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What is the difference between NVIDIA and ATI?
- Thread starter NpM858
- Start date
There's a lot more to a video card than just the amount of memory...
Generally speaking, an equally priced ATI card is equivilent to an equally priced nVidia card in terms of performance.
So the differences? To me, this is how I see the two companies:
ATI is very good at making fast cards that match DirectX specifications with extra attention given to the "extras" like their AIW line, output quality, dvd quality.
nVidia too makes fast cards but focus much more on building the hardware and software drivers based on how actual games are written and involves themselves with the game developers to help optimize their coding (as opposed to just stopping once DirectX specifications are met).
So what card should you buy? The ultimate end factor is performance, and how much performance you want just comes down to how much $$ you are willing to spend. Comparing product lines between companies, you're going to find that the matches offer equal performance for roughly equal dollar , so flip a coin?
Generally speaking, an equally priced ATI card is equivilent to an equally priced nVidia card in terms of performance.
So the differences? To me, this is how I see the two companies:
ATI is very good at making fast cards that match DirectX specifications with extra attention given to the "extras" like their AIW line, output quality, dvd quality.
nVidia too makes fast cards but focus much more on building the hardware and software drivers based on how actual games are written and involves themselves with the game developers to help optimize their coding (as opposed to just stopping once DirectX specifications are met).
So what card should you buy? The ultimate end factor is performance, and how much performance you want just comes down to how much $$ you are willing to spend. Comparing product lines between companies, you're going to find that the matches offer equal performance for roughly equal dollar , so flip a coin?
Right on all accounts, dakota81.
I am an nVidia guy and have been since the GeForce 2 in 1998. For gaming at home, I have 2 PCs and both are nVidia tech. I have always been happy with nVidia cards and I see no reason why this will change in the future. Yes, I will probably a NV35 - when I can afford it.
Yet, objectively I must admit that whether you look at the benchmarks () or the technology, ATI and nVidia are neck-to-neck. Sure, there are differences. And yes, some of them can be cause for lengthy and heated discussion among the more nerdy of us. But in the end, the guy who plays the game just wants to have lag-free images and enjoy the eyecandy to the best of his wallet's abilities.
So I'd say choosing between the two is much more a matter of taste and budget then it is a question of difference and technology. Both makers have budget cards that are great value, and high-end cards that really kick it.
Yet, I seem to find more entries in Tek-Tips forums and elsewhere for ATI products than for nVidia products. I have personally never had any problems with nVidia products and have used GeForce cards exclusively since 1998. No driver issues, ever. No PC issues due to video, ever. No TV-out issues either, but only one experience with my GF4 on that. It was simple to set up and it worked on first try. That counts.
I could go on a long description of ATI driver issues and nVidia driver experience, but in the end I'd just end up where dakota81 left off. Your budget is a more important reference than whether you should buy ATI or nVidia.
I am an nVidia guy and have been since the GeForce 2 in 1998. For gaming at home, I have 2 PCs and both are nVidia tech. I have always been happy with nVidia cards and I see no reason why this will change in the future. Yes, I will probably a NV35 - when I can afford it.
Yet, objectively I must admit that whether you look at the benchmarks () or the technology, ATI and nVidia are neck-to-neck. Sure, there are differences. And yes, some of them can be cause for lengthy and heated discussion among the more nerdy of us. But in the end, the guy who plays the game just wants to have lag-free images and enjoy the eyecandy to the best of his wallet's abilities.
So I'd say choosing between the two is much more a matter of taste and budget then it is a question of difference and technology. Both makers have budget cards that are great value, and high-end cards that really kick it.
Yet, I seem to find more entries in Tek-Tips forums and elsewhere for ATI products than for nVidia products. I have personally never had any problems with nVidia products and have used GeForce cards exclusively since 1998. No driver issues, ever. No PC issues due to video, ever. No TV-out issues either, but only one experience with my GF4 on that. It was simple to set up and it worked on first try. That counts.
I could go on a long description of ATI driver issues and nVidia driver experience, but in the end I'd just end up where dakota81 left off. Your budget is a more important reference than whether you should buy ATI or nVidia.
The choice should be the best performing card, with the most features, AT ANY GIVEN PRICE POINT.
A comparison can be made, one card against another but comparing one manufacturers whole product range to anothers is pointless, unless you compare price for price across the ranges.
Statements about ATI cards being incompatible with some games maybe true but I was listening to one of my colleages comments the other day (he has a ATI 9800pro and an Nvidia's 5900 ultra) he likes the 5900 ultra but he cannot play alot of his games, unlike with his ATI, so have things reversed?
In conclusion: choose your price point and buy the best performing card, with the most suitable features for you, wether ATI or Nvidia because both are good.
Martin
Replying helps further our knowledge, without comment leaves us wondering.
A comparison can be made, one card against another but comparing one manufacturers whole product range to anothers is pointless, unless you compare price for price across the ranges.
Statements about ATI cards being incompatible with some games maybe true but I was listening to one of my colleages comments the other day (he has a ATI 9800pro and an Nvidia's 5900 ultra) he likes the 5900 ultra but he cannot play alot of his games, unlike with his ATI, so have things reversed?
In conclusion: choose your price point and buy the best performing card, with the most suitable features for you, wether ATI or Nvidia because both are good.
Martin
Replying helps further our knowledge, without comment leaves us wondering.
Both of the companies are pretty equal now. In the past ATI had issues with driver support, but it seems that they have finally figured out the error in their ways.
I used to be an ATI person, but when my Rage Fury Maxx wasn't supported in Win2K, it was off to nVidia I went, and I have been happy ever since.
One thing to keep in mind is that higher end video cards are out performing just about anything you are going to use it for. Going with a lower end card is probably the best bang for the buck right now. Like a GF4 ti4200 w/128MB of ram. This can be had for about $100-125 and it will work well with every game on the market. If you pay $300-400 for the high end card, you will be pretty upset when they are $150 in 4-6 months.
I used to be an ATI person, but when my Rage Fury Maxx wasn't supported in Win2K, it was off to nVidia I went, and I have been happy ever since.
One thing to keep in mind is that higher end video cards are out performing just about anything you are going to use it for. Going with a lower end card is probably the best bang for the buck right now. Like a GF4 ti4200 w/128MB of ram. This can be had for about $100-125 and it will work well with every game on the market. If you pay $300-400 for the high end card, you will be pretty upset when they are $150 in 4-6 months.
timmay3141
Programmer
I'll agree with everyone so far that you could flip a coin to choose between nVidia and ATI as long as you dont get an NV30 card or a Radeon 9600. Personally, I'm an ATI fan (since the 9700 Pro came out), but as long as you don't get an NV30 card, you'll do just fine getting a GeForce.
One thing you should be aware of is that ATI has much better anti-aliasing than nVidia. Most of the gaming reviews seem to indicate that an nVidia card's 8xAA is roughly equivilant to an ATI card's 4xAA. I hear that nVidia is working on fixing this problem, but hasn't as of yet.
I don't know where you are getting ATI is more expensive, pricewatch.com shows the high-end Radeon card (9800 Pro 256MB) as being cheaper than the approximately equal GeForce card (5900 Ultra).
The card I'd recommend right now is the Radeon 9500 Pro, if you can still find one. They are very fast, can easily be overclocked to a 9700 Pro, and are only around $200. Don't get a 9600 Pro, it's actually quite a bit slower than the 9500 Pro.
One thing you should be aware of is that ATI has much better anti-aliasing than nVidia. Most of the gaming reviews seem to indicate that an nVidia card's 8xAA is roughly equivilant to an ATI card's 4xAA. I hear that nVidia is working on fixing this problem, but hasn't as of yet.
I don't know where you are getting ATI is more expensive, pricewatch.com shows the high-end Radeon card (9800 Pro 256MB) as being cheaper than the approximately equal GeForce card (5900 Ultra).
The card I'd recommend right now is the Radeon 9500 Pro, if you can still find one. They are very fast, can easily be overclocked to a 9700 Pro, and are only around $200. Don't get a 9600 Pro, it's actually quite a bit slower than the 9500 Pro.
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