Gamer? Designer? Ait? Nvidia?

[SIDEARMS]

$200 - ATI 8500DV
$200 - nVIDIA MSI TI4400

I'm a Graphic Designer and a Gamer and I can't make up my mind between these two video cards. They are about the same price, but with different capibilites. Below is a description of what I'll be using it for. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

Designer-
3D Max animations and FX
Photoshop
Video Compression
Video Editing

Gamer-
Unreal Tournament 2003
Unreal Tournament 2003
Unreal Tournament 2003
...and did I mention Unreal Tournament 2003...

[RDR]

I think most would take the GF4 over the Radeon - although I don't use most of the software you listed...

seems like a very good price for a GF4Ti4400 & a bad price for a Radeon8500DV though

[SIDEARMS]

the ATI 8500DV is the ALL IN WONDER. it's the one with the 2 firewire ports.

[RDR]

then I guess it comes down to how much you want the All-in-Wonder features then - A Radeon8500 will run UT2003 just fine

[Beefy]

There's probably also a slightly better visual clarity coming from the Radeon, which is a bonus for graphic design. Also the Radeon, with the video input / output gives you a lot of options for the future, such as video editing, capturing stills, etc. Plus it will play UT 2003... :)

[Ehhe Yebeb]

Def. get the 8500AIW. Better image quality, lots more nice features, and will run unreal at past 100FPS easy.

[Beefy]

Def. get the 8500AIW. Better image quality, lots more nice features, and will run unreal at past 100FPS easy.

Whoa there.. I wouldn't go that far. He's talking Unreal Tournament 2003 here. I've got the pre-release version, and on my system (Ath 1800+, GF3) I have to kill all the pretty setting and set the res to 800x600 just to get a playable frame rate.

So it won't easily run UT2003 at over 100 fps, but it will run it pretty well

[SIDEARMS]

Anyone tried a ATI 8500DV with UT2003?

[zeradul]

Photoshop
Video Compression
Video Editing

Those items do NOT require video card power so any card over a TNT2 will display them *wonderfully*

I have not used 3D studio Max, so I cannot comment on how it works, and how demanding it is. If it is at all like a 3D game, 3D modeler, or 3D cad program, then you WILL see a significant performance increase with a card better than a TNT2.

But as expected, for the average person, the ONLY thing that uses any 3D power availiable today are GAMES.

so RDR is right....

then I guess it comes down to how much you want the All-in-Wonder features then

The GF4 is significantly more powerful, but doesn't have the features.

[SIDEARMS]

Thank you, sir.

[Beefy]

I have not used 3D studio Max, so I cannot comment on how it works, and how demanding it is. If it is at all like a 3D game, 3D modeler, or 3D cad program, then you WILL see a significant performance increase with a card better than a TNT2.

As far as I know, 3DSMax uses a fair chunk out of your whole system, especially your video card. People with better / faster 3D cards will be able to render scenes faster on the fly and in general get a better view of everything.

[zeradul]

That is kinda what I thought.