WOW my first ATI in seven years

[Onus]

Very subjective, but when I replaced my 7900GS with a HD3870 (and since with a 3850) in Guild Wars, I did see an improvement in image quality. I don't think it was enough that people with nVidia cards should go out and buy ATI, but if you're buying new it is something to consider.

 

[Flakes]

ive never noticed a difference in ATI vs Nvidia in image quality maby my eyes are f*ckd but i work with both ATI and Nvidia and there is no difference.....

however if you are using a different port say DVI over analog then i would agree that the ATI card using the DVI would look better.

 

[systemlord]

It could be that ATI's default graphics settings (color saturation) are different from Nvidia. I noticed a pretty big difference going from a 7800GTX to an 8800GTX, the edges and corners of Nvidia's green spinning logo look crisper and just better all around.

 

[stridervm]

I also did notice something when I changed from a 7600GS to a Radeon 3850. It seems the 7600GS visuals when playing oblivion seems to be a little "foggy", while the 3850's seems more vibrant.....

 

[slashzapper]

Hey you should watch 7 years in Tibet.

Good buy !!!

 

[spoonboy]

The picture quality for the 8800GT is similar to the 3870. And that's not slightly slower, in certain games it's a lot slower. http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/ati-radeon-hd3870-x2_9.html

In any case, while the 8800GT's price is very close to the 3870's, the better cooling may be worth the price.

xbit labs is noob bate imho. They arse around with the drivers until all games look like crysis in terms of system requirements and performance. For a start ive got a stock 2900pro and in game max EVERYTHING at 1400x900 S.T.A.L.K.E.R averages like 40fps, absolute min. fps - believe me i know an area with real low fps - is 27fps (system: e6300 @2.6, 2gb, xp 32, cat. 7.12) according to xbitlabs it should hardly run at all. Try linking to just about any other review of the 3870, 3870x2 or any card for that matter, the difference is stark. Think your off on the cooling think too, don't 3870s run (marginally) cooler than the 8800gt?

Ive seen this image quality thing come up a few times recently, more vibrant colours on ATI or something. Maybe static screenshots don't really show what people are on about.

 

[basketcase]

I am really wondering how good those ATI cards look. I just made the jump from a 7800 GS (AGP) to a 8600 GT and I thought the picture looked amazingly better. I think it just has to do with improved, more advanced hardware. If the 3870 looks better than a 8800 GT, it must be amazing!

 

[bfellow]

I see absolutely no difference with ATI and Nvidia card PQ.

 

[turtle1]

Why don't we all just admit that both ATI and Nvidia are producing cards with nice quality output and call it a day...

 

[gwolfman]

Yes....first the desktop just looks cleaner, the only way I can explain it...

What do you mean by "looks cleaner"?

 

[IndigoMoss]

Well I have to agree with the OP. I replaced my 7900GS with a 2900Pro and then a 3850, both of the ATI cards produced much better picture quality on my HDTV.

They also let me use 1280x720 resolution instead of 1219x688 due to overscan issues on the Nvidia card. I don't have any experience with the 8xxx series, but I do know that their overscaning is actually worse on the g80 set compared to the 7xxx series, because of the option to adjust a custom resolution in Vista isn't even there, at least it wasn't the last time I checked.

All in all, I'm extremely satisfied with ATI, especially with their HDTV output.

 

[ro3dog]

I switched from SLI 7900GTX to a lowly hd2900pro and I can say that the colors for the 2900pro are richer than that of the 7900s.Oblivion also runs smoother (shimmering isles) than both those cards.Since 3DFX all my cards have been Nvidia until now.

 

[crusoe74]

Why don't we all just admit that both ATI and Nvidia are producing cards with nice quality output and call it a day...

I second that.

 

[dtq]

is a screenshot going to show a quality differance on a forum, to me that would matter on what you view it with? I can take a screenshot and go in the other room and have it appear different, don't get me wrong I have no attachment to ATI, I'm just voicing what I see. You really have to try for yourself, someone else may have a completely different option sitting where i am now.

On the nvidia powered machine try going into the nvidia control panel under adjust desktop colour settings, and adjust the digital vibrancy setting right up see if that makes it look closer to the ATI.

 

[starcraftfanatic]

Third.
Nvidia cards before the 8's used plenty of optimizations, so naturally it may look worse.

 

[eltouristo]

theres alot of variation between models, too (and drivers). Im not looking for the absolute best colors, but I hate distractions on the image like banding of gradients (of atmospheres, in tunnels etc), random (rare but present) flickering areas (this is most mysterious), and 'shimmering' screens like chainlink fence. Nvidia used to be known for taking shortcuts. I'd like to try ATI against my 8800gt to see if it helps these minor annoyances without bringing other issues.

 

[rhawkesus]

Well I guess I have survived my post I switched back to my old crt to give it a try and I still stick to my post from last night. I'm glad we have these two companies to compete with each other, It helps for progress. I like the speed of my 88 it is faster but not by so much that I see a hugh differance. You know by computer standards Im an old man. I remember my first game rig with a Trident...(now im giving away my age)...I was the big man on the block. I get allot out of this forums and enjoy you all sharing your vast knowledge

 

[hok]

I concur with most here. Even though I was disappointed with the drivers of hte ATI cards the image quality and "feeling" was much more rich and colorful... I went from a 7800GT

 

[systemlord]

I switched from SLI 7900GTX to a lowly hd2900pro and I can say that the colors for the 2900pro are richer than that of the 7900s.Oblivion also runs smoother (shimmering isles) than both those cards.Since 3DFX all my cards have been Nvidia until now.

The reason your seeing a difference between the 7900GTX & the 2900Pro is because the 2900Pro is newer, example on picture below. Notice the 7900GTX has the worst image quality of the three graphics cards, in the end the 8800GTX has the better textures filters. The 2900 Pro is most likely on par with the 8800GTX or slightly better.

By systemlord at 2008-02-21

 

[Evilonigiri]

I thought by better graphics you meat better textures and stuff, not color, my bad.

I have never owned an ATI in my life, perhaps I should one day.

 

[basketcase]

Well, it should extend to the textures and shaders a bit. Historically, I think ATI cards have had better quality in that department, though I can't speak to the latest generation cards for either side (8800 vs 38xx).

 

[inglburt]

Just my 2 cents, I haven't had an Nvidia card since the 6800 was king. I do now own an 8800 gtx, but I have had more Ati cards by far. I agree with the above, to me Ati has better colors and a sharper/crisper image in games. And the icons on my desktop have aliasing that i never had with Ati. But after running Nvidia for a while, I don't notice it much anymore. And my 8800 is alot faster than any Ati card that was around when i got it.

 

[nukemaster]

Is any of this with an analog connection? ATI and Nvidia use different DAC's. To be honest jumping from X1900XT to 8800GTX and i see no noticeable difference. I will have to do a more subjective test.

I do still give ATI a hands down win for TV out....

 

[systemlord]

I thought by better graphics you meat better textures and stuff, not color, my bad.

Were not talking about color, were talking about image clarity on the edges of a 3D dimensional object. Imagine having two telescopes and telescope 1 has a somewhat fuzzy image with rough edges around the moon, now imagine telescope 2 having a crisp, clearer image with smoother surfaces giving you a better image or texture.

Think of those circles of red rings in the pictures I have provided as how sharp or distorted a texture will look at on any give 3D object.

 

[nukemaster]

the OP(well they state it in post 4) is about color, an apparent better color on the desktop....