Which video card is better?

[dman777]

Which video card would be better and of higher quality? I don't keep up on video cards so I can't tell.....

This Sapphire card

Or

This ATI card

They both go for about $160.00 and the Sapphire seems to have a higher numbered graphics chip: 9800XT while the ATI has a lower number graphics chip: 9600XT. The most important factor is the qaulity of video for the vido out since I will be useing the video out to my tv alot. The second importance would be gameing, but I'm more into multimedia than gameing. On a side note I will be useing a TV tuner card in conjuction with this card.

Thanks,
-Dman


Thanks,
-Dman

[smearbrick1]

I think 9800xt would be the better buy. Even though it is produced by Sapphire, it's still an ATI chip.

[dman777]

Oh, ok....so the 9800XT chipset is better than the 9600XT? I can't understand why they would be close to the same price, it seems like the Sapphire should be more in that case. They both have the same ram: 128mb DDR. Does the ATI have better quality parts or is the card itself better quality to justify it being the same price as the Sapphire inspite of it haveing a lesser chipset?

Thanks,
-Dman

[dman777]

Nevermind... that Sapphire card goes for like $450.00. I don't know how I got that mixed up....

But between ATI and Sapphire, who makes better quality video cards?


-dman

[Cobra]

ATI make the chips that go onto the cards, then third-party companies like Sapphire, XFX, Asus and so on incorporate the chips onto their own boards. ATI don't make the cards themselves, I don't think.

Sapphire is meant to be a pretty good brand, though.

[studtrooper]

ATI don't make the cards themselves, I don't think.

They do, nVidia is the one that only sells their chips to 3rd parties to make cards...

[Cobra]

Well, you learn something new every day. Thanks, studtrooper!

[mattyboy]

The cards will have no difference in quality based on whose name is on them, but beware Sapphire's poor customer service.

[glockjs]

sapphire makes a pretty good card. some times they get get higher marks because they do small tweaks here and there. but i think ati makes a more all around reliable card. and like mattboy said, customer service can be a big issure. i remember when diamond was big, they were the freakin worst with customer service