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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10273
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Link Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject: NVIDIA vs ATI |
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Morning All,
My Abit F-I90HD motherboard died about a week or two after it started giving me CMOS errors. First time I had a motherboard last so short of a lifetime. I think I probably had it only a year or so.
Anyway, I'm looking to replace that solution and its integrated video graphics. I wanted to ask for help in learning the Pro's and Con's of NVIDIA vs ATI.
I was about to consider buying a PNY 9500GT ($70) or 9600GT ($100) video card, but thought maybe it would be wise to ask for feedback here before anything else. I am not sure what ATI has in comparable price and performance, but the applied use is to be installed into an ASUS P5Q Pro motherboard and re-using an Intel E6300 processor and 4GB of RAM.
I was thinking about giving the BD-ROM another try as the drive prices are $100, which means I could actually justify buying a retail copy of playback software. Given the use/planned intent, is there reason to consider ATI as the graphics solution for playback of BD?
_________________ Trust no one. Absolutely no one. Advice of the board.
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Z-Photo
Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 2753 Location: Huntsville - Alabama
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Link Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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nvidia has pwned ati for gaming applications (toughest application for video cards.)
I would recommend the 9800gt
9600
GPU/VPU: NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GSO
Additional Features: HDCP Enabled
SLI Ready
DirectX 10
OpenGL 2.1
PCI Express 2.0
Game Physics Capable
Shader Model 4.0, Nvidia CUDA Technology
Maximum Digital Resolution: 1600 x 1200
Video Memory: 768MB
Memory Type: DDR2
Memory Clock: 1000 MHz
Interface Type: PCI Express 2.0
Connector(s): S-Video
HDTV
Dual DVI (Dual Link)
Power Requirement: 400-Watt power supply
9800
GPU/VPU: NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT
Fill Rate per Second: 33.6 Billion pixels
Maximum Resolution: 2560 x 1600 (Digital) - Dual Link DVI
Video Memory: 512MB
Memory Type: GDDR3
Core Clock: 600 MHz
Memory Interface: 256-bit
Memory Clock: 1800 MHz
Shader Clock: 1500 MHz
Stream Processors: 112
Interface Type: PCI Express 2.0
Interface Speed: x16
Connector(s): Dual DVI (Dual Link)
VGA (w/DVI to VGA Adapter)
Multiple Monitors Support: Yes
has a much faster memory/shader clock and max resolution
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nuttall_chris
Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 832 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10273
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Link Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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Z-Photo wrote: | nvidia has pwned ati for gaming applications (toughest application for video cards.)
I would recommend the 9800gt
9600
GPU/VPU: NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GSO
Additional Features: HDCP Enabled
SLI Ready
DirectX 10
OpenGL 2.1
PCI Express 2.0
Game Physics Capable
Shader Model 4.0, Nvidia CUDA Technology
Maximum Digital Resolution: 1600 x 1200
Video Memory: 768MB
Memory Type: DDR2
Memory Clock: 1000 MHz
Interface Type: PCI Express 2.0
Connector(s): S-Video
HDTV
Dual DVI (Dual Link)
Power Requirement: 400-Watt power supply
9800
GPU/VPU: NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT
Fill Rate per Second: 33.6 Billion pixels
Maximum Resolution: 2560 x 1600 (Digital) - Dual Link DVI
Video Memory: 512MB
Memory Type: GDDR3
Core Clock: 600 MHz
Memory Interface: 256-bit
Memory Clock: 1800 MHz
Shader Clock: 1500 MHz
Stream Processors: 112
Interface Type: PCI Express 2.0
Interface Speed: x16
Connector(s): Dual DVI (Dual Link)
VGA (w/DVI to VGA Adapter)
Multiple Monitors Support: Yes
has a much faster memory/shader clock and max resolution |
I'm not sure where you are getting your information from. I got this on PNY's website:
Specifications – 9600GT 512MB
BUS Technology PCI Express 2.0
Memory Amount 512MB GDDR3
Memory Interface 256-bit
Memory Frequency (effective) 1800 MHz
Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec) 57.6
Core Clock (MHz) 650 MHz
Shader Clock (MHz) 1625 MHz
Fill Rate (billion pixels/sec.) 20.8
Stream Processors
64
Key Features:
NVIDIA unified architecture
Full Microsoft® DirectX® 10 Shader Model 4.0 support
NVIDIA SLI® -Ready1
16x full-screen anti-aliasing
True 128-bit floating point high dynamic-range (HDR) lighting
NVIDIA Quantum Effects™ physics processing technology
PCI Express ® 2.0 support
Two dual-link DVI outputs support two 2560x1600 resolution displays
NVIDIA PureVideo® HD technology2
HDCP Capable3
PCI Express® support
OpenGL® 2.1 support
_________________ Trust no one. Absolutely no one. Advice of the board.
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MikeEby
Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 5238 Location: Osceola, Indiana
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10273
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Link Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I wasn't planning on using the HTPC for timeshifting until DirecTV got off their slower than decomposition of gold with their PC integrated solution. I just thought it my be worth having a PC and a player for BD. No gaming and no DVR at this time.
_________________ Trust no one. Absolutely no one. Advice of the board.
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Chuchuf
Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 548
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Link Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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Mike,
That is an excellent MB setup that will do BluRay without breaking a sweat. Put 2G of Ram in it for XP MCE (4G for Vista) and dedicate 512 for video. I've built a few of these using this MB and was very happy with the results.
For gaming they aren't that good in the demanding video dept.
I used the Phenom processors.
Terry
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10273
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Link Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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Terry, which Phenom processors? I'm new to the AMD CPU world.
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Chuchuf
Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 548
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Z-Photo
Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 2753 Location: Huntsville - Alabama
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Chuchuf
Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 548
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Link Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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I can't believe how cheap DDR2 memory has become when you consider the prices a few years ago.
Surprised to hear you don't like Gigabyte. I started using them about a year ago and have been very pleased with them. Prior to that we were using a lot of Abit and some Asus MB's.
Terry
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rod
Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 418 Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
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Link Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 2:35 am Post subject: |
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We recommend Nvidia for our customers. we really push the envelope with a lot of heavy 3D graphics. We seem to have more stability issues with customers using ATI.
I personally have an ATI in my HTPC. I don't use it that much anymore but always had to piss around with drivers (install, uninstall.....). Seemed ATI and Windows were always fighting for the resources. I'd change a resolution in Windows and ATI would puke all over it (lose the second monitor for example) and I'd have to remove the ATI drivers and reinstall. Admittedly that was 2-3 years ago and much could have change since then. I've since moved on an only use DVD players and a PS3
_________________ Rod
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Z-Photo
Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 2753 Location: Huntsville - Alabama
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Chuchuf
Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 548
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greg_mitch
Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5321
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Link Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:55 am Post subject: |
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I was just getting ready to build a box like this. Does this do the audio over the built-in HDMI? I see the comment you wrote, but I think you left out a word or didn't finish the thought.
Can the HDMI output any audio? Everything BUT lossless?? Not really a deal breaker yet as I dont have surround sound or a receiver in the living room, but might soon if I get my way!
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MikeEby
Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 5238 Location: Osceola, Indiana
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Link Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:55 am Post subject: |
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greg_mitch wrote: |
I was just getting ready to build a box like this. Does this do the audio over the built-in HDMI? I see the comment you wrote, but I think you left out a word or didn't finish the thought.
Can the HDMI output any audio? Everything BUT lossless?? Not really a deal breaker yet as I dont have surround sound or a receiver in the living room, but might soon if I get my way! |
At the current time I think the only true way to get lossless audio on an HTPC is with this card.
http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=25&l2=150&l3=0&l4=0&model=2385&modelmenu=1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132008
The video is actually routed out the sound card. Not cheap, about $239, but is bundled with Arcsoft so that takes a little bit out of the ouch!
Mike
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Last edited by MikeEby on Wed Nov 26, 2008 4:19 am; edited 1 time in total
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greg_mitch
Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5321
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Link Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:20 am Post subject: |
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I have read several things about that card not working and the drivers not supporting all of the features yet.
I dont really need lossless but 5.1 over HDMI would be cool. Will the 780g chipset do that?
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10273
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Link Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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I would think that it would be worth one's effort to compare the best available HDMI transport from the motherboard directly and then compare it to a lossless solution. Some may find that they cannot tell the difference, or be enough of a difference to justify the solution.
_________________ Trust no one. Absolutely no one. Advice of the board.
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Chuchuf
Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 548
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Link Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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greg_mitch wrote: | I have read several things about that card not working and the drivers not supporting all of the features yet.
I dont really need lossless but 5.1 over HDMI would be cool. Will the 780g chipset do that? |
Yes the 780G will do 5.1 DTS or DD over hdmi. Just not lossless.
Terry
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secstate
Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 720
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Link Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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I have used Nvidia for a long time but recently cut over to ATI for my HTPC. For me PowerStrip is an essential. To avoid the "curtian" effect on my 808 Data I need to use PowerStrip to alter the timing settings. I also run multiple resolutions and PowerStrip allows me to instantaly switch between them. The later Nvidia cards 8xxx+ are not fully suppoted by PowerStrip. The biggest issue I have with ATI is that their drives are more problematic in my experience. I am running the 8.4 version which is considerably behind the latest only because the later drivers introduce a number of problems with my relatively new (3450 ATI card).
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