There has been a lot of speculation about weather Apple will continue to use ATI's GPU's, since as we all know they have recently been bought out by Intel's rival AMD. I personally perfer ATI over nVidia, I don't know why but I just do. What are your thoughts?
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ATI or nVidia
- Thread starter Zwhaler
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Truly, I don't care. One week ATI will be better and the week after it'll be nVIDIA. They are both very good.
Aren't nVidia supplying the chips for the upcoming video iPod? I would say Apple will go with nVidia in future computers.
A lot of people like being able to turn on FSAA with ATI cards, even if the game doesn't specifically support it. Some also appreciate ATI's display rotation feature.
Apple has traditionally switched back and forth all the time, depending on whoever was offering the best option at the time--earlier PBs used NVidia chips, current MBPs use ATI, early G5s offered ATI as the top of the line, current ones offer NVidia. This makes the most sense, as they basically go back and forth.
Sticking to only one or the other would be a not-so-smart move, just because it limits options.
That said, I'm generally an ATI fan, for two simple reasons:
1) ATI has been kinder to the Mac in terms of aftermarket drivers--their ATI control panel has no NVidia equivalent, and you also can't software overclock an NVidia card (ATICellerator etc) on the Mac so far as I know.
2) ATI cards have recently been less prone to being dual-slot monsters that chew up an ajacent slot. But that could, of course, change at any time.
Really, I'd say go with whoever is best, but it just seems that ATI has, on average, put a little more effort into the software end of things for their Mac products recently. There's also that dual-platform Radeon card, which was kind--no equivalent product from NVidia at all.
Sticking to only one or the other would be a not-so-smart move, just because it limits options.
That said, I'm generally an ATI fan, for two simple reasons:
1) ATI has been kinder to the Mac in terms of aftermarket drivers--their ATI control panel has no NVidia equivalent, and you also can't software overclock an NVidia card (ATICellerator etc) on the Mac so far as I know.
2) ATI cards have recently been less prone to being dual-slot monsters that chew up an ajacent slot. But that could, of course, change at any time.
Really, I'd say go with whoever is best, but it just seems that ATI has, on average, put a little more effort into the software end of things for their Mac products recently. There's also that dual-platform Radeon card, which was kind--no equivalent product from NVidia at all.
NVIDIA beats ATI in the power department and they'll also be the first to release a DX10/SM4.0 card.
BlizzardBomb said:
incorrect, the G80 isn't a DX10 card. the R600, ATi's latest part which comes out in the fall will be the first DX10 chip.
But again DX10 is useless since there aren't any DX10 games. It's just a way to increase your e-penis size.
edit: g80 may be dx10 according to some rumors. but one reporter puts it best: In the end, people care about the frames per second that that will ultimately decide who will win the next-generation graphics hardware race. source: http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=32769
Dracula said:
Phew, now I don't have to go hunting for links
The transition to DX10 software hasn't started yet because the hardware hasn't been finalized.
Well, WoW recommends nVidia, so that's good enough for me.
I use cards from both manufacturers. It's all much of a muchness.
I use cards from both manufacturers. It's all much of a muchness.
Mark my words, in 10 years there won't be graphics cards.
edit: oh snap, told ya intel was back in the game:
http://theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=33318
edit: oh snap, told ya intel was back in the game:
http://theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=33318
It's impossible to really go one way or another, ATI and Nvidia are so close it comes down to the board manufacturer you go with (for Mac users it's usually Apple) and which game you want to play. I think ATI usually has better drivers and the ATI display control panel is great for getting the most out of the hardware.
I currently am running my first Nvidia card - a GeForce 6800GT in my PowerMac G4, and I have to say it's a great card. Before that it was a Radeon 9600 Pro which was actually a great performer considering the fact that it is passively cooled.
Still, I don't think there is a clear winner and it would be very bad for Apple if they lost one or the other as an option - we need both.
I currently am running my first Nvidia card - a GeForce 6800GT in my PowerMac G4, and I have to say it's a great card. Before that it was a Radeon 9600 Pro which was actually a great performer considering the fact that it is passively cooled.
Still, I don't think there is a clear winner and it would be very bad for Apple if they lost one or the other as an option - we need both.
Nvidia, since the driver support for ATI suxxors my boxxors. ATI is really limited when it comes to linux as well (and I like having the option of triple-booting )
)