know how this compares to Gsync, as there is very little information on it. Also, not much of a plan-to-market, yet.

AMD also has TrueAudio, but I don't think there are any games with it yet. Or demos.

 

[Paul98]

Things being about equal recently I have supported AMD due to how they do things vs how NVidia does.

 

[monstercameron]

for amd dont forget :

• FOSS drivers
• true audio DSP

 

[Silverforce11]

You can pick features that matter to you when you make your purchasing decisions, not every feature is applicable for each gamers.

It's up to you to decide if those features or "better drivers" are worth it.

For me when i use my gtx670, the only NV feature that I appreciated was adaptive vsync, applied per game or global. I get the same with Radeon Pro, so I don't consider PhysX or Shadowplay (I don't stream) worthy of a premium price, in my part of the world, a gtx780 carries a $100 to $150 premium over a R290 for example, even reference 780 are more pricier than custom R290.

 

[Keysplayr]

for amd dont forget :

• FOSS drivers
• true audio DSP

What is a FOSS driver and what does it do for the end user?

for Nvidia dont forget :

Surround.
3dVision with or without Surround

BTW, Nvidia surround can have up to 4 monitors. 3 for surround and a 4th monitor for an extra desktop utility monitor.

 

[blackened23]

OP, welcome to AT on your first post. You seem to have forgotten quite a few software features that nvidia includes. Let me give you a hand.

Adaptive vsync, Driver FXAA, TXAA, driver Ambient occlusion, downsamping via the driver, monitor overclocking, per application power profiles (adaptive or max performance), 3D vision (HD3D is abandoned and not supported any longer), 3+1 surround on all Kepler GPUs, and nVAPI.. HD3D like I said isn't supported, and requires the user to pay TriDEF for a driver. AMD does not add game profiles for HD3D any longer, while 3D vision does.

Freesync is vaporware and proof of concept only.
Eyefinity has significant software bugs and issues on all 79xx and 280X and earlier cards.

Just thought i'd point that out. Eyefinity is a "feature" on the 290 and 290X but i'd hesitate to call it a feature on 280X and 79xx and earlier GPUs. Unless tearing and microstutter is your thing. So we'll chalk that "feature" up for the 290 cards only.

 

[loccothan]

and ATI/AMD DX 10.1 11.1 11.2 ,TrueAudio, better OpenCL and a lot more coming soon ;-) and TressFX 2.0 Hair, cloth, grass, birds (in BF4 maby its not TressFX)
RadeonPro soft ;-)

 

[VulgarDisplay]

You are comparing PR to actual products....really?

Why do I get the feeling you listen to Ozzy Osbourne - crazy train.mp3 whenever you start typing replies on the forums?


Personal attacks are against the forum rules.

-Rvenger

 

[monstercameron]

What is a FOSS driver and what does it do for the end user?

for Nvidia dont forget :

Surround.
3dVision with or without Surround

BTW, Nvidia surround can have up to 4 monitors. 3 for surround and a 4th monitor for an extra desktop utility monitor.

FOSS drivers are for the followers of RMS and freedom and it will be good for when AMD drops support for older hardware by being maintained by the community.

 

[nenforcer]

nVidia also has

3D Vision / 3D Vision 2 w/ LightBoost for stereoscopic 3D gaming on approved 120Hz monitors

and like loccothan says above AMD Radeon hardware supports DirectX Feature Level 10.1, 11.0, 11.1 and 11.2.

Tomb Raider (2013) is the only game currently using TressFX that I am aware of.

Unfortunately AMD's drivers and software somewhat lag behind their hardware capabilities along with games that can take advantage of them.

 

[Pottuvoi]

Sadly current GPU architectures are old and we haven't really seen new abilities in graphics for a while.

Even though AMD should allow some interesting things with Mantle, but GCN isn't new architecture anymore.
Nvidia hasn't really updated their GPU ROPs, etc since Fermi.

We should finally see something new as both companies release their 'next' generation' architectures. (Maxwell and next GCN )

 

[FalseChristian]

Just look at all the people buying Radeon R9 270-290X for bitcoin mining and other sh*t that requires good OpenCL performance. They're flying off the shelves and the prices are rising. AMD wins this round.

 

[Mand]

FreeSync does not exist, even in the theoretical stage, for desktop displays.

 

[KingFatty]

I really like the following from Nvidia:
* Supports adding custom resolutions at the control panel, including using your display in a letterboxed mode (e.g., showing 16:9 aspect on a 16:10 display)
* Beautiful/slick appearance of software interfaces

I also like the following from AMD:
* Support for Mixed-display types/sizes/resolutions in eyefinity, so you can mix-n-match different displays and still get eyefinity immersion
* Support for hybrid eyefinity (takes advantage of your integrated/discrete video card, instead of leaving it idle)
* Support for eyefinity across PCIe without needing a separate connector between the cards

 

[96Firebird]

* support for hybrid crossfire (takes advantage of your integrated/discrete video card, instead of leaving it idle)
* support for crossfire across pcie without needing a separate connector between the cards

ftfy.

 

[Lonbjerg]

Just look at all the people buying Radeon R9 270-290X for bitcoin mining and other sh*t that requires good OpenCL performance. They're flying off the shelves and the prices are rising. AMD wins this round.

In the US...not the world...silly americans ^^

 

[Cerb]

What is a FOSS driver

A driver that is Free Open Source Software.

and what does it do for the end user?

It does nothing for end users that own recent Radeons, because Intel is the only major x86-universe GPU vendor that supports them. With hardware a few generations old, though, drivers are quite good, since AMD released most of the specs (basically everything not tied to DRM and the DSPs). But, that leaves a problem, in that the community needs time to acquire newer-gen cards, and develop for them. Intel provides release-day support, and it's generally solid within a few months of release, rather than years after release, like AMD's (it's a good gesture on AMD's part, but they need to put their driver devs behind it, so as to deprecate the Cats, instead of it being mostly just documentation).

 

[Pandamonia]

You are comparing PR to actual products....really?

Troll more.

 

[Morbus]

Features are only good if you're gonna use them. I don't, and I chose nVidia after two stints with ATI, and I did it because of the drivers.

 

[Lonbjerg]

Troll more.

Really?

Nvidia:
PhysX — physics engine, simulates debris, cloths, fluids. Some AAA-games use it, and it looks pretty cool (on YouTube at least).
ShadowPlay — capturing 1080p@60fps video with minimal FPS loss.
G-Sync — I didn't really get it how it works, but looks like it smoothes the variable framerate, removing tearing and on-screen glitches.
FaceWorks — realistic facial expression, currently works only on the Titan.
CUDA

AMD:
Mantle API = PR
TressFX — I've encountered it in only one game (unlike PhysX). It only gives realistic hair? Any future games to use this technology?
Eyefinity — ability to connect quite a few displays to one or two cards.
FreeSync = PR
FireStream

Unless you can point to to place where I can play a Mantle game using a FreeSync monitor you do not have a point...

 

[MrK6]

My take:

Nvidia:
PhysX — Poorly incorporated and unrealistic physics that's laughably cartoonish, despite being around for over 8 years is still barely used in games despite being free, poor product overall
ShadowPlay — I barely have time to play games nevermind steam/comment/watch recaps, cool if you're in high school and doing nothing else I guess
G-Sync — Looks awesome but yet to be incorporated on a screen that doesn't suck, and still isn't available yet so I'll give it a TBD
FaceWorks — Only works on a Titan, who cares
CUDA - Great if you work in a research lab, otherwise close to useless

AMD:
Mantle API — As of yet, vaporware, when it actually produces something it'll be worth considering.
TressFX — Exactly, one game, and we've had hair modeled for at least a decade so again, who cares, BS PR
Eyefinity — ability to connect quite a few displays to one or two cards. Great if you want six displays on one card (wonderful for heavy-duty content creation, etc.), otherwise it's not much more over nvidia's Surround.
FreeSync — Vaporware as well unless they bring something to market
FireStream

Something I got wrong/forgot? IMO, if you play on a single monitor, Nvidia looks more appealing. I'm planning to sell my HD 7950 and get GTX 770 or 780.

You didn't really miss anything, but that's my point. Most of these are worth considering when buying a card and yet people somehow still get suckered in with the marketing. Unless you have some very specific requirements for your computing, just buy whatever card offers the best bang-for-your-buck. I'd overclock the 7950 before wasting all that money on another card from this generation from EITHER camp.

 

[Lonbjerg]

Faceworks on Tegra:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75pUOSgaRIc

I guess you don't need a titan ^^