Let's do a comparison of the top of the line models for each company here shall we:

ATI X1800XL

Performance:
GPU/VPU: Radeon X1800 XL
RAMDAC: 400 MHz
Fill Rate per Second: 8 Billion pixels
Maximum Resolution: 2048 x 1536 @ 85Hz
Memory:
Video Memory: 256MB
Memory Type: 256-bit GDDR3
Core Clock: 500 MHz
Memory Clock: 1000 MHz
Memory Bandwidth: 32GB/sec

Price: $553 CDN


GeForce 7800 GTX 512MB
Performance:
GPU/VPU: NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX
RAMDAC: Dual 400 MHz
Fill Rate per Second: 13.2 billion pixels
Maximum Resolution: 2048 x 1536 @ 85Hz
Memory:
Video Memory: 512MB
Memory Type: 256-bit GDDR3
Core Clock: 580MHz
Memory Clock: 1750MHz
Memory Bandwidth: 56GB/sec

Price: $944 CDN

So, pricing aside, the 7800GTX 512MB comes out on top.


Anyway, couldn't let you get away with that one.

In all seriousness, I would buy a nVidia card over an ATI card. When you look at technologies like nVidia's SLI versus ATI's Crossfire, ATI has been lagging behind in R&D lately. So I'd go with the 6800 if you must get an AGP card, which is fine. If you have the money though, and it's not much for a good motherboard with PCI-E, get a PCI-E card so it will last a bit longer.

Now I know Scatter isn't going to let me away with saying all this about his ATI, but that's what's wrong with debates anyway. You can't change someone's mind through a debate. So don't think of this as an arguement, just think of it as someone's opinion.

nope, i won't. from what little i've seen and heard, ATi dropped the ball with the 1800xl - it struggles in some 3d testing when compared to its x850xt predecessor. big fug up there, and the 7800 pretty much owns it.

but this thread wasn't comparing the 1800 and the 7800. and the fact still remains that the x800 and x850 totally own the 6800 in just about every review on the net.

well I was just responding to TrekBoyChris's post that I quoted. Had to set him straight.

I found this review when I was looking for a good comparison of the 6800 vs. the x800/50, should check it out. 6800 is out in 512MB format, still lovin it!!

I wonder if the 6800GS is the 6800GT? Think so

@TWR - Thanks but that's the spec for the 1800XL which is lower than the 1800XT - if you look at it spec wise the 1800XT is a bit better than the 7800GTX is.

The 1800XT is ATI's comparison to the 7800GTX
The 1800XL is ATI's comparison to the 7800GT

btw - i don't think they'll be any AGP versions of the 7800 series
and as i don't want to spend more than i have to then a PCI-E motherboard is out of the question

If you want a full on comparison of the new X1 series to the 7800 and 6800 series then head here: http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/262/1/

Well my head is currently exploding about this card and the other...like I said, the only cards I have ever had (All two of them ) have been made by ATI.

I've never upgraded a card before. The only things i've ever had upgraded are the memory and RAM, and PC World did those for me. I'm not even sure how to open up my new PC!

I don't know what card my old computer had, but the card I currently have is an ATI Radeon 9250. According to the sticker on my computer, it's 256Mb, but according to my device manager I have two 156Mb cards. Either way, that's 256Mb of memory.

The newest game I have is Civ4, and the most graphically intensive game I have is probably Dungeon Siege 2. Both games work with the graphics settings on maximum, so i'm happy.

ok Matress there's something going on here because - you can't have 9250x2 graphics cards in the same system (no crossfire support) + ati never made 256mb models (afaik) and you shouldn't beable to run Civ4 at max with that

Maybe it's a really good fake

Civilization 4 "Recommended" System Requirements
System: 1.8GHz or equivalent
RAM: 512 MB
Video Memory: 128 MB

EDIT: Found that 256mb models were made - not sure why lol its an old card.

And there was me thinking my computer was just "special"...

look, I don't understand computer hardware, i'm more of a software person. If its broke, I scream at it, or that failing, I phone PC World for help.

I'm just telling you what my computer is telling me. In the device manager, under the display adaptors tab, it says:
Sapphire Radeon 9250 128MB
Sapphire Radeon 9250 128MB - Secondary

So am I right in assuming that means two cards?

if you are running tv-out, then its a 'virtual' second card for the tv display.

or you have 2 9250s

Been reading this post with interest. Im looking to upgrade my card too.
If u want a good test for ur system, try F.E.A.R by Sierra, this is one heavy game!!. Runs Brothers in Arms EIB no problem either.
My system ran HL2 at high settings with ease,
AMD64 3200
1GB RAM (only had 256 with HL2)
Gforce FX5200 256MB card
FEAR recommends GeForce 6600 or 256 Radeon 9800 PRO.

The double RAM upgrade hardly made a difference to performance.

I was considering upgrade to Geforce 6600, if u want to test ur card, I would definately recomend this game!

Whichever card u choose I hope you will post!

If you want to see how FEAR plays on top spec machines go here: http://guru3d.com/article/gamereviews/281/

For the Graphics Card test: http://guru3d.com/article/gamereviews/281/6/

The system they used

Athlon 64 FX-55
DFI Lanparty NF4 SLI-DR
2GB Crucial Ballistix Tracer
2 x XFX 6800 Ultras (SLI)
Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
Logitech Z680 5.1 Surround Speakers

You showed me the graphics test card yeataday but wow i like the look of F.E.A.R in good graphics lol thought you didnt like FPS why u want fear?

I'm not gonna buy it but its a good benchamrk for the ne gen games though - using FRAPS

you aloud online fee games if you are i know you like RPG and final fanstay online is suposed to be basicly the best there is lol

lol i've played most Final Fantasy games on my PC - liked FF7 on PS1 the best though

You are a god now in my eyes i .ove FF7 its ace lol

yes ff7 is the best ff around

I'm looking forward to FF13 when it comes out - the first screenies look ace

Yea i saw a trailer and thought it was a real movie at one pint very good and i will be purcaseing it asap!

Whats this gilthaes game i keep hearing about?

you mean ffxii right?

big changes in store for that one. random battles gone. it'll be more like a knights of the old republic type game.

oh and whilst ffvii was imply the best, i think a lot of peeps underate ffx - which was quite simply brilliant as well...

Knights Of The Old Republic is a fantastic game - for anyone who owns an XBOX i'd recommend getting it for the sheer fun 95%+ reviews (I don't think its as good on pc)

just a question, how could it be not as good on pc?

i absolutly loved it when i played it (on pc).

My old pc never had the specs but i was concidering buying it but bought Battlefront 2 insted why how good is it? What is it a FPS or RPG kind of game?

Well i've played both and i prefer the interface and controls on XBOX than PC. Though it's probably in some situations easier with a gamepad

You have x-box then TBC i was wondering you know the keybord and mpse adaptors you can get do they only work on certain games or what becasue my mate baught one and it was rubbish worked on halo thats it and it said all games for x-box ???

nedd your big powerfull brain chris lol

Got knights of the old republic 2 knocking around here somewhere, it's an RPG where you get to play the "Last" Jedi in the galaxy 10.000 years before star wars episode 1, theres lots of references hidden within the game hinting at some of the things we already know about star wars, plenty of love interests and sidekicks to pick up and populate the Ebon Hawk (Your ship), you can become either a Jedi or Sith which changes you physicaly and you get to build and modify your own lightsabre, be it long, short or double bladed as well as colour, the powers rock too, specialy if you go dark side, with the darth vader choke hold and sith lightning. feeeeeeeeeeeel the powah of the dark siiide *gasp* pfffff *gasp* pffff

All you guys just shot up a few points in my book. FF7 was a fantastic game. Second RPG I ever played, (I bought it the day it came out) it was that game that really made me an RPG fan (that and the Suikoden series). I tell ya, the time I finally beat both the Emerald and Ruby weapons was a good day. FF9, FFX, and FFX-2 were all very good also (although x-2 could be a bit on the dumb side). Not sure if I'm looking forward to the changes that FFXII is planning on bringing. Maybe the first FF since 7 that I wont buy (good old rental pass from Blockbuster will help out there). KotOR1 was a great game, and I'm sure the second is also, I've just never played the sequel (damn crappy PC).

i always though ff8 was one of the best it had it all if you ask me ! loved it! first RPG i ever played lol

Dont get me wrong, FF8 was a very fine game, but IMHO the others I listed (along with FF2 and 5, both SNES classics) beat FF8 out. Although the opening cut-scene with the fight between Squall and Seifer is one of my favorites.

Only time i will do this but i disagree with you lol i think its one of the best RPG's ever to be honest

ohhhh im going to get some posts about this lol

I've never played any of the Final Fantasy games - i'm a die-hard Nintendo fan, and I only have (Yes HAVE, not HAD) four games for my SNES.

My favourite RPG has to be Golden Sun on the Ganmeboy Advance. That is a really addictive game. Its supposed to last about 60 hours, but i've spent more like 360 hours on it so far - i've completed the game 6 times with the same characters so far!

...

Another RPG I like is Illusion of Time (Also known as Illusion of Gaia) on the SNES. That was probably the first RPG that I ever played. It's also my second favourite game on the SNES - nothing can beat Zelda!

The worst thing about it is the amount of text/reading in the game/ Half the game is just the characters talking!

It also has one of the longest endings i've ever seen in a game, although this is mainly thanks to the above mentioned heaps of reading...

...

I wouldn't worry, Billy, most of those posts will probably be aimed at me now... 8O