My original choice was the ATI but after I asked around, I was told that the ATI was crap (from a trusted source - the card not the maker).

The only downside is that if I chose the nVidia it's going to cost me £105.75 ($203.279) extra which I can afford but would prefer not to.

So help me hardware gurus!

Edit* Just incase you are wondering the other componets in this system are going to be:
• Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 530 with HT Technology (3.00GHz, 1MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
• 1024MB Dual Channel DDR2 RAM
• 17" Analogue Flat Panel Monitor (17.0" v.i.s)
• 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
• 16x DVD+/-RW Drive
• Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition SP2 (Gonna change that to XP Pro SP2 myself)

Stuff that I requested to be added:
• Floppy Drive
• All-in-one Printer
• Sound Blaster® Live! 24-bit Advanced HD™ Sound Card

The total price of this system with the ATI card is: £700 ($1,345.58)
The total price of this system with the nVidia card is £806 ($1,547.42)

Indy, I never said ATI was crap (I am the trusted source), I said that X300 SE is down right horrible compared to the 6800! I know specs don't mean anything to you, since aren't a hardware guru, but you need to trust me when I say the 6800 will eat the X300 SE alive!

The 6800 is a wonderful card and if you are wanting to save some money, buy the 6600 nVidia Card.

The ATi x300 is just underpowered for the pricetag

Oh yeh these are my only 2 options I'm buying from Dell.

Edit* I also want whatever card I chose to serve me well for the next 3yrs atleast in both games and graphics rendering.

Even tho I am a hardcore ATI fan I would go with the nVidia in this case.

wait for the 512mb 6800s. that way ur card will last for 4 or 5 years

GCNaddict please don't make comment like that, when you have no idea what your talking about!

Dont know if it's true but I think the x300 was meant to go against 6200 not sure so that would mean that the 6800 will be better. But if you're not a gamer etc. then it would be okay to get the x300.

Brett you dont know what you are talking about... You owe him an apology.

http://www.megagames.com/news/html/hardwar...gpatcebit.shtml

Oh nice find I didn't even know there were 512mb's yet, I dont think any on the ATi side yet tho?

I in no way owe him a apology, I wasn't being mean when I said it! First off having a 512MB card is not going to have to "set" for the next 4-5 years.... Second off 512MB cards from ATI and Nvidia are already out their for people! ATI showed their card off last month at the TGF, and Nvidia did recently at CeBIT. I don't see how I owe him an apology!

Telling someone they dont know what they are talkin about? That is rude. And that card should last 4-5 years, granted there may 1024 and 2048 cards out by then, but the card should be fine for at least that time.

It kinda sounds mean to me, thats the trouble with just text, hard to tell, and im sure someone could get by with a 512mb card for 4 years, maybe not "set" but could make it work.

You can get by on a 1MB card for years... (Yes, my old pc had a 1MB video card for 8 years, just upgraded it to an 8MB ATI Rage Pro). It wont do much good, but you can get by on it. So if you buy a good card, prepare to be set for 2-3 years, and get by for 4-8 years. thats my oppinion anyways.

you for sure copied down the wrong names
the x300se would only have a cost of less than $130 no matter where you buy it from

make sure you change your poll to reflect this

and the nvidia card shown would cost alot more that, can you check the names again
and then maybe redo this topic cause the polls already been lop sided cause these cards shouldn't even be in a poll against each other
there of different markets

x300se is low end
missing the mid range totally
6800 is high end

In this case i would likely go with the 6800 if u do alot of gaming and graphics...if not forget the x300 and get the x700 or the 6600 GT from Nvidia.

Maybe this was a trick question lol , testing to see if anyone would accually pick the x300 lol

Believe me this wasn't a trick question, ask Brett. I was geniuely going to go for the ATI, untill Brett pointed me in the right direction.

nVidia 6800 will be much better. If not get at least an ATi X700. X300 can probably last you for a year only.

6800 anyday besides the fact that it is over £200 more expensive than the X300. Still he X300 touts some new memory technology that really nothing special.

Paul

Yes, everyone I asked (I asked at two boards including here) said to go with the nVidia. Also they recommended that I "flash" () the gfx so it becomes a 6800 Ultra.

Nah I'm only paying £105.75 for the nVidia graphics card.

Im always a bit when it comes to "flashing" hardware, ive heard horror stories of hardware being useless after people have flashed them, using them as expensive doorstops! I would not recommend doing this just yet Singh, especially if your buying your PC from Dell, as this would void the warranty!

MartMoz

I'd go for the 6800, Nvidia has always been reliable for me

Hehe, yeah... I have a GeForce FX 5200 on my desk at home, tried to flash it to an Ultra, failed, now its just a neat decoration..

Yeah!

Dont get me wrong Singh, flashing hardware is fine i think aslong as you know what your doin' If you dont then i would leave well alone, as fighter said a failed flashed piece of hardware makes a very nice "display piece" lol

What benefits does it bring flashing it to a 6800 Ultra? Is it worth it?

MartMoz

I've decided not to "flash" anything lol. Thanks guys for your help!! Much appearicated.

LOL! That totally doesnt sound to gud Singh LoL!

And only 1 person would think about it in tht way

uhhh... lol

maybe it was a misunderstanding...?

I'd choose the x300, cause NVidia is better supported by Linux, the ATI drivers are as instable as a pencil standing on it's just sharpened point

what??????

btw: nice to see another dutch person around here