I'd be using it mostly for gaming, occasionally to render stuff. As for the rest of that, I'm still looking at computers... all of the Dell computers in my price range either come with integrated video cards or ATI ones. (The Dells outside my price range can come with nVidia cards...)
Render (I'm assuming Bryce or some other program) is relatively inconsequential in this regard.
GeForce (an nVidia chipset) is where it is. As Paco says, the 8800+ is king of the hill right now, and will be for the forseeable future (i.e., six months).
PCI Express is a must. Much faster than AGP. Of course, you probably can't find a new Dell with AGP. And stay the fuck away from integrated graphics.
One thing you might wish to consider is piecing together a computer and seeing what you can get.
When I get home tonight, I'll see about slapping one together via NewEgg, to see what the prices are like.
Last I checked the GeForce 8800 series were the current frontrunners in the race to render the face of god. They pretty easily outstripped the ATI contenders of the time (I think the 1900 series, though they were about to be replaced or upgraded or something).
We're talking 100+ fps at 1600x1280 on COD4. Crysis still chugged along, but I think that was mostly because of their physics engine trying to calculate everything in the world every frame, rather than some failing of video technology.
Also be aware that the brand spanking new nVidia 8800 cards are having SERIOUS overheating problems. Considerable additional fannage is required to keep most CPUs from going into heat-induced, self-saving shutdown.
I think you'll find anything new, from ATI or nVidia, introduced in the last 6 months, will suffice for all your video gaming needs.
Having the biggest and the best, also means having the newest and buggiest.
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Your motherboard
Type of card (AGP or PCI Express)
Your OS
How much money you are willing to spend
What you're using it for
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GeForce (an nVidia chipset) is where it is. As Paco says, the 8800+ is king of the hill right now, and will be for the forseeable future (i.e., six months).
PCI Express is a must. Much faster than AGP. Of course, you probably can't find a new Dell with AGP. And stay the fuck away from integrated graphics.
One thing you might wish to consider is piecing together a computer and seeing what you can get.
When I get home tonight, I'll see about slapping one together via NewEgg, to see what the prices are like.
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We're talking 100+ fps at 1600x1280 on COD4. Crysis still chugged along, but I think that was mostly because of their physics engine trying to calculate everything in the world every frame, rather than some failing of video technology.
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I think you'll find anything new, from ATI or nVidia, introduced in the last 6 months, will suffice for all your video gaming needs.
Having the biggest and the best, also means having the newest and buggiest.
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I'd never buy an ATI card. They have soured me with their history of driver cheats and poor peformance.
last I looked, you can get a variety of 9600 models for under $200 on newegg. requires pci express slot.
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