[Maflynn]

I'm thinking of upgrading my stock nVidia video card with a GeForce 6800 or the X800 that just came out.


I play some games, but mostly use photoshop and other image type software.

What is the concensus on these two cards.

Edit: almost forgot, I have a Rev B G5 2GHz, so I have the stock nVidia card (I forget what model)

[Maflynn]

Nobody has anything to say?

Ati better?
nVidia better?

[jac]

Most everyone agrees that ATI has the edge. Plus it's smaller and quieter.

[Rev-O]

I have a 6800 Ultra. Works fine for me. I bought it because I also bought a 30" display last November and the 6800 was the only available card.

If I were to buy one today, I might get the X800. As stated above, it is smaller and quieter. But I might not, because my last ATI card was a pixel anomoly pos.

[TimmyDee51]

I'm an ATI fan, but generally because their drivers are a bit better. Apple develops the nVidia drivers themselves but I think the ATI drivers are a partnership between the two companies. Don't quote me on that, but I have a feeling that's the way it is. Also, ATI tends to have the framerate edge for 32-bit graphics. For some reason, their cards don't suffer as much (or at least didn't in the past).

Besides, I have a Radeon 9700 and I love it. I'll take ATI any day.

[a2daj]

ATI does all of the Mac OS X Radeon ATI driver development and did all of the Mac OS ATI driver development. I think the only ATI driver work Apple did was OS X drivers for the original Rage Pro (not Rage 128 Pro. ATI did that work).

[Cadaver]

For the Mac, I would have to say the X800XT has a clear advantage over the 6800GT/Ultra.

-Single slot solution; keeps all 3 PCI slots available.
-Quieter & cooler
-Still supports a single 30" display
-Drivers/firmware supports display rotation for pivot-capable monitors
-Drivers support per-application OpenGL overrides for FSAA, etc.
-Less expensive than the 6800 Ultra with very, very close benchmarks (sometimes slower, often slightly faster)

Now, on the PC, the advantage is debatable (since both cards can be found in single and double slot configurations, and both support similar video setting overrides and display rotation). But on the Mac as of now, the advantage goes to ATI.

Edit- However, with all that said, neither of these cards will provide much boost in standard 2D applications. But, how this will change come OS X 10.4 and CoreImage is yet to be seen.

[Maflynn]

Thanks all

I opted for the ATI X800, while my personal prefernce has been with ATI, I wasn't sure if the current top end card from nVidia was superior.

I ordered it from macmall, hopefully I'll get it today or Monday.

Mike

[badtz]

I would get the X800 to drive a 30" ACD, and replace the fan with a passive heatsink.