Difference between Geforce 2 and 3 in running DVD's??

[toadstool]

I've seen Geforce 3 cards for $175, the ti200 version.

I just bought a DVd player and have an "Annihilator 2" from Creative Labs ......a Geforce 2.

I want to know if anyone has run DVD's with both Geforce 2 cards and Geforce 3 cards, and if they have noticed any difference.

Is there a change in the Geforce 3 cards' architecture that improves DVD video quality , or are they basically the same card, with just a higher clock speed?

(If the only difference is the speed, then I may as well stick with this card and save myself $175 bucks or so, since it runs everything else fine)



Finally, do Nvidia cards (Geforce 2 or 3) give the best video quality, or is there a better card ? (don't think it would be the Radeon from what I've read about on this forum)




Thanks. Any input would be helpful.

 

[Rand]

So far as I'm aware the GF3 offers no improvements over the GF2's handling of DVD's. The core is dramatically different between them, but their handling of DVD's remains unchanged as far as I'm aware. If DVD's are your primary use though, then the much maligned ATi is a much better option for you.
ATi has long been acclaimed the king of hardware DVD playback and justifiably so. They offer a much more advanced DVD playback capabilities then does nVidia. Image quality is somewhat better, and processor utilization is significantly lower. If all your interested in is DVD's then even ATi's older Rage128 series can match up extremely well against a GF2/GF3's DVD capabilities.

If you have more money then undoubtedly an ATI Radeon/Radeon 8500 offers the best DVD playback available in a graphics card.
DVD capabilities is one area in which ATi has long excelled in.

 

[Hender]

Actually, in my experience the ATI cards DO give better quality overall, both in 2D and 3D. I can notice a difference even between my roommate's Mac with a Rage 128 and my GeForce2 Pro when watching DVDs, and my Voodoo3 definately had better image quality in with both 2D (and DVD) and 3D.