I've been looking into getting a new video card, but I'm rather new to the current world of GPUs (I remember back when all you needed to know was whether or not it the card was called "Voodoo"). In specific, I have the following questions:
1. First thing I've noticed is that nVidia's cards tend to have slower core clocks, but they also have a "Shader Clock". So does this basically mean that the slower clock is compensated by the Shader Clock doing some of the work-load on its own?
2. Another main thing I've noticed in the difference between the two companies is Stream Processors. I tried to wiki that to see if I could get any answers on what that meant, but I just about crapped myself when I saw the page. What's a quick laymen's term explanation for those, and how big of consideration should I put into one card vs another when the one has more Stream Processors?
3. Final question for now: I've noticed that the memory type for the cards tends to vary. Some are GDDR3, some are GDDR5, and probably other types as well. How important is this to know? Is it the kinda thing where I'll have to double-check my mobo to make sure it'll be compatible, or is something more simple than that?
4. Okay, final final question for now: Is there really much difference between ATI and nVidia, or does it basically just boil down to the same as the difference between (for example) the PS3 and 360 where either one can be better depending on what you're looking for?
Thanks in advance.
1. First thing I've noticed is that nVidia's cards tend to have slower core clocks, but they also have a "Shader Clock". So does this basically mean that the slower clock is compensated by the Shader Clock doing some of the work-load on its own?
2. Another main thing I've noticed in the difference between the two companies is Stream Processors. I tried to wiki that to see if I could get any answers on what that meant, but I just about crapped myself when I saw the page. What's a quick laymen's term explanation for those, and how big of consideration should I put into one card vs another when the one has more Stream Processors?
3. Final question for now: I've noticed that the memory type for the cards tends to vary. Some are GDDR3, some are GDDR5, and probably other types as well. How important is this to know? Is it the kinda thing where I'll have to double-check my mobo to make sure it'll be compatible, or is something more simple than that?
4. Okay, final final question for now: Is there really much difference between ATI and nVidia, or does it basically just boil down to the same as the difference between (for example) the PS3 and 360 where either one can be better depending on what you're looking for?
Thanks in advance.
