I've got a friend who's perusing the market for a video card upgrade. He's currently looking at a GeForce FX 5700 and an Ati 9600 XT.

We're a tad suspicious of the fact that the 5700 is the same price as the 9600, especially given the 5200's performance. Can anyone shed some light and give opinions about the two cards?

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"LC Tusken: the idiot is the person who follows the idiot and your not following me your insulting me your following the path of a idiot so that makes you the idiot"
NMGOH || Jack Chick preaches it || The Link of the Dead

9600XT > 5700.

At least last I checked.

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I'll admit to Reactor CTF, Duel Abyss, Duel Turbulent, and even the CCCP, but not Sky High! (my first, be kind!) Ok so maybe I will.

Ati is our freind...

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"The Oracle told me I would die with my boots on. I've worn tennis shoes ever since." - Axis

I recently started a job as a phone tech support representative for an ATI based graphics card company (I wont give out the name because A. I don’t want people calling me there knowing me, and B. because im sure the company does not want me saying anything that can be traced back to them. As a result I personally know quite a bit about the 9600 XT, and relatively little about the 5700...

Personally knowing what I know, and having been able to use the 9600 XT, I would STRONGLY recommend it. I don’t know of any significant downfalls to the 9600 XT (IE I have gotten one call concerning problems with the 9600 XT, and that was actually not a problem with the card itself, but with the computer in which the card was being installed) conversely, I have heard of quite a few problems with the 5700, and with nVidia's recent track record it does not look good (the Last several revisions of the GF4 were released with KNOW substandard reference (standard) fans installed). Know then that ATI cards are also ALLWAYS overpriced, but are often worth the extra money. ATI cards also tend to outperform their specs a bit but at the same time, are a little less versatile. Also ATI has been working with Dx9.0 for allot longer than nVidia, and as a result its hardware engine is better suited for Dx9.0 based games (IE Half Life 2). Again against ATI, the 9600 is a PIG when it comes to power, I would recommend at least a 400W - 500W PSU to use it. Other than that, if someone came up to me and offered a 9600 XT or a 5700, I would certainly take the 9600 XT (actually I would probably beat them up, take both, give them both a try and sell the lesser one on eBay).

One more thing to watch out for, Warranty. ATI CHARGES for call based tech support, while some of its resellers do not, some even come with lifetime warranties (but cost more as a result)...


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"Well, if I am not drunk, I am mad, but I trust I can behave like a gentleman in either
condition."... G. K. Chesterton

Ati.

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Duel Zero key count: Zero! Down to guns and forces. Expect a release soon.

ATI > Nvidia at time point in time

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I'm not an actor. I just play one on TV.

Nice way of putting it. Some people seem to think nVidia is going to go out of business. Many hardcore gamers may be skeptical to buy from them again, but all it takes is another beast like the GF3 was, and they'll be rushing back.

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Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.

Yeah, product loyalty blows.

For sure

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I'm not an actor. I just play one on TV.