By Mindsoup - September 21, 2000

As my first article for OnePC.NET, I figured an ATI vs Nvidia vs 3dfx match up was the best way to get my e-mail box filled with death threats and hate mail. It seems that video cards discussions have become the Ford vs Chevy debate for geeks. Of course I grew up in a town where the quality of a mans character was told by the brand of chainsaw he owned, so maybe I view the debate a little different (on account of inbreeding).

Before you start dreaming up ways to hurt me, this is not a "who's best" article, it merely points out each cards' strengths and weaknesses and dumps all the crap video card companies like to call marketing. If there's one thing I learned reading the various forums that I do, there's nothing you can do to change a zealot's mind. 3dfx could repackage an S3 Virge and people from the 3dfx camp would rave about its value compared to NVIDIA. NVIDIA could build a 47-processor 350-lb card that costs 409 million dollars and its zealots would rave about the 6000FPS you get at 640x480 in Quake III. ATI could, mmmm, actually nobody really likes ATI that much.

Why didn't I include Matrox? Two reasons, one, I don't have one. Two, Matrox hasn't released a truly new card in over a year, so it wouldn't be a fair comparison. Three, I just got my tongue pierced.

Note: All prices mentioned are based on estimated values found on Pricewatch as of the time of this writing.

On to: ATI