ATi or nVIDIA

Which you select? and best?

nvidia, why?
1. price
2. linux support doesnt suck(ati drivers are TERRIBLE)
3. supposedly better performance.

which is best? i would probably say ati, there almost exactly as fast(can you really, REALLY with your eyes. without some meter program, see a 5fps diffrence, or even a 10fps diffrence over 50fps? it doesnt matter..), the picture is sharper, noticeably, on my nice monitor(better ramdacs?) and the stock fans dont sound like hoovers, and keep the cards from overheating(even the 6600gt has problems with this shit -_-)

so overall i would say ati, its a better overall package

I've seen people on this board complaining that ATI's Windows drivers suck as well. I wouldn't know, the last ATI card I had was a Rage Pro. 4mb video memory ftw.

I can confirm nVidia's Windows drivers are more stable, have a better (less bloated and more powerful) control panel, and come with many more features than ATI's. I have quite awesome stuff for my 6800, like desktop extensions (grid, snapping, desktops, hardware transparency...), saturation control, fully customizable RGB gamma colour curves, desktop deformation (for public display screens in the wrong angle), per-mode frequency overrides, and so on. I've never been this sattisfied with graphics drivers; these do way more than they have to do without getting in the way, so they're good value.

I have an ATI X800 Pro, and I would have to agree that Nvidia graphics cards are nearly always more reliable with better drivers and software.  However, when comparing a Geforce 6800 GT with a Radeon X800 pro, the performance is pretty much the same.  However, when turning up the filtering, the Radeon performs much much better according to all these benchmarks I looked at when I was researching what to get.  Also, the x800 pro was cheaper. 

But basically, Nvidia is more reliable with better drivers.  However, I haven't had any problems with my Radeon yet.  I would look at benchmark performance and price when deciding.

I had an nVidia card up 'till about a year and a half ago, when I got fed up with their drivers going down the shitter, so I got an ATi Radeon 9600 PRO.

Of course, this was a while ago.

>>2
WTF, fans depend on what make of card you get, and my Leadtek is great, comes with a filter, and a massive heatsink, and my 6800 is operating at 53ºC even under heavy FarCry loads. Besides, you said why you should choose nVidia yourself: faster (for the same price) or cheaper (for the same speed), better drivers and tools, and I'd say as of late, better technology.

>>6
It used to be the other way around, at least with performance/price, but nVidia got great with the 6800 series.