ABT Builder’s Guide: September-October 2008
VIDEO CARDS
For gamers like myself, this is what it all comes down to, your video card. However, there are many users that need something basic, even if it is just for running Windows Vista with Aero enabled. Just like with CPUs, there are two camps to consider, and as such I will allow my recommendations to compensate for your personal preferences, including whichever brand you choose to buy. My links are just to a few cards that have a proven track record of quality. Also, for now, only single card recommendations are given.
| NVIDIA | ATI | |
| ENTRY | GeForce 8400GS | Radeon HD 3450 |
| BUDGET | GeForce 9600GT | Radeon HD 3870 |
| MAINSTREAM | GeForce 9800GTX+ | Radeon HD 4850 |
| PERFORMANCE | GeForce GTX 260 | Radeon HD 4870 |
| ENTHUSIAST | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon HD 4870 X2 |
Honourable Mention:
Price/Performance – GeForce 9800GX2. This card performs more or less in line with the Radeon HD 4870 and the GeForce GTX 260 but can excel at certain titles beyond GTX 280 performance.
There are a few things to note. The above lists don’t compare the cards from the two companies head-to-head, but I will now give a performance listing. When two cards are listed, the first card has a slight edge on the next but they both offer very similar performance.
Starting from highest performance:
