Intel or AMD?

[MrNeeds]

But i have heard that Nvidia drivers are not compatible with vista and are the major cause of Vista Failures. Is it true?

no, most crashes are actually caused by user input being wrong, or its most commonly known as "Fiddling".
crashes have been down to Nvidia drivers but a fix usually comes out within days, ATi/AMD dont have such a supportive driver development team.

so if i understand you correctly, Nvidia is better than ATI?

on paper, ATi/AMD have a lot more grunt in their cards, but transferring this power to games is a problem ATi/AMD cant seem to fix, so drivers are at fault, Nvidia have a very good driver support team and have made games run flawlessly where they have run crap on a more powerful ATi/AMD card.
for example, heres 2 cards, one from ATi/AMD and one from Nvidia, look at the specs of each card and compare them, ATi/AMD should be blowing the Nv card out of the water, but it doesnt.
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/1GB-XFX-GTX-280-XT-PCI-E-20-(x16)-Mem-2400MHz-GDDR3-GPU-640MHz-240-Cores-2x-DL-DVI-I-HDTV <Nvidia card 280GTX
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/1Gb-Sapphire-Radeon-HD-4870-GDDR5-CC-750MHz-PCIE-2xDVI <ATi/AMD card HD4870

comparison tests between these two cards are shocking,
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2008/11/18/gainward-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-golden-sample/1 look at this page and see for yourself

 

[dinesh]

I m looking for video because i feel games are for kids

Then there a lot of old kids in the world

just what i was thinking......




SK

You guys are still children.
Grow up

 

[skunksmash]

no, most crashes are actually caused by user input being wrong, or its most commonly known as "Fiddling".
crashes have been down to Nvidia drivers but a fix usually comes out within days, ATi/AMD dont have such a supportive driver development team.

so if i understand you correctly, Nvidia is better than ATI?

on paper, ATi/AMD have a lot more grunt in their cards, but transferring this power to games is a problem ATi/AMD cant seem to fix, so drivers are at fault, Nvidia have a very good driver support team and have made games run flawlessly where they have run crap on a more powerful ATi/AMD card.
for example, heres 2 cards, one from ATi/AMD and one from Nvidia, look at the specs of each card and compare them, ATi/AMD should be blowing the Nv card out of the water, but it doesnt.
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/1GB-XFX-GTX-280-XT-PCI-E-20-(x16)-Mem-2400MHz-GDDR3-GPU-640MHz-240-Cores-2x-DL-DVI-I-HDTV <Nvidia card 280GTX
11133-04-20R - 1GB Sapphire HD 4870, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), 3600MHz GDDR5, GPU 750MHz, 800 Cores, 2x DL DVI-I/ HDTV, HDCP - Scan.co.uk <ATi/AMD card HD4870

comparison tests between these two cards are shocking,
bit-tech.net | Review - Gainward Radeon HD 4870 1GB Golden Sample look at this page and see for yourself

ok.... ATI & Nvidia cannot be compared, they're architecture is completely different....


for instance.. a 4870 has 800SPs & the GTX260 has 216SPs, & ATI has DDR5 & Nvidia has DDR3...

now on paper the ATI card looks much better, but in reality ITS NOT.

ATI SPs do not have their own clock, they run the same speed as the core, usually around 750mhz, Nvidia's SPs have their own clock speed, usually double the speed of the core... about 1300mhz, this is why Nvidia don't need as many B/C their SPs are better designed, ATI just add more & more until they match the performance of the Nvidia counterpart...

now the VRAM....... ATI's DDR5 is running about 3.4ghz...''super quick'', but Nvidia's DDR3 runs at about 2.1ghz, but they perform the same, why..?? b/c the bus speeds on the cards differ.....the 4870 has a 256bit bus, & the Nvidia card has a 448bit bus...

so even though the ATI RAM runs faster the card cant access it as fast as the Nvidia card can access its DDR3...

this is why they cant really be compared......




SK

 

[smarteyeball]

You guys are still children.
Grow up

lol, no thanks granddad

 

[Everlong]

so if i understand you correctly, Nvidia is better than ATI?

on paper, ATi/AMD have a lot more grunt in their cards, but transferring this power to games is a problem ATi/AMD cant seem to fix, so drivers are at fault, Nvidia have a very good driver support team and have made games run flawlessly where they have run crap on a more powerful ATi/AMD card.
for example, heres 2 cards, one from ATi/AMD and one from Nvidia, look at the specs of each card and compare them, ATi/AMD should be blowing the Nv card out of the water, but it doesnt.
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/1GB-XFX-GTX-280-XT-PCI-E-20-(x16)-Mem-2400MHz-GDDR3-GPU-640MHz-240-Cores-2x-DL-DVI-I-HDTV <Nvidia card 280GTX
11133-04-20R - 1GB Sapphire HD 4870, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), 3600MHz GDDR5, GPU 750MHz, 800 Cores, 2x DL DVI-I/ HDTV, HDCP - Scan.co.uk <ATi/AMD card HD4870

comparison tests between these two cards are shocking,
bit-tech.net | Review - Gainward Radeon HD 4870 1GB Golden Sample look at this page and see for yourself

ok.... ATI & Nvidia cannot be compared, they're architecture is completely different....


for instance.. a 4870 has 800SPs & the GTX260 has 216SPs, & ATI has DDR5 & Nvidia has DDR3...

now on paper the ATI card looks much better, but in reality ITS NOT.

ATI SPs do not have their own clock, they run the same speed as the core, usually around 750mhz, Nvidia's SPs have their own clock speed, usually double the speed of the core... about 1300mhz, this is why Nvidia don't need as many B/C their SPs are better designed, ATI just add more & more until they match the performance of the Nvidia counterpart...

now the VRAM....... ATI's DDR5 is running about 3.4ghz...''super quick'', but Nvidia's DDR3 runs at about 2.1ghz, but they perform the same, why..?? b/c the bus speeds on the cards differ.....the 4870 has a 256bit bus, & the Nvidia card has a 448bit bus...

so even though the ATI RAM runs faster the card cant access it as fast as the Nvidia card can access its DDR3...

this is why they cant really be compared......




SK

Don't forget Nvidia card's independent texture fill rate

But Skunk did explain it well. ATI just seem to pile up the shaders to try and match Nvidia cards.

 

[Techymike]

You can now see why I mentioned a new thread......LOL LMAO

 

[dinesh]

So finally i m planning to have this config for my new desktop:
1: Intel 965 Mobo
2: Nvidia 9800 GS graphics card
3: 4 GB DDR2 RAM
4: 550 W PSU.
5: 19" FP monitor.
Intel Q 6600.
Thanks for all your suggestions and help.

 

[96accord]

So finally i m planning to have this config for my new desktop:
1: Intel 965 Mobo
2: Nvidia 9800 GS graphics card
3: 4 GB DDR2 RAM
4: 550 W PSU.
5: 19" FP monitor.
Intel Q 6600.
Thanks for all your suggestions and help.

Intel 965 what? Intel DG965WH?

I have that motherboard and I am looking for a replacement. Had some issues with the USB ports saying "USB Device not Recognized". It's SOOO damn annoying too!

 

[dinesh]

So finally i m planning to have this config for my new desktop:
1: Intel 965 Mobo
2: Nvidia 9800 GS graphics card
3: 4 GB DDR2 RAM
4: 550 W PSU.
5: 19" FP monitor.
Intel Q 6600.
Thanks for all your suggestions and help.

Intel 965 what? Intel DG965WH?

I have that motherboard and I am looking for a replacement. Had some issues with the USB ports saying "USB Device not Recognized". It's SOOO damn annoying too!

Oh really? Thanks for letting me know. I actually dont like the mobo too. Please suggest me a better motherboard considering al these above specs.

 

[dinesh]

What motherboard would you guys recommend?
1: Gigabyte
2: Intel
3: AMD
4: ASUS
5: Nvidia

 

[Techymike]

Gigabyte is my choice! They offer more options for the money and also if you toast the MB they still do an RMA real fast! LOL

 

[dinesh]

Gigabyte is my choice! They offer more options for the money and also if you toast the MB they still do an RMA real fast! LOL

which model?

 

[xguntherc]

I'd STRONGLY recommend you get the Gigabyte P45-UD3P.. as the UD3P is the best version for overclocking Quads..

I'd get that, or get the ASUS P5Q-Deluxe.. another very good Motherboard. but if your wanting to run a Nvidia Graphics card. Witch I'll say are great cards. you should get a Nvidia board.

My list would be something like this.
eVGA 750i FTW Mobo
Q6600, or even better, the Q9650. (It clock for clock is around 10% faster than the Q6600. and it runs about 15-20c Cooler.. I'd say get the Q9550. it's not much more.. like $60 more.
Nvidia Preferable XFX or eVGA only 9800GTX+. don't get the GS.. it's a terrible card. you should get a 8800GT before the 9800GS.. as the GS are lower end.
So get the eVGA 9800GTX
Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
or spend $20 more and get the 9800GTX+.. the + is a better card, as it's the newer model of the same card, with a smaller Proccesor core that runs cooler.. so get the + if you can.
Here's the + version
Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N884-AR GeForce 9800 GTX+ Superclocked Edition 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
eVGA has the best cards, and eVGA has a LIFETIME warranty. if anything EVER goes wrong, they will replace it. you can take it apart, you can change the fan inside, you can overclock it til it dies. and they will replace it.. XFX will replace it also, and BFG has a decent warranty, but no ASUS for graphics cards, or PNY, or Sparkle. just don't.
or get the MSI 9800GTX+ for cheaper than the eVGA. and a free Call Of Duty World at War, with a better fan, much better cooling, and with a Mail in Rebate. I'd strongly say get this over the 9800GS
Newegg.com - MSI N9800GTX Plus-512M OC GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

lol.. let me know if you have any questions.

 

[xguntherc]

This board.. very very popular.. see that. almost 500 people have got it.
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

or this.
Newegg.com - EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

I have the 750i FTW and I love it.

 

[96accord]

Newegg.com - MSI N9800GTX Plus-512M OC GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Had a few questions for ya....

9800GTX vs 9800GTX + is the same price after rebate and the + is $10 more before rebate.

Non+ - Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
+ version - Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N884-AR GeForce 9800 GTX+ Superclocked Edition 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

This board.. very very popular.. see that. almost 500 people have got it.
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

or this.
Newegg.com - EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

I have the 750i FTW and I love it.

Question about the boards.. You have the 750i....

There is two versions

EVGA 122-YW-E173-TR LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard ( Newegg.com - EVGA 122-YW-E173-TR LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards)


or

EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard (Newegg.com - EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards)



which is better?

 

[Techymike]

The EX58-UD4P Motherboard with the Intel i& 920 and 6GB of the Corsair Dominator DDR3 1600(PC3 12800) Triple Channel memory with a Seagate 750 GB 32 MB HD viewed by two 3870X2 crossfired then powered by A Coolermaster 1000 w power supply all stuffed into an Antek 900 extra cooled then watched on a 50 Inch Panasonic Plasma with the use of the H20 Blue Ray/DVD Rom for the Vista x64 PC and another one is running XP Pro 32 bit on the GA-MA69GM-S2H with an AMD-5200 Dual Core, that one I built for the wife.

 

[xguntherc]

looks like he wants to go cheap, not i7.. i7 is pretty expensive.

ok accord. I'll explain here for ya.

the 9800GTX is a good card, but just like the current GTX 280, that was replaced by the GTX 285. It's on a smaller Processor Fab.. the Core inside is smaller, the original 260/280 were on 65nm Tech, and the newer ones are on 55nm tech. Same goes for the 9800GTX. the + version is the new one with the smaller 55nm Tech, They run cooler, with less power, and overclock better. So I'd recommend getting the + version. .. Also the MSI I listed is a great card, with the aftermarket cooler it would overclock better than the others as it gets great temps. but EVERY graphics card I get from Nvidia is eVGA as they have the best warranty hands down. So if you want to keep your new GPU investment safe, and have a warranty, get eVGA. if you know you'll upgrade in another year like me. get the MSI.. and overclock that baby. I do both, I pay the extra for eVGA for the warranty. and I overclock em like mad. haha. til they crash. then take it down a bit. and have fun.

OK, for the Motherboards, newegg.com had it right a few months ago, but have since changed it. Basically when the 750i Came out. there was 2 version like there is now. They had a lot of confusion on this and many people thought the board can not run SLI.. but it CAN.

Basically get the More expensive Motherboard. the 750i thats $129.99 is the SLI model, and the $179.99 version is the SLI )FTW) edition, the FTW is the best of everything eVGA.. also the SLI version can run sli, but the 2 PCI-E x16 slots only run 16x with one graphics card, if you try and run 2 in SLI. they only run in 8x.. and the FTW model runs TRUE SLI with 16x on both PCI-E slots. so if your never going to run SLI, get the cheaper SLI model. (Makes no sense to name it that way I know), but if your ever ever going to run SLI and get 2 cards, then get the more expensive FTW edition. I'm actually emailing newegg.com right now to mention they have the title wrong.

Click both Links for the Mobo's. Click Specifications. and scroll down where it says Expansion slots, the cheaper one says it runs SLI in 8x, and the more expensive one says x16 x2...

make sense.

Also if you click the pics on each Mobo link, the cheaper one. look at the box, it just says 750i, and if you look at the pics of the $179.99 one, it says 750i SLI FTW.. FTW booya!!!! lol
let me know if you have other questions.

 

[skunksmash]

he 9800GTX is a good card, but just like the current GTX 280, that was replaced by the GTX 285. It's on a smaller Processor Fab.. the Core inside is smaller, the original 260/280 were on 65nm Tech, and the newer ones are on 55nm tech. Same goes for the 9800GTX. the + version is the new one with the smaller 55nm Tech, They run cooler, with less power, and overclock better.

the 55nm refresh of the GTX260 is pretty crap IMO, it runs hotter, uses more power, it has a smaller cooler & i think the highest OC ive seen on one is a 775mhz core... most OC results i match or beat with 65nm 260.

OP....if your buying a GTX260 grab the 65nm version...

the GTX285 (as Gunther has stated) is a really good card though, certainly an improvement over its 65nm counterpart, in that it actually DOES use less power than the 280


all are good cards though at the top of the food chain....




SK

 

[xguntherc]

you are right about the 260.. it is for sure not as good. I've heard some bad stories. when they changed the 260 to 55nm.. it was After they did the 9800GTX+. and they realized it had less heat output and lower power draw. and figured it wouldn't run as hot, so put a smaller fan on it. So thats why the newer GTX 260's aren't very good. but the 9800GTX+ is better than the original.. so get that.

 

[calhounhusker]

As far as a motherboard goes I highly recommend Asus. Hands down. They make some of the best boards on the market right now.