Can't decide on which Graphics Card

[NIGHTCAST2000]

Hi everyone,
I've got some money saved/earned to upgrade my grahics card.I currently have a Nvidia Geforce 6,800 GT with 256Mb of memory.

The problem is that I have an A.G.P motherboard,and this will be the last time I upgrade my graphics card until someday I'll have enough money to get a better compter(new motherboard,processor,memory,etc).I have been looking at the Nvidia Geforce 7950 GT and the A.T.I HD 3850,both with 512Mb of memory on them.I just cannot decide which one to go for...

I have read the F.A.Q on the Celestia help section of the forum,but I'm still undecided,Nvidia is very good at opengl with their drivers,but now the A.T.I drivers are now open source,I'm wondering if that's going to be so clear cut? Nvidia cards tend to be more expensive than A.T.I's

Regards,
NIGHTCAST20000

[Chuft-Captain]

My advice to you is:

1. Stick to Nvidia... they're more expensive for good reasons (and the difference in price is probably less than you'd spend on a good night out ).
2. Do not buy a new AGP based card. (I think you'd be lucky to find a new one available anywhere these days anyway). It might be worth upgrading if you can find a very cheap second hand one somewhere, but failing that, you are far better saving your money to put towards a new computer.
(Moores Law, and the laws of mass production, supply and demand, means that the latest technology cards are actually cheaper than the older less capable AGP cards... at least they are where I live)

CC

[NIGHTCAST2000]

Hi Chuft-Captain,
Thanks for the advice,I have been looking on e-bay for my next card.I have seen the cards I've been after similarly priced(roughly ?100 in my currncy).
I ust needed the best advice,as I like celestia very much.

Regards,
NIGHTCAST2000

[t00fri]

What's so bad about your present card? It's anyway much more modern than mine (FX5900Ultra/256MB). The only AGP based NVIDIA cards that I am aware of are not all that much faster than what you have and still cost close to 100 Euro.

I agree with CC. Upgrade your whole computer whenever you got the money for it.

Fridger

[NIGHTCAST2000]

Hi Fridger,
Thanks for the advice.I will have a look at some motherboard bundles on e-bay.I was aware my system is pretty old,but I knew getting the whole thing would cost me a lot more...

I'd like to say thanks guys for your help,someday I'll get there..

Regards,
NIGHTCAST2000