Vista Tutorial - ATI or Nvidia... MEH!

OK so I know this has been discussed in forums all over the world over the last few weeks.. but I've been hearing mixed things lately so I'm going to ask it again..

What card should I get.. lol. I have a eVGA 750i Mobo. thats a SLI Certified board.. so lots of people say to get the 9800+ or the 260. then others say the best card for your money is the 4870, and that I should get that.. and to be honest recently I've been thinkin I just might get the 4870.. but in the future as the prices drop. I can see myself getting a second card. Can I Crossfire a 4870 on my Nvidia chipset SLI certified board.. I thought that was a NO. but I've heard yes, and no. so can anyone please clear this up.

I just want to get something new here in the next little while. something that will take care of me with new games like GRID, Far cry2, and Crysis warhead.. oh ya and COD world at war.. So I'm going to get the 4870, or the 260.. Hard choice. I probably wont ever get 2 cards.. but if the prices go down enough. I just might. I kno ATI tends to get cheaper faster. so I don't kno. If I can use ATI on my SLI board. then I'll proabably get the 4870. and if I can't crossfire. I might get it anyways.. ah, i love it but I hate it. Such a hard choice, but I'm COMPLETELY used to Nvidia, I use Rivatuner, and i've never had an ATI card.... some might say I need to try something else. some might say stick to what you trust. Well I've had 3 Nvidia cards all have been great. never had a problem. so what should I do.

Take into Consideration I don't have a 30" screen.. I have a 22" Widescreen.. so I wont need HIGH resolutions.. Also i don't kno anything about ATI's drivers, are they stable yet? I know they've very muched fixed the AA problems. some say it's now there strong point.. If anyone has first hand results please share. I've very much a gamer, and I want the cards/drivers that will perform best for Smooth gameplay and no problems.

Let me kno what you all think.. Sorry this is so long. and to Johngault.. What did you get? did you decide on the 9800+.

Thanks Guys!

you already have a 8800 GTS!

i would say get another for SLI and you will be fine for a while!

thats my opinion, since the 8800 is still a pretty vid card.

Well I have the hybrid 650i board from asus and I have been running ati cards for the past 2 gens. I don't know about running 2 cards on the sli board. I do currently have the 4850 and love it. ATI has better IQ in my opinion. I can run with items turned up in Call of duty 4 and inside my drivers and still run the same frames as the 8800 series cards. For your money right now ATI is the way to go. Most likely by the time you would be looking at a second card crossfire boards on P35 or higher chipset will be a lot lower in price. Just my .02 worth

see I like my 750i and I don't wanna change.. thats why I'm thinkin stick to Nvidia, or see if I can use ATI's.. and ya the 8800 GTS is a good card. but I have the old G80, it's big. and hot, and I don't wanna run 2. if anything I'd run 2 of the new 8800GT's.. but I'd rather get the same performance as 2 8800GT's in just ONE card like the 4870.. and be happy with that. Or get the GTX 260. the 260 looks good. but the 4870 is better than the 260, for $20 bucks less.. but the 260 is Nvidia. so thats my other problem.. lol

Man its starting to get to the point where you may as well add another one of ur current gfx card, since the power requirements are mental nowdays. The last to b released that used only a 6 pin was the 8800gts 512.

I would get two of these cards. ive got one but it runs cod4 maxed out at about 60fps all the time, so i reckon in sli it would outperform the 260 at least. Probably would save your electric bill too coz ur not using the 8pin connector too.

*EDIT*

just realised uve got the g80 version, not the g92. Sry i cant read today!!!

The new ati cards only use 6pin. I currently have the hd4850 and it uses 6 pin only with a 450 watt PS min required.

I'm using a 3870x2, it has a 8 and a 6 pin plug on it.

ya the 3870x2 is a 6 and a 8.. same is the 4870x2... but the normal single 4850 and the 4870 use single 6pins if I remember right.. either way I don't kno what to get. and ya I have the G80. it sucks power. and it's really hot. I'm wanting to dump it and get something new. and that 4870 is looking good.. I want it to be honest.. but I have an SLI board so I'm hesitant..!

Crossfire won't work on an Nvidia chipset motherboard, it must be an Intel chipset motherboard or an ATI chipset motherboard for Crossfire to work.

I own and use every day, the Radeon 3870X2 for gaming and so on.

If you want the 3870X2 or 4870X2 you must be willing to dump that Nvidia chipset motherboard. However a single 4850 or 4870 will work in your board.

i gotta say mate ''right now'' ... 2 88GTs in sli are out perfoming or pulling level to any next gen single card solution..4870 / 280GTX in most benches (pre R700 of course & at your res)

you already have an SLI board....''bonus !!'' 8800s are cheap as chips ''double bonus''
in this great battle NVIDIA & ATI have been battling the 4800s against the GT200s & the modest G92 was forgotten
but they have come back with a bang in SLI.. & TBH i think shocked both companies that their flagships are pretty mediocre at anything lower than 1920x1200 the 8800GT 'owns'' 1680x1050

im contemplating a GPU upgrade but i have an ATI chipset & an 8800 so no chance of SLI for me (4870x2me thinks)
but from what i have seen in the past few weeks i wish i had an nforce board & i would have snapped another G92 off fleabay & been sorted

so i say SLI....