Upgrade question: ATI vs. Nvidia?

**iamjohnnyrico** · 03-22-10, 05:42 PM

Hey guys + gals,

I need your input on upgrading my video card. My current card is a 9800GTX. I want the best card currently on the market. After some research I've narrowed it down to these two: ATI and Nvidia. Please help me choose as this card will be in this rig:

i7 & Intel DX58 mobo
6 GB Corsair RAM
2 WD Raptor HDD in RAID 0 (160 GB storage capacity)
Silverstone 850 watt PS
Creative XFi gamer

Let me reiterate, money is no object! I want the best card that will last me two years+.
I'm open to suggestions!

**Toker** · 03-22-10, 05:48 PM

Wait a few days and get the GTX 480.....

**RottnJP** · 03-22-10, 05:55 PM

*Today* that's ATI's 5970 dual-GPU card.

But, the next gen NVidia's are coming out in a few days, so we'll see how they stack up.

From what I've seen so far, they will cost more and be power hogs. They have the "advantage" of coming out with their next gen later than ATI did, so they may run faster, but I don't know that's a given.

I'm just hoping the renewed competition drives ATI's prices down a bit, since the ATI cards are actually selling for a premium to their original release pricing structure.

**Sgt.TmH** · 03-22-10, 06:02 PM

According to the initial benchmarks, the new nVidia GTX480 simply matches the ATI 5870.

This still leaves the ATI 5970 dual-GPU top dog.

WARNING! The 5970 is HUGE! Better check the length of this card and make sure you have space in your case for it. One reviewer described it as for monster cases only.

**JimboIncinerator** · 03-22-10, 07:02 PM

In a nut shell the new nvidia fermi core will not be at 512 cores... more like in the 480 range because of manufacturing issues. SO the previous leaked bench marks were from the 512 core version.

So ehh they will be very close. as mentioned the 5970 is the king of the road, its huge but it rocks.
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/...us-pack-punch/

**Raptor** · 03-22-10, 08:05 PM

here's hoping the 5870's drop down a tad in price just to rub it in Nvidia's face so they get back to making good cards again for the prices they want.

**jason_jinx** · 03-22-10, 08:11 PM

If money really is not a option I would go with the 5970's in crossfire mixed with a LCD sporting 2560x1600.

**ALPINESTAR** · 03-22-10, 08:52 PM

soooo if money is no matter... Can a poor college kid have your 9800gtx

**GReYVee** · 03-23-10, 12:54 AM

I prefer to match up an Intel chipset/proc with nvidia, but this is a matter of choice, cost. Everyone has their reasons to like one or the other. But single card solution nVidia has served me well many times.

**WileECyte** · 03-23-10, 06:26 AM

While the nVidia 400 series cards are being announced this week, general availability is going to be 4-6 weeks out. Right now, AMD/ATI have the fasted car on the track. The 5970 is the like dual 5870s on a single card. Either one of those will serve you just fine. You can go with a single 5970 or two 5870s in crossfire. The cost of the 5870s is slightly lower because the 5970 is in much shorter supply.