Need help choosing a video card

[W1nTry]

even Intel's graphics drivers were better IMO

You've just null and voided your right to an opinion.... O_O intel.... *W1nTry whacks Netizen with a rubber chicken* As someone who owns both nvidia and ati based cards, I can honestly say that AMDs graphic drivers are quite decent and at least they managed to keep it unified. Do you know that Nvidia has a seperate driver for its DX10 parts? did you know that nvidia was trying to force a site that mods its drivers to allow the newer drivers to work with DX9 parts to cease and desist modding the drivers because it goes against their whole strategy to force their customers into upgrading their parts as the newer drivers won't support 'older' cards. Same said 'new' drivers onyl require a mod to the .ini file to WORK with older cards, so its not actually that they don't support it but rather CHOOSE NOT to support it? What about the fact that Nvidia STILL doesn't have a WORKING Vista SLI driver?
Now don't get me the wrong way here, I think nvidia cards are terrific. Heck my current rig is an nforce4 ultra mobo and I intend to buy a 8800GTS most likely when I am ready to go DX10. But what I don't appreciate about your post is that imho there is little to support your argument. The catalyst drivers for Linux surpass those of Nvidia and that to me is a testiment to how hard DAAMIT works to provide their customers the best they can.

[Arcmanov]

He's got a point there (well, kinda).  While I love Nvidia's cards, their driver support leaves a lot to be desired sometimes.
Imagine, their Vista drivers STILL don't support custom resolutions (such a BASIC thing).  So users of widescreen LCDs
with not-so-common resolutions (like 1440 x 900) are screwed, as those do not exist in the 'Settings' panel.

Look how LONG since Vista RC-1 come out.  You mean to tell me UP TO NOW, they can't fix the bloody drivers!!?

sssttteeeuuuppsssssss..........

[Netizen1]

I'm sorry but my judgements were made on my personal experiences.

However, I am willing to concede that I haven't tried every possible combination of OS and hardware to make an "informed" decision.




Yeah right, I like NVIDIA, always have, always will. I'll try out the new Catalyst drivers on my cousin's ATI rig and see how they've improved since last I had to deal with them.

Also, I may be upgrading my work laptop to Vista soon, so I'll get to see the ATI mobility drivers on Vista, and whether or not there's any problem or performance hit.

Yes I do game on my work lappy, so I'll have a fair idea of what to expect of my trusty T43

How about this card?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814122024

$100 US

Mem speed is 1.4GHz and not 2GHz as advertised though.

Leadtek? What brand is that? Sorry, but I prefer to trust my hard earned cash to manu's I've heard of

[Spazosaurus]

Leadtek is a very well known brand thats been around for a long time now. Its a very reputable brand, right up there with eVGA and the likes.

[W1nTry]

Yes I have to agre here, Leadtek is a well established brand that isn't perhaps as well known as eVGA as they are more conservative on their cards.. meaning more reference design than OCed versions. Still a decent brand. In fact at one point I was considering the Leadtek 7950GT prior to the purchase of my X1900XT

[Spazosaurus]

According to this [H] Enthusiast review, an 8600gt is definately the way to go since it is faster and priced the same as the 2600xt.

[Netizen1]

Craziness in this place yes,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130085
EVGA 256-P2-N751-TR GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
US$99.99 after rebate, my word

Now I have to reconsider, the 7900GS or the 8600GT?

[W1nTry]

Well thats a no brainer :p