help me decide

[Tomek]

I'm putting together a new computer and I can't decide what video card to get. I don't intend to overclock the card and the computer will be used mostly for gaming/3d graphics/usual 2d stuff. The $ limit is about $200-250 and I was thinking about getting either the ATI Radeon 8500 or one of the GeForce3 cards...
I've looked at a number of reviews of both cards and I still can't decide; I'm a little worried about the stability of the Radeon 8500 drivers. Any suggestions on what to get?

 

[Dctm]

the 8500 drivers are getting better. there latest one has competed better than a geforce 3.. Either way.. can't go wrong

 

[Tomek]

ok, so do I get the ATI Radeon 8500 or the Gainward GeForce3?

 

[yngtm27]

Depends on how much gaming you do. The 8500 has excellent 2d and with the new drivers most games as well as dvd playback is excellent. However, opengl still needs some work. The 8500 has potential and hopefully new drivers will improve it even more. The Gainward cards have good 2d for the Geforce3 cards. Also, you're going to get good stability. Don't get me wrong, my 8500 is stable but I play mostly direct3d games. Opengl is another story. It just depends on what you plan to do with your card.

 

[JRez]

I'd go w. the 8500. ATi's driver updates have been more frequent and although their customer service still needs some work, they don't deny that issues may exist and they do try to fix them. Lower CPU utilization for DVD playback, TruForm, AA along the lines of nVidia's Quincunx, a faster RAMDAC and better 2D quality would be the reasons I'd get it... if I only had $100 it would be mine ;-)