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#1 2005-06-07 16:52:14

sud_crow
Member
From: Argentina
Registered: 2003-06-30
Posts: 546
Website

ATI or nVidia?

Im almost there on buying a new video card, i hardly ever use Windows, but if i do, i do it because of games... i do like playing once in a while, so this is a some-weight factor in the decision.

Since im in Linux ATI has always stincked, but maybe they have improved a little since the first releases. So this is the scenary:

The thing is, i spend all my time in Linux, except when i play, and i would like to have a good performance in both things, i dont know how much we will have to wait until we see native games for Linux everywhere, but im quite sure it wont be soon (so, most probably my videocard will be out-of-specs by that time).

This are the options:
XFX nVidia 6200A (AGP) 256mb = 108 U$S
Saphire Radeon 9600 Pro 256mb = 130 U$S

What do you think?


Leonardo Andrés Gallego
www.archlinux-es.org || Comunidad Hispana de Arch Linux

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#2 2005-06-07 18:17:58

arooaroo
Member
From: London, UK
Registered: 2005-01-13
Posts: 1,268
Website

Re: ATI or nVidia?

ATI on Linux is improving, but let's face it, they were so poor initially that they could only improve! I've managed to get ATI drivers working ok, but it's still nowhere near as smooth as it was with nVidia - and I dare say it's got even better in recent months.

I personally wish I still had an nVidia chip, and so that's what I would recommend to others too.

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#3 2005-06-07 18:31:54

droog
Member
Registered: 2004-11-18
Posts: 877

Re: ATI or nVidia?

Heres a good article i read yesterday that shows the progress of ati and nvidia on linux. ati is starting to make big improvements, but it will be awhile before they catch up to nvidia. I would definately go nvidia for now.
http://www.anandtech.com/linux/showdoc.aspx?i=2302

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#4 2005-06-07 18:33:01

ozar
Member
From: USA
Registered: 2005-02-18
Posts: 1,686

Re: ATI or nVidia?

I've always stuck with nVidia and never regretted it, at least so far.   8)


oz

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#5 2005-06-07 18:53:07

Snowman
Developer/Forum Fellow
From: Montreal, Canada
Registered: 2004-08-20
Posts: 5,212

Re: ATI or nVidia?

sud_crow wrote:

Saphire Radeon 9600 Pro 256mb = 130 U$S

What do you think?

I have no experience with Saphire but  the guy at the computer shop suggested me NOT to buy a Saphire (or Powercolor) video card. He didn't say why.  It could be because I'm getting a high-end computer and that they are low-end video cards. Or maybe there are some problems with them.  I don't know...

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#6 2005-06-07 19:32:09

sud_crow
Member
From: Argentina
Registered: 2003-06-30
Posts: 546
Website

Re: ATI or nVidia?

Hi,

Yes i agree with (all of) you, but, as i sayd above, i plan to use it in Windows too... the thing is i would like to now if its worth it to sacrifice a little (or is it a lot?) performance in Linux for a better performance/cost relation in Windows...

@droog:
I read that article long time ago, thats why i was thinking in asking, because things _should_ have changed quite a bit since december last year till now.

@Snowman
Actually, they are not that bad, i used to sell and now a couple of friends with Saphire cards, they are just a bit cheaper than major brands (and their factory is the one which supplies Built By ATI to ATI). But as you sayd they are not at the high end mainly because the bundled stuff.. not the hard quality.

The comparison in itself its more targeted at the chips, 6200A or R9600Pro than the board manufacturer, i just placed the name and price in case someone was curious.

Thanks for the input everyone, i guess you dont think its a good thing to sacrifice some performance on Linux for some better performance/cost in the windows world, do you?


Leonardo Andrés Gallego
www.archlinux-es.org || Comunidad Hispana de Arch Linux

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#7 2005-06-08 02:47:44

iBertus
Member
From: Greenville, NC
Registered: 2004-11-04
Posts: 2,228

Re: ATI or nVidia?

The XFX 6200 should provide more than enough power for both Linux and Windows unless you're going to be playing some really ultra new games. I'm using an GeForceFX 5700 256MB AGP and no problems with Doom 3 (on medium) in Windows or Linux. I did overclocked this card just a bit. I used to be an ATI nut before switching to Linux, but the sad state of their drivers have kept me with nVidia for the past few years.

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#8 2005-06-08 11:36:31

Dreameen
Member
From: Poland
Registered: 2004-09-06
Posts: 252

Re: ATI or nVidia?

iBertus wrote:

I'm using an GeForceFX 5700 256MB AGP and no problems with Doom 3 (on medium) in Windows or Linux. I did overclocked this card just a bit.

Would you mind telling me what app did you use to OC that card in linux?

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#9 2005-06-08 21:25:44

dogbait
Member
From: London, UK
Registered: 2005-03-26
Posts: 13

Re: ATI or nVidia?

NVClock will do it.

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#10 2005-06-08 21:59:00

Dreameen
Member
From: Poland
Registered: 2004-09-06
Posts: 252

Re: ATI or nVidia?

NVClock v0.7

It seems your card isn't officialy supported in NVClock yet.
The reason can be that your card is too new.
If you want to try it anyhow [DANGEROUS], use the option -f to force the setting(s).
NVClock will then assume your card is a 'normal', it might be dangerous on other cards.
Also please email the author the pci_id of the card for further investigation.
[Get that value using the -i option].

That's interesting. Is it safe to OC my gf 5500 fx? Oh, and I have to get the default values for the card first, because #nvclock -i doesn't work. I'll fiddle with it later..[/code]

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#11 2005-06-08 22:22:02

deficite
Member
From: Augusta, GA
Registered: 2005-06-02
Posts: 693

Re: ATI or nVidia?

The latest version of the nVidia driver has CoolBits as well (for overclocking). I've always used nVidia since I bought my first graphics card (GeForce 3 Ti) and I've only once regretted buying one (GeForce FX 5200, an utter piece of junk). As long as you buy a card outside of the FX series you will be very happy in both Windows and Linux (even more in Linux). The 6xxx line shows that nVidia is back and ATi has yet to put anything out to compete, IMHO. ATi's next line of cards will probably put nVidia in the dust, unless nVidia puts something else out. ATi's X series is more or less just an extension of the 9xxx series (they ran out of numbers so they had to go to roman numerals).

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#12 2005-06-09 00:11:15

GuyonAsm
Member
Registered: 2004-05-25
Posts: 49

Re: ATI or nVidia?

I have an ATI Radeon 9550 Pro. It works fine for me. Although nvidia is more supported, I initially bought this ati card to play games on windows, but since I've found a lot that I could play on linux, this card has done me good thus far.

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#13 2005-06-09 16:09:42

Dreameen
Member
From: Poland
Registered: 2004-09-06
Posts: 252

Re: ATI or nVidia?

I know that Gf 5500 fx was not the best choice. On the other hand, I'm not much of a gamer so I didn't care about the model of my gf card when buying the computer. And the fact that the card was cheap and available made my choice even easier;)

It's not so bad though, I can still play the few games that interest me(HL2 - 1024x768 Full Detail, Doom3 - 800x600 Medium Detail, UT2004 - 1024x768 Full Detail), enjoying a decent frame rate and graphics quality.

I guess I'll check the new nvidia drivers then and see the new OC features.

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#14 2005-06-09 16:39:29

iBertus
Member
From: Greenville, NC
Registered: 2004-11-04
Posts: 2,228

Re: ATI or nVidia?

I used a BIOS mod to OC the card. Check out mvktech.net and download the nvidia bios editor. I then changed the clock frequencies directly and reflashed the card. Now, my OC is operation system independant.

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