Simviation Forums

See Toms Hardware Guide for two interesting articles on graphics card performance NVIDIA and ATI.
Valve is the company, Half-Life 2 is the game being benchmarked.
Most current tests shows FPS/$ Results for NVIDIA and ATI graphics cards in Valve Half-Life 2 Benchmark Numbers.
DX9 is used in the tests.

I don't know about these. Sure ATI cards are good, when they decided to work.  >:(

Let me put it this way. Would you rather have a 300hp car that needs to be put in the shop every 1000km. Or would you rather have a 250hp car that you've had for years and its never been in the shop once and runs like new.

i'd prefer the 300bhp car,because i won't have any problem with it.

i've been using three generations of ATI-cards (Rage IIc; 7500;9700pro) and i've never ever had problems with 'em. so what's your problem?

I've used RageII graphics, it's decent for what I use it for (server). Never had any problems with it.

You want to compare your card with others, run AquaMark3.

The point is that the current ATI cards are better than the NVIDIA cards.  More value for the buck.  The rap against ATI is that they didn't support their cards well with updated drivers.  So far they have supported their new cards.  NVIDIA will be back given their track record.  ATI knows this and must keep performing for sales.  Good for consumers.
Also benchmark tests are becoming more realistic rather than cards and drivers optimized for specific tests.  How many time have you purchased a computer/software product promo'ed better than it was?  I got value for the ATI 9700P price.  Much better than less cost and much less value.

i'd prefer the 300bhp car,because i won't have any problem with it.

i've been using three generations of ATI-cards (Rage IIc; 7500;9700pro) and i've never ever had problems with 'em. so what's your problem?

Well the first ATI card I had wouldn't work when I upgraded to my current system. That was a Radeon 32mb PCI. The next ATI card I bought was the Radeon 8500LE. It didn't work period. I was getting off colours, flashing triangles and visual artifacts on all 3D games with the latest drivers. I traded that one in for my current Jaton 3DForce FX5200LE 128mb. Best card I've had. I also still have my old Jaton 3DForce2 MX400 64mb card. I've never had any problems with the two Nvidia cards. I've had three Jaton cards, the first being a Trident non-3d card which I had on my old system. I will always use Jaton, they are the best.  

THG has another Grapics Card benchmark test using Aquamark 3.  Interesting comments that graphics cards are hyped well beyond actual performance.