Re: OT - Video card opinions

[Mark Allums <mark@allums.com>]

M. Lewis wrote:
> Kelly Clowers wrote:
> > On Sun, Apr 5, 2009 at 05:11, M. Lewis <cajun@cajuninc.com> wrote:
> > > I've been a long time user of Nvidia for my video cards. I'm doing some
> > > upgrades to my machine and am considering a pair of Radeon HD 4830s in
> > > crossfire mode. I'm stuck between that or sticking with Nvidia and 
> > > going for
> > > a GeForce 9800GT. My understanding is the combination of the two 
> > > Radeon's in
> > > crossfire will blow away the Nvidia performance wise.
> >
> > Well, yes in 3d mode, when used for games (or GPGPU). For 2d stuff, I 
> > don't
> > think there is much difference, and for basic 3d (such as compiz 
> > fusion), *any*
> > Radeon 4xxx or GeForce 9xxx series will be more than enough.

My understanding is that two NVidia 280s in SLI will still beat two 
ATI/AMD in Crossfire, but it doesn't really matter much which you use, 
they are both adequate.

I hear that ATI is producing an open source driver, although as yet it 
is not ready for prime time.  In the future, when a good driver for 
Linux is available, ATI may well be the way to go.



> > > I'd like to know any opinions concerning this choice and also are 
> > > there any
> > > configuration issues with the pair of Radeon cards in X.
> >
> > I actually have no idea what the crossfire situation on Linux is.
> >
> > For the Nvidia, you have the 2d FOSS driver or the 3d binary driver,  and
> > that will not change for some time.
> >
> > For ATI, you have working 2d from the FOSS RadeonHD driver, and 3d
> > from the binary driver. However, 3d support is coming along quite well
> > in RadeonHD, it might be ready in 6 months or so.
> >
> > These days, the binary ati driver is better than the binary nvidia 
> > driver.
> >
> > If I was going to get a fairly powerful video card right now, I would get
> > an r500 series Radeon (Radeon 1xxx), and use the Radeon driver for
> > 2d and 3d.
> >
> > If I was going to wait, I would wait till q3/q4 of this year and 
> > assess the
> > driver situation for the Radeon 4xxx series.
> >
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Kelly Clowers
>
> Thanks Kelly & Jeff. That is exactly the type of information I was 
> looking for.
>
> Thanks,
> Mike


I concur will everything Kelly Clowers said, except that I would add 
that Intel is not standing still, the project codenamed Larrabee seems 
interesting.  But OP wants to know how to go right now, not in the vague 
future.  So, I would say, if you are comfortable with NVidia, that is 
fine, if you want to try the red team, ATI is okay too.

Not really that helpful, but I think getting a more recent card is 
better than going cheap and getting the last generation.

MArk Allums