Windows Vista Users (esp. AMD card users)

[lopri]

I'm in need of a video card. My 6200 TC just doesn't handle Vista's Aero UI very well, and on top of that, NV's driver support for this card is terrible, to say the least. The main culprit is that this card 'borrows' system memory for the GPU - so drivers' memory management is extremely important. I constantly get BSOD with 6200TC in Vista, which I never experienced under XP. It happens in an unpredictable manner. Sometimes while I try to watch Quicktime movies, or sometimes just in the Windows Photo Gallery.

I would like to know what's the most mature video card / drivers combo under Vista. My main rig is mostly for work and I have a 8800 GTS in my gaming rig. I want to spend the least amount of dollars. (preferably under $100~150, the 6200TC was like $30)

I was eyeing on the recent deals on X1950GT, and X1950XT as well as the Circuit City 8600 GT deal. I do think they're all excellent hardware, but stability is the No.1 priority for my main rig where all my work's getting done. Oh and I'd prefer a card with at least one dual-link DVI port, just in case.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Matt2]

Well, I have a X1900XTX and I can honestly say that Vista + Catalyst 7.4 is completely rock solid.

The only game that's been played however is my GF's Sims2 junk, but I havent had one lock up or BSOD with my ATI card in Vista.

I would asssume that any mainstream ATI card will produce the same results.

 

[tuteja1986]

Well Nvidia still needs to Fix Vista driver. ATI driver way better but not the best. I don't think you will see rock solid driver untill Q1 2008. But till then i suggest you get ATI if you don't random crashes like i did with my 8800GTX on vista.

 

[lopri]

It's not that NV's drivers are all bad in general but 6200TC isn't just suitable (even for Aero) for Vista. The card I'm looking to buy will go to my main rig (see sig) and it's mainly for work and watching multimedia.

Matt2: Have you tried various different formats of video clips with various players? No problem? (e.g. Quicktime H.264, DivX, Windows Photo Gallery, Watching DVD in full screen, etc. with different media players - WMP, Real, Quicktime, Nero Showtime, etc.)

I'd also like to hear from X1650XT users (using Vista).

 

[aka1nas]

I'm pretty sure it's driver related, Lopri. I did some Vista testing with a 6200TC model and Aero was fine. However, I could not run Aero Glass with 2 displays because evidently there was not enough Video RAM.

How much onboard RAM does your TC card have? I think the one I used was a 32MB model.

 

[lopri]

Aka1nas: It runs Aero but is it smooth? (like, for Flip3D) Yeah I think in the end it's the drivers but I don't think the Turbo Cache is the NV's top priority in the fix-list. Mine has 64MB on-board. Which drivers do you use? Did you try playing Quicktime H.264 clips in 760 or 1080? Or full screen? I've tried like 3 different drivers but keep getting BSOD..

Edit: BTW, the screen resolution is 1600x1200.

Edit 2: Does anyone use the following card in Vista? (and possibly 64-bit?)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102034

 

[aka1nas]

I didn't have slowdowns or performance issues at all, even with Flip 3d. I was only running at 1280x1024 however. I didn't try doing video either. I think I just grabbed the WHQL ones at them time (it was a few weeks ago). I pretty much gave up after I couldn't Aero Glass with the second display hooked up.

 

[secretanchitman]

that x1950GT would be fine in vista.

 

[specWB]

If your going to be gaming, i wouldn go for the X1950XT right now. I have it and until ATI releases a fix, i am stuck playing at 2D clocks and i assume you would be to. just a warning.

 

[lopri]

specWB: Thank you so much for the precious information. While I'm not intending to game on this rig, such information is very important for me.

 

[LittleNemoNES]

I moved on to Vista Ultimate (...) with x1900xtx Crossfire. Using Catalyst 7.4 I am having relatively stable gameplay. COD2 has some issues but mostly OpenGL is buggy.

BF2, god bless it, still randomly crashes to desktop but Far Cry, GRAW, FEAR, Oblivion, RS:Vegas, Civ 4, Company of Heroes and Steam games run great.

I'm starting to like Vista and can't really perceive a performance loss from XP 32bit.

 

[Moose1309]

Originally posted by: specWB
If your going to be gaming, i wouldn go for the X1950XT right now. I have it and until ATI releases a fix, i am stuck playing at 2D clocks and i assume you would be to. just a warning.

What!!! I just threw together a rig for Vista with an X1950 XT. Is this true? That really p's me off... I hope they get a fix out soon.