High-end 3D throwdown: ATI vs. Nvidia

Rich Brown, Senior Editor May 5, 2006

So which 3D card should you get if cash isn't an object? Depends. If you want one card, we recommend ATI's Radeon X1900 XTX. Its performance edges out the GeForce 7900 GTX's on most titles, and it also has more robust image quality. But if you're looking for a dual-card rig, you need to think harder. Adding a pair of GeForce 7900 GTX cards will set you back $1,000; a 1900 XTX and the requisite Radeon X1900 CrossFire card will run you roughly $1,200, but for the extra $200, you actually get less performance. Granted, the image quality issue remains--Nvidia's cards let you turn on fewer effects simultaneously--but given the ease of setting up two Nvidia cards in SLI mode and the better price, the GeForce 7900 GTX gets our nod if you're looking to double up.

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Nvidia's more mainstream GeForce 7900 GT,

ATI's aggressively priced Radeon X1800 GTO,

The budget-minded GeForce 7600 GT,

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