Graphics Cards

Personally I've owned/used both ATI and NVIDIA graphics cards in the past, currently I've got the GeForce 7300LE and I've been very happy with it (copes well with Vista and all the games I'd ever want to play). I remember though having my ATI card, something like a Radeon 7 something or other and it was absolutlely awful by all accounts. Literally anything I tried to do with it was too much like hard work, and if I even thought of playing anything remotely resembling a game it had fits in its little PCI port.

Anyway, my graphics history aside... Haven't graphics cards advanced a lot in the last few years, I remember when it was all PCI then AGP was introduced mainsteam and everyone thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. Now PCIe seems to be the in thing with AGP a little on the back burner but undoubtedly it'll make some kind of return.

I'm interested to know others opinions on graphics card :)

AGP is a defunct technology. PCI Express version 2.0 is on the way.
I prefer Nvidia Graphics cards over ATI (now owned by AMD). Even though Nvidia can't write drivers for toffees sometimes (the first efforts for vista were awful, but they are better now).
My new graphics card is an Nvidia 8600GT 256mb. I'm going SLI early next year, so i'll have two Nvidia cards running.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scalable_Link_Interface

Comparing ATI's and Nvidia cards is hard. They have a completely different architecture and style of doing things. ATI work of 24-bit and Nvidia 32-bit. Traditionally this has meant that Nvidia cards have had to work harder, and hotter cause of the extra pipe-lines needed to cope. It has also meant that programs are primarily designed for one brand or another.

Being a gamer at heart, and an FPS/RTS primarily then Nvidia has always been my choice, simply cause most games in these genres are designed to run on Nvidia cards. I have a GeForce 8800 GTX, and god damn it is sweet. Not had a single problem with it running everything (bar DX10 requirements, no Vista) on max. IMO ATI will never be able to compare to Nvidia, but I'm a fan boy.

Comparing ATI's and Nvidia cards is hard. They have a completely different architecture and style of doing things. ATI work of 24-bit and Nvidia 32-bit. Traditionally this has meant that Nvidia cards have had to work harder, and hotter cause of the extra pipe-lines needed to cope. It has also meant that programs are primarily designed for one brand or another.

Being a gamer at heart, and an FPS/RTS primarily then Nvidia has always been my choice, simply cause most games in these genres are designed to run on Nvidia cards. I have a GeForce 8800 GTX, and god damn it is sweet. Not had a single problem with it running everything (bar DX10 requirements, no Vista) on max. IMO ATI will never be able to compare to Nvidia, but I'm a fan boy.

Having used both ATI and Nvidia cards, granted the ATI was almost 5 years ago, I'd have to agree whole heartedly. The quality of the ATI card to me seemed none existant and was a total waste of money.

Alright, I'm really really new at this - I just got a new computer that's actually capable of playing games last year - but it's a laptop. And I know you can't upgrade an intergrated graphics card, but I've heard from browsing around that it's possible to add another graphics card if you have a PCI or PCI express slot... could anyone explain how it to me, if they can? I was planning on asking the tech people I go to by my house, but I wont be home for a few days and if anyone could explain to me, I'm all ears~

The only game I've actually tried on here is the sims 2, and it runs fairly well, though I could use another gig of ram. I know my laptops not a gaming computer (gateway mx3414) but I do wanna know how far I can go without killing it ^^;

Awww i want an 8800gtx too :(

Alright, I'm really really new at this - I just got a new computer that's actually capable of playing games last year - but it's a laptop. And I know you can't upgrade an intergrated graphics card, but I've heard from browsing around that it's possible to add another graphics card if you have a PCI or PCI express slot... could anyone explain how it to me, if they can? I was planning on asking the tech people I go to by my house, but I wont be home for a few days and if anyone could explain to me, I'm all ears~

The only game I've actually tried on here is the sims 2, and it runs fairly well, though I could use another gig of ram. I know my laptops not a gaming computer (gateway mx3414) but I do wanna know how far I can go without killing it ^^;

Upgrading a laptop is different to upgrading a PC. There are a lot more things to concider, such as space, a place for the connectors, the correct slots on the motherboard... To upgrade the laptop yourself wont be possible unless you have a lot of knowledge on what you are doing. The best bet is to take the laptop back to where you bought it and see if they can upgrade it for you. Or buy a new laptop.

Laptop Graphics cards aren't cheap either. Compared to desktops, they are overpriced and are normally an entire series behind.

Awww i want an 8800gtx too :(

Worth every penny I spent on mine.