What gfx card should i get

[Dragon45]

I'm picking up a new low-end desktop (600$-800$ from dell or ibm or w/e) soon and need some advice on gfx card - nvidia or ati? which is more compatible with

1) linux games
2) windows games
3) spring

and has less headache?

[Pxtl]

If you're getting a Dell, that means you _won't_ have the power to burn on a high-power video card. Dells are designed with power-supplies that are meant to power the current system, not a bunch of extra add-on hardware.

Anyhow, ATI is better bang-for-buck, but nVidia pwnz for compatibility (better Spring, better Linux, etc).

I have a similar setup (a Dell Vostro 200) so I went with the GeForce 9800 low-power (so I don't need a new PSU).

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=3669

[hoijui]

yeah, what pxtl said. for 1) and 3), it is 100% nvidia. for 2), i guess ATI is some better.

[bobthedinosaur]

ATI may test higher and build better hardware for the money, but it is not worth the headache over compatibility, driver, and software issues.

[Dragon45]

pxtl - what about HP?

[bobthedinosaur]

http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_ge ... 80_us.html
any thing less is not a waste of money.

[Caydr]

If you need high-quality Linux support in the short term then this is a pretty good time to buy a NV card. Vendors are dumping them as fast as they can because NV (the corporation) requires them to buy X number of old, revenue-generating cards for every recent high-end card.

A GF 250 or better will probably at least have enough features and horsepower to not make you regret the purchase immediately. A pre-owned top-of-the-line 8800 or 9800 would also be a reasonable choice.

Obviously you could steer clear of the 3xx/4xx series since they're overpriced space heaters.

[Gota]

For windows games the only issue i had is with spring and that's solved easy enough by just getting the correct driver version.

[Neddie]

Why would you buy rather than build a computer?

[Pxtl]

Why would you buy rather than build a computer?

It's cheaper unless you're pirating the OS or you already have a license you're going to reuse.

[Neddie]

I think the ability to upgrade your present rig, equipped with a decent PSU and Mobo, is more valuable than fifty or a hundred dollars. Also, Linux. I'd only buy a machine if I couldn't build an upgradable one in the form factor for an acceptable price.

[Hobo Joe]

If you're going to use Spring and Linux a lot it's 100% nVidia. Don't even bother with ATI with either of those, trust me it's a huge PITA.

ATi drivers suck even in windows anyway.

[Caydr]

ATi drivers suck even in windows anyway.

Still better than anything on Linux.

Derp derp, I'm a rebel, no need for useful software.

[Neddie]

I might be highly critical of various Linux distributions, but I'll still direct you to this list of mostly free software meeting nearly all of your non-gaming requirements.

http://packages.ubuntu.com/lucid/

[Caydr]

You get an email alert every time I post, don't you?

My main non-gaming requirements are Photoshop, UltraEdit, Max, FreePhoneLine, Media Player Classic, Nero, and Office - NOT openoffice, since I need to open and save things that the other 97% of the world can use.

[Neddie]

Oh? I thought that was AF, not you.

[Caydr]

You can tell us apart easily, I'm less fabulous.

[Neddie]

I use OpenOffice for all Office functions at the office, and nobody has any compatibility problems with the files I send out. Similarly, GIMP is my Photoshop replacement. UltraEdit is on Linux as UEx, and there are other comparable text editors. FPL probably works fine in a VM, or even possibly with Wine. MPC is easily covered by VLC and MPlayer. Nero could be replaced either by NeroLinux or K3B.

Note that under Windows I run with OpenOffice, GIMP, Notepad++, VLC and DeepBurner in the place of your chosen suite.

[AF]

You can tell us apart easily, I'm less fabulous.

[forest_devil]

AF you may regret that image especially with some of the forum users

i dont see what the whole ATI sucks things is about. tbh my ati drivers run BETTER on linux then on my vista partition. but i should hold judgement until ive tried nvidia (which is unlikely since i refuse to pay such prices for crap hardware)

if you go with ubuntu i know ati drivers arnt in their by default. but it loads just fine and all u need do is open the package manager and type "ATI"