ATI X700 vs Nvidia 6600GT

[master]

Hi there, my video card is my next upgrade and can't decided betwee
these two cards within my budget. What insight can you offer to hel
me choose one over the other?

 

[Dan Wojciechowski]

Hi there, my video card is my next upgrade and can't decided between
these two cards within my budget. What insight can you offer to help
me choose one over the other??

Based on what I've been able to read about the two chips, I'd say the
X700 competes with the 6600, while the X700Pro (XT?) competes
with the 6600GT. So at the same price point I'd pick the 6600GT.

If you do enough benchmarking, you'll probably find some applications
that the X700 family does faster than the 6600 family, and visa versa.

Both are good choices for a reasonably priced video card that can play
relatively modern games.


--
Dan (Woj...) [dmaster](no space)[at](no space)[lucent](no space)[dot](no
space)[com]
===============================
"And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days"

 

[chrisv]

Hi there, my video card is my next upgrade and can't decided between
these two cards within my budget. What insight can you offer to help
me choose one over the other??

Have you ever wanted to play with Linux? I buy Nvidia over ATI due to
their better support of Linux.

 

[master]

Actually, I don't play any games at all. I use my computer mainly a
a media center for DVD's, videos and video editing

So the one big thing I'm looking for is smooth playback and grea
colour contrast. I just bought an LCD HDTV and am looking to connec
my computer to it with a DVI connector. Which of the two (ATI an
Nvidia) would you say is better for this purpose?

I'm currently using a Radeon 7500 so anything would be a significan
upgrade

 

[Paul C]

Keep your corrent card iif thats all your doing with it.

 

[creAtive oBscura]

I'd have to recommend a different card all together. It is the ATI
X1600PRO http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102652
. I think this would be a better deal because it has 512mb of memory!
which would be nice for video editing and such, and it is pretty darn
fast still, comparable to the 6600GT if not faster. Either that or you
could go lower to the X1300 with 512mb of memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102630 . Since
gaming is not what you are going to be doing, this should work just
fine I'd think. Either way, you'll have plenty of memory and should
have plenty of smooth playback.

JSV

 

[Sean Cousins]

Actually, I don't play any games at all. I use my computer mainly as
a media center for DVD's, videos and video editing.

So the one big thing I'm looking for is smooth playback and great
colour contrast. I just bought an LCD HDTV and am looking to connect
my computer to it with a DVI connector. Which of the two (ATI and
Nvidia) would you say is better for this purpose?

I'm currently using a Radeon 7500 so anything would be a significant
upgrade.

ATI are better for DVD playback.

 

[Dan Wojciechowski]

ATI are better for DVD playback.

ATI *used* to be better for DVD playback (because ATI cards implemented
the discrete inverse cosine function in hardware.) However, starting with the
(now old hat) Geforce FX 5xxx family of cards, Nvidia provides just as much
support as ATI.

Going back to the original question, if the OP is only playing DVDs, playing
videos, and doing video editing, I'm not sure if he/she would see any improvement
going to a new card. None of those things is particularly demanding for the
video card.


--
Dan (Woj...) [dmaster](no space)[at](no space)[lucent](no space)[dot](no
space)[com]
===============================
"So as you push off from the shore,
won't you turn your head once more
and make your peace with everyone?
For those who choose to stay,
will live just one more day
to do the things they should have done."

 

[Sean Cousins]

ATI *used* to be better for DVD playback (because ATI cards implemented
the discrete inverse cosine function in hardware.) However, starting with the
(now old hat) Geforce FX 5xxx family of cards, Nvidia provides just as much
support as ATI.

ATI just made some improvements to their drivers that improves DVD
playback, starting with 5.13 drivers I beleive. I can't remember
exactly what those changes were but I did read a review of the drivers
and it looks like they are still better for DVD than Nvidia.