Display Card, again

[bbson john]

Which graphic card can help my computer runs hl2 episodes, with HDR, highest graphic quality on, extremely smoothly? I want a fast card, not money-saving card.

 

[Apocalypse89]

The top 3 absolute most powerful cards out there right now are the Geforce 7950GX2, Radeon X1900XTX, and Geforce 7900GTX. All 3 should chew up any Source game out right now without any problems.

But if you want "bang for your buck" get a 7900GT.

 

[bbson john]

How much?

Okay, I got this http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2005/09/21/lost_coast_benchmark/2.html.
What is Bleeding-edge?

 

[Apocalypse89]

Bleeding-edge means the absolute highest. But don't get a 7800 series like that article suggests. The 7900 series cards are cheaper, more powerful, consume less power, and produce less heat.

 

[giant384]

anthor vote for 7900gt/gtx

 

[3ssence]

my vote is with X1800/X1900XT

 

[giant384]

augh are we going to have a nvidia vs ati fight again?

 

[mr spoon]

ATi is traditionally stronger with Source games. 7900GT is the best value card available now though, IMO.

 

[giant384]

ati vs nvidia in a source game is barely noticable

 

[Asus]

7900 is this year. 7800 is old.
Current gfx cards benchmarked on HL2 lost coast.

take up two slots
7950GX2 550$
7900GTX 450$ (newegg)
X1900XTX 450$
X1900XT 400$
X1800XT 240$

single slot
7900GT 260$
7800GTX 370$

here is another review with HL2 Ep1 numbers.
All cards are PCI-Express.

I'd pick either the 7900GT or X1900XT.

 

[hungryduck]

ati vs nvidia in a source game is barely noticable

QFT....
in the days of the ati 9800 and the nvidia FX seriest this was true, but alas, not anymore...
go ATI or Nvidia, whatever suites your taste.

 

[3ssence]

augh are we going to have a nvidia vs ati fight again?

lmao, that's a smart thing to say.....

someone gives there vote for nvidia, someone else gives a vote for ati, oh noes, i see a fanboy war ?!

er, no.

 

[Steven]

The absoulute most powerful card you can get is the SLI (or whatever ATI calls it) version of the X1900XTX

 

[hneaz]

its called Crossfire....oh man, ATI should create the xfire version of 1900 xtx. its gonna be a pwnage card!

 

[bbson john]

In what aspect ATi is better then GForece? Which one is normally cheaper?

 

[Moxie Wolf]

Just get Ither one, one thats cheapest for you, you'll be fine

 

[hneaz]

In what aspect ATi is better then GForece? Which one is normally cheaper?

I believe that ATI cards can do HDR and AntiAliasing at the same time, but the benchmarks are similar to nvidia cards. either cards would do, doesn really matter, as long as u get a cheap and durable card.

 

[ALT_F4]

how is ati better that nvidia? and go for the 7900, 7950 looks more like a proffesianol desighners card, unless your going for quad sli

 

[giant384]

who really cares about hdr + aa if you play at 1280x1024 + you dont really need aa

 

[Cole]

It is still something. The fact that ATI has 2 seperate buffers, one for AA and another for HDR.

Another thing ATI is going to do better? ATI's Dx10 card will have shaders that act as both pixel\vertex. Nvidia will have set Pixel\Vertex shaders. Therefor as long as ATI can make there card faster, they will easily beat Nvidia's card. Because a developer could easily just set up the same amount of shaders as Nvidia's card and if the card is faster they would achieve better results.

 

[giant384]

It is still something. The fact that ATI has 2 seperate buffers, one for AA and another for HDR.

Another thing ATI is going to do better? ATI's Dx10 card will have shaders that act as both pixel\vertex. Nvidia will have set Pixel\Vertex shaders. Therefor as long as ATI can make there card faster, they will easily beat Nvidia's card. Because a developer could easily just set up the same amount of shaders as Nvidia's card and if the card is faster they would achieve better results.

well i prefer nvidia over ati mainly because they run cooler and use less power ,but i do know about the unified shaders for the ati and it will do well but they are not out yet

 

[Tyguy]

I have a 7900GT and it works very good.......cheap too