building a pc.need advice

[Daffy]

When paying that little extra for nVIDIA, that tiny little extra that could have perhaps gotten you a of cigarettes or two you get back when it comes to the software.
ATi can't make drivers for shit and don't be surprised if you have to constantly upgrade/downgrade to a different driver version to run different games properly.
After the 9700 Pro, the employees at ATi's brains melted and they are now nothing but confused chunks of decomposing meat running around.
So for the love of whatever god you pray to, get something from nVIDIA.

Also the i7 920 is a kickass CPU where the chipset gives you for example Tri-Channel RAM instead of Dual-Channel so if you got the cash, then get that.

As for the case, if you can pay for it check out the Corsair Obsidian or the Silverstone Raven.

[Mythic]

Ah, I thought you meant ordering the parts one by one, sorry dude.

We've seen shitloads of this NVIDIA-obsession ever since AMD released their 5000-series and took the lead. People really have no reason to stick to NV, they're doing it just because they've got used to that. I had this a half year ago too, but you should try opening your mind a little bit. You could wait for Fermi and go for NVIDIA, that's a good choice I expect.

If you're making the order within few months, you should go for AMD. They're bringing DX11-supported cards with a better price/performance-ratio than NV does now with their DX10 high-end cards (which aren't even manufactured anymore btw). People should open their eyes a little bit before spending hundreds of dollars to something that they will regret. Yes, will.

AMD ATI Radeon HD 5970 Bit-tech.net review

Read that one dude. Not that you'd get 5970, but it includes a lot of FPS rates with the other 5000-series cards too.

Oh,thats one thing im already sure on..im getting nvidia  

Tough question: Why? It's your call and you won't lose much by going for NVIDIA, but at least wait for the new series of cards.

//edit

ATi can't make drivers for shit and don't be surprised if you have to constantly upgrade/downgrade to a different driver version to run different games properly.

That's past, and the most used excuse against AMD used by users on the flame wars you see all over the tech-sites nowadays. I've read tens of reviews of this product and actively followed 5000-series threads on many forums, and not once I've seen anyone having problems with games or official drivers (drivers released for the 5000-series).

Both AMD and NVIDIA have their so called pros and cons people use to bring the competitor down, most of them are from the times when the specific problems existed. For example, I won't be saying that NVIDIA sucks because the FX 5800 sucked.

Compare by the current situation, not the past.

[Daffy]

How about GPU utilizing of decoding and CUDA/GPU tasks, ATi aren't halfway ready for a solution that does that well while nVIDIA already have the VP2 that cuts down on the CPU bottleneck of video decoding by the tons.

[Mythic]

Yeah, I believe they provide a better hardware decoding, although I have never really got into that stuff too much earlier. I've never seen anyone having problem with that either, so I guess it's not the most critical loss on the race. Any bedtime reading you have about the whole hardware decoding VP2 against Avivo HD?

To keep the argument going on, what about DX11 support? Multi-screen support (ATi Eyefinity), temperatures or TDP-rates? I believe NVIDIA will challenge them up with some new kickass Fermi products within few months, but at this moment ATi get's the candies.

[Daffy]

I know there's numerous that so far only supports VP as nVIDIA's CUDA has been around way longer and there haven't been coded support ATi yet.
I will say one good thing about ATi, and I do prefer the ATi AA&AF a lot more than nVIDIA's as nVIDIA's tends to sharpens a bit and create artifacts while the ATi one is a lot smoother and easier on the eye.
As for DX11 I'm suggesting to wait for nVIDIA's new series which should be as for as I know ready in February/March.
Multi-screen support is nice and dandy if you need it but that's IF you need it.
As for temperatures that's a dumb argument as both cards are made to run fine on stock cooling, if you're going to overclock it's recommended that you get a better cooler in any case.
My 295 GTX has always shown very good temperatures in RivaTuner so I have nothing bad to say about nVIDIA's cooling, rather ATi's one where I had to either downclock the 4870X2 I had or turn the fan up so you could hear it two stories down walking down the stairs and that's not a joke.

Make your pick but keeping history in mind I'd safe nVIDIA is a much safer choice which perform as far as I know off this date performs just as good and better than ATi in say GTA.
So I can't find a reason for why one should not pick nVIDIA though ATi is probably a good contender.

Here's a list of nVIDIA cards and their VP's so you can see it's been around for quite a while.
You can read that that ATi's GPU decoder is a bit better at VC1 decoding, but in Windows 7 the support for hardware accelerated decoding of VC1 is broken anyway.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PureVideo#Table_of_PureVideo_.28HD.29_GPUs

[FIGHTER]

didnt you need to the SAME gpus for SLI? Crossfire can have 2 different cards...

[XTO --]

Nope, you can enable PhisyX while using 2 different cards

[dirtybird78]

Lots of helpfull info,i read everything you guys posted and i appreciate all the help.
Im still pretty set in paying the little extra for the nividia card.I was planning on getting the GXT 295,but by the time i get to that part,im sure there will be a new series of cards to choose from.

I first need a really good case,ill start with that then ill get the the motherboard/chip.(asus pt deluxe/i7 920)

[XTO --]

Get a cheap case and if needed, take to a metallurgy and ask to the metallurgical to cut 120mm squares, so you can put some fans.

Btw, if you're adding fans, make sure you use this kind of filter






(999th post)

[FIGHTER]

or just do it self.... dont pay much for a case though, you can always cut something

[Mythic]

So I can't find a reason for why one should not pick nVIDIA though ATi is probably a good contender.

This is it.

dont pay much for a case though, you can always cut something

In the end case is one of the most important parts you should spend money on, one that keeps the dust away and has good air-flow really comes to use. Invest to that if something.

I'd recommend Fractal Design Define R2 myself, a few months old case for a good price and it has got some serious recommendations. Click this for a review.

# Very quiet
# Stylish
# Full featured
# Reasonably priced (~89 € at the time of writing)

CONS
# Bad paintjob (thin layers)

On February/March you'll get i7-930 by Intel, replacing the 920-model and going to the same price range ($284 they say). You do the order on March and you'll get pretty refreshing combination of Fermi and the new i7.

[Daffy]

I was planning on getting the GXT 295

Wait for the new nVIDIA cards, if you're going for nVIDIA.
The graphics card is one of the key components if not the key component for gaming.

[FIGHTER]

I was planning on getting the GXT 295

Wait for the new nVIDIA cards, if you're going for nVIDIA.
The graphics card is one of the key components if not the key component for gaming.

actually you need also a great cpu but indeed, gpu is da key

[XTO --]

If he does get an i7, he shouldnt worry

[dirtybird78]

If he does get an i7, he shouldnt worry

That's what i was thinking too.