Best Video Card currently on the market...

[Futher]

I'm no noob when it comes to hardware, nor am I cheap. I haven't kept up with the current specs of the wave of newly released cards, so I have some catching up to do. I currently have a 128mb Radeon 8500. I'm on my way to college and want to get a "top of the line" card. Anyone have an suggestions? Thanks a lo

(again, price is not a factor) EDIT : Looking at newegg I saw some cards for 1G +. Lets keep it at $500 or less

Also keep in mind that 90% of the time I will be either playing games or designing them (ie: 3d graphics/animation)

 

[Futher]

Was looking at the EVGA GeForce FX5900 Ultra 256MB 256-bit DDR VIVO/VGA/DVI

Any comments/concerns?

 

[Vonkhan]

9800Pro 256mb :evil:

 

[Vonkhan]

read up on comparisions, the 5900 gets its pants beaten off by 9800Pros ... b'sides nVIDIA cheats!

 

[Jeff7181]

I'd say the 5900 Ultra because you don't hear about nearly as many driver issues with nVidia as with ATI... is the 5900 Ultra even available for sale yet?

 

[Futher]

nope, not yet... the 22nd. So the 9800 pro? 256? I've always been an ATI fan =)

 

[Futher]

Does the 9800 come with 256? Newegg/Mwave don't have it

 

[rbV5]

Go for the AIW 9800 pro unless you need dual monitors if you want the best card feature set, (you'll have to wait a bit) its under your budget, fast and the multimedia features would be especially nice for a college environment.

 

[Futher]

I've never owned an Nvidia card, so I think I'm going to go with one of them so I can actually back myself up when I brag about ATI. Which companies make the best cards? Was looking at PNY Technologies, EVGA, Leadtek and MSI....

 

[Futher]

gunna go with the eVGA FX5900 ULTRA 256MB DDR-2 W/TV & DVI from Mwave, thanks a lot for your help

 

[Futher]

Now I'm torn between the Radeon 9800 256MB and the GeForce FX5900 Ultra 256MB...
I'm not looking for "the best bang for your buck.." just looking for the best.
Remember I will be doing a lot of computer graphics and gaming... Even though a lot of people say that Nvidia "cheats" with their benchmarking, it still outperformed the Radeon in almost every aspect. The only downside about the 5900 is that it takes up two slots and I will have to sacrifice my WinTV card which I don't use anyway.

Need something that will sway my decision... thanks again

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Futher
Now I'm torn between the Radeon 9800 256MB and the GeForce FX5900 Ultra 256MB...
I'm not looking for "the best bang for your buck.." just looking for the best.
Remember I will be doing a lot of computer graphics and gaming... Even though a lot of people say that Nvidia "cheats" with their benchmarking, it still outperformed the Radeon in almost every aspect. The only downside about the 5900 is that it takes up two slots and I will have to sacrifice my WinTV card which I don't use anyway.

Need something that will sway my decision... thanks again

the new 5900 from msi is quite and uses only 1 slot
without a doubt the 5900 is the superior card. look at the hardware specs. nvidia does not lie about the actuall hardware. i for one think they cheat no more than ati. like i said before, matrox is your friend

 

[Futher]

You know of any sites that sell MSI 5900's?

 

[JonnyBlaze]

Originally posted by: Futher


Also keep in mind that 90% of the time I will be either playing games or designing them (ie: 3d graphics/animation)

get a quadrofx card if your going to be using 3dstudio / maya type programs.

JBLaze

 

[Corporate Thug]

there was a new review done that showed the 9800 pro spanking the 5900ultra. the link in somewhere in the general hardware forum

 

[Matt84]

The bottom line is both the 9800 and the 5900 Ultra are very fast and very good cards. You can go with either one and you will be happy. Find which one you can get the best deal on and settle with it.

 

[Futher]

I agree, and I'm going to go with the fx5900 despite the reviews. Since this is my first time buying Nvidia, I asked if anyone knew of any companies that sold these cards except for eVGA. I found that MSI and Gainward sells them, but I can't find where. Can anyone help out please?

 

I have heard that if you are going to be designing games, the best cards would be either the ATI FireGL series or equivalent Nvidia Quadro cards. I read somewhere that Nvidia insists to all the game designers that they work with use Quadro Cards when optimizing games to be played on Nvidia cards. So I would choose the Nvidia Quadro something or other ( because I dont know model numbers). Anyone else here this info anywhere. I aint lyin.

GM

 

[TourGuide]

The 5900s are within probably a week or two of wider retail availability. Be patient and they will be out then. Some folks are saying the 22nd of June but I think it'll be a little later than that. Probably the first week of July.

 

[Pete]

Originally posted by: gorillaman
I read somewhere that Nvidia insists to all the game designers that they work with use Quadro Cards when optimizing games to be played on Nvidia cards.

I'm sure they would, as they make more profit off of those cards.

You don't need a Quadro if you're designing games, only if you're using pro 3D apps like 3DStudio or Maya or the like (artist's tools).

 

[Futher]

yeah, I use Maya most of the time. But I'm running it on my Radeon 8500, and it runs with only minor problems. I think the jump from the 8500 to a 5900 or ever the 9800 would be fine for now. Not a professional, just a college student =)

 

[BFG10K]

The 9800 Pro 256 MB is definitely the best out there. The 5900 is looking worse and worse every day as more and more cheats come to light.

 

[highlanderfil]

If you're thinking of selling the Radeon, I might be interested...PM me

 

[kylebisme]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh nvidia does not lie about the actuall hardware.

they do too, or at least they can be missleading. don't you rember when everyone thought the nv30 had a 8x1 pipeline configureation?

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: TheSnowman

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh nvidia does not lie about the actuall hardware.

they do too, or at least they can be missleading. don't you rember when everyone thought the nv30 had a 8x1 pipeline configureation?

i was not aware of this. did nvidia actually say that it was a 8X1 or was it speculation that got out of hand?