ATI or NVIDIA

[DirtRider]

It seems to me that I am seeing plenty threads on this forum and other forums of of people having issues with ATI cards but not any with people having issue with NVIDIA on W7. Personally I tried my first ATI card around 2 months back but eventually with all my issues I had with it I had it changed out and went back to NVIDIA.

So what card would you say works better for you?

Also see this thread http://www.sevenforums.com/graphic-cards/103903-graphics-issues-what-chipset-combination.html

 

[baarod]

ATI. I was an nVidia guy for a long time and especially liked their chip-sets for their integrated graphics. But then they forgot what efficiency and clever design was like Intel did with the Netburst P4s. Now we have to throw so much power at these cards they need special supplies and separate feeds. That just raised the price too much to be competitive with ATI which didn't need all that extra junk, was on a smaller fabrication process and as a result ran cooler on less power.

 

[Darician]

Nvidia. After 3dfx went under, I tried an ATI as I hated Nvidia for buying them out but good lord did their drivers suck; this was back in 2004 when ATI still made their own cards. I then finally caved and bought an Nvidia card and it was the smoothest I ever had as the install was cake.

Since then, I've bought only Nvidia cards. Recently, I took the plunged back into the ATI world but their drivers, although quite improved still suck compared to Nvidia drivers as they are more cumbersome to deal with whereas Nvidia drivers just sit in the background and shut up. Additionally, I found that on some lower end PCs where video acceleration is highly important to me, ATI cards don't accelerate WMV and WMV HD files whereas Nvidia cards do it with ease.

That, and CUDA has won me over. That's actually why I still have a GT 220, because I'm waiting on the lower end Nvidia Fermi DX 11 Cards such as a potential GTS 450 or 440, which would be perfect for me.

 

[Wishmaster]

ATI for me.

I have never really had any issues as many have had. But I only run a single card so that might be some or I may just have been lucky.

 

[Manigue]

ATI after several nVidia cards. Using two XFX 5770 crossfired with excellent results. Both with intensive graphic applications as well as games. Will be hard to go back to nVidia.

 

[Lordbob75]

/facepalm on another fanboy thread.

Despite the arguments this thread will generate, I will vote and post regardless...

In my personal experience, I have yet to have a real problem with an NVidia card I have bought. My first card was an ATI Raedon (I forget the model) which burned out on me, back before I really knew much about computers, and had my dad's friend drop in a new card (which turned out to be a NVidia 7500GT I think). That card has lasted me (and still works to this day!).
My next card was an NVidia 9500GT, because it was cheap (on sale for $40) and I was more familiar with NVidia cards. My current card is a NVidia N260GTX, and I really like it (I do with it had DX 11).

Now, this is the important part: I have yet to have a major issue with an NVidia card.
Before I bought the 260, I grabbed an ATI HD5770 from the shop and dropped that in the rig. I liked how the card looked, felt, and it was special because it was my first "high power" graphics card. I took my time installing it, took pictures, and just enjoyed how cool it was.
Then I turned on the computer.

Don't get me wrong, the card displayed just fine, etc. The problem was installing drivers. I couldn't. After around 8 hours of research (thats right, constant research) and finding LITERALLY almost no information (I did not find info on temps of cards (intending to OC), driver installations, etc). Just nothing! It was as if no one knew ATI made the card! There was next to no info on their site as well.
I downloaded drivers from multiple sites, etc. In the end, I got the driver to install by running it from command prompt (after having to figure that out), and waited for like 30mins for it to work.

To be completely honest, the card was great, it overclocked well, and I really, REALLY liked how it performed.
But it was the complete lack of information, the terrible support on ATI's forums (by its members and staff), and the TERRIBLE drivers (apparently it is a known FACT that ATI does not know how to code drivers....) that made me return the card and get an NVidia card.
I should say that I did go back and exchange it for a different brand (same model, from XFX to Sapphire) card to try again, with the SAME results.

So for me, I might try ATI again, but they have REALLY disappointed me with their drivers and support.
I would go NVidia if you want a stable and easy to install card.

~Lordbob

 

[smarteyeball]

I've done my time with ATI - I'll be going back to Nvidia next time around.

I've had just too many niggling issues that has soured the entire ATI experience for me. Great hardware marred by woeful support. 'nuff said.

 

[DirtRider]

All the years I have run NVIDIA I have just inserted the card loaded the software and that was it. None of this tweaking here and tweaking there to get it to work

 

[Zepher]

I've used both.
my gaming cards have been in this order:
ATI 9600XT
NV 6800
NV 7800GS
ATI 1950Pro
NV 9800GT
NV GTX260
NV GTX285
ATI HD5850

 

[bobtran]

I have used Nvidia for a long time now and as stated above the only problems I have experienced was with ATI cards. I do run multiple cards in SLI and still have not had a single hiccup with Nvidia, they just work.

Best of luck with whatever you choose to use.

 

[thefabe]

Nivida always. Just plug it in load drivers and go. With that being said I think ATI has come a long way and can't say I'm not going to give them a good look on my next build due to price and performance and the fact XFX is now offering them.Lifetime warranty is always a big part in my decisions with graphic cards.
But most likely will still go with 2 GTX 460's in SLI or 1 480 but who knows what will be avalible when the time comes. Fabe

 

[hawkin90]

I've only had one ATI card ever some years ago but quickly changed it to nvidia. Their drivers are amazingly friendly, and im such a physx/cuda fanboy, can't help it. My 480 SLI setup makes me a happy guy

 

[OneSerious]

I'll say what I do ever time this question comes up. I've never had an issue with either of two ATI cards I've had. I hear all this talk of driver problems and I can honestly say it has never happened to me. I install all the new drivers as they come out with no fuss. I had an Nvidia 8600GTS for a while too and to and it gave me no bother either. I will be sticking to ATI for my next card.

 

[Lordbob75]

As I have seen, ATI drivers work for some and not for others...
My friend bought the exact same card at the exact same time in his similar rig, and he had no problems with his.
Not sure what the deal is with ATI's drivers.....

~Lordbob

 

[Pusspa]

LOL my system specs make me seem like a liar. My excuse is, its kinda hard to change the graphics card in a laptop. but i think ATI has better tv-out.

 

[smarteyeball]

XFX is now offering them.Lifetime warranty is always a big part in my decisions with graphic cards.

With XFX, you need the warranty - they aren't the quality brand they used to be.

(2 out of 3 dead XFX cards has personally put me off the brand)

Not sure what the deal is with ATI's drivers.....

No body knows what the deal with them is

 

[cloud8521]

XFX is now offering them.Lifetime warranty is always a big part in my decisions with graphic cards.

With XFX, you need the warranty - they aren't the quality brand they used to be.

(2 out of 3 dead XFX cards has personally put me off the brand)

Not sure what the deal is with ATI's drivers.....

No body knows what the deal with them is

i still dont get it because in all my systems i never had a problem with any ati card, and never any problem with any Nvida card. i just dunno. i perfer Ati becasue its always worked for me

 

[DirtRider]

Well I have heard people say that if you run AMD with ATI it seems to work best so this may be the thing to remember. Personaly I cannot say never really looked into it as I have also always only been with Intel

 

[cloud8521]

Well I have heard people say that if you run AMD with ATI it seems to work best so this may be the thing to remember. Personaly I cannot say never really looked into it as I have also always only been with Intel

only my newest computer has been AMD, all the rest intel

 

[pparks1]

I've owned single card implementations of both and have been happy
Radeon 9700 Pro
GeForce 6800
Radeon X800XT
GeForce 7600GT
GeForce 9800 GTX+

If I were to buy another card this moment, without question it would be a Radeon 5850. Best bang for the buck, extremely quiet card, low power consumption.