Nvidia Drivers vs ATi Drivers

[solofly]

I got 4 nvidia cards and 5 ATI cards and let me let you ATI drivers finally caught up to Nv's standard. As much as I dislike nvidia (for many reasons) I won't say their drivers suck. But nowadays I really enjoy ATI cards as much if not more...

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Thanks for the general info guys. Drivers won't hold me back from going red

One concern though, I am running 2 video cards for a 3 monitor display (8800GTS and 7600gt) The 8800GTS is my main display card used for games and the 7600 just does explorer and movie playing. So in my future setup I will have an ATI 4890 and a 7600gt, are the drivers or control panels going to mess with each other?

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
ATI drivers are more stable than Nvidia drivers. Look at the Vista crash reports that got released, and Nvidia drivers were the number one cause of Vista crashes.

Weren't those numbers pretty much proportional to nvidia's market share?

 

[dguy6789]

You should have no problems running both an ATI and Nvidia card at the same time if you use Windows 7. It is more difficult to do if you try it in Vista.

 

[nyker96]

i personally had a few problems since buying hd 4850 in vista 64. but when I had my older nv 7900gs it was on xp-32 so not sure if it's vista 64 problem or the ati card. following are the problems:
1. COHOF game, ultra texture will crash after 30min.
2. any after installing wolfenstein 2009 I get blank screen on start up had to reinstall dx9c to clear it up.

but other than this, I haven't had too much trouble with the 4850 especially considering how much faster it runs my game, I can't complaint too much.

 

[BenSkywalker]

If you play WoW, ATi's drivers suck, badly. I'm also very displeased with CCC, but overall their drivers are light years ahead of where they were in the R9700Pro days. I bought a R9500Pro at launch, was unuseable garbage with the state the drivers were in(I think it was 7 out of every 10 games I tested had major issues, buy the time the R9800Pro hit that situation had improved significantly, but they are much better now then they were then regardless).

 

[BFG10K]

Originally posted by: nitromullet

I'm surprised that you would say this... When I'm 'quite pleased' with something I generally don't contact the manufacturer to have them look into an issue for me, but I guess I don't have your clout either. I might put NV on speed dial, but I doubt they'll pick up for me.

This might sound strange, but for me the profile issue is not a huge concern; this is a case of the devil that I know rather than one that I don?t. I only reported it to them because it?s beneficial to every nVidia user to get it fixed ASAP.

I?ll just skip the next driver or so until they fix it, which will no doubt be soon because it?s not a bug they can leave for any extended time period without annoying their entire community.

I have almost perfect functionality from 186.18 and can stick with them for a while, and that?s what?s most important to me. Out of 98 currently installed games, I can count the number of issues on one hand, none of them are show-stopping, and some are potentially application faults. That includes me using unsupported AA modes and AA flags in dozens of games.

I have somewhat stricter gaming requirements than most because I regularly rotate older games with new games, so I expect drivers to work well in any situation. As an example, here are the last few games I?ve recently finished (Doom 3 being the most recent):

-Half-Life 2 Episode 1
-Half-Life 2 Episode 2
-Crysis Warhead
-Timeshift
-Painkiller (Battle out of Hell)
-Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood
-Cryostasis
-Painkiller
-Half-Life 1 (Opposing Force)
-Half-Life 1 (Blue Shift)
-Doom 3

The IHV shouldn?t picking what games I can play on their drivers, I should be. That?s the mark of a robust driver, and one that I expect every IHV to provide to paying customers.

The bugs that greatly concern me are the ones that seriously impact my gaming experience, aren?t fixed for years, and fall on deaf ears. Thankfully I haven?t seen those since I picked up my GTX260+.

 

[Ben90]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
ATI drivers are more stable than Nvidia drivers. Look at the Vista crash reports that got released, and Nvidia drivers were the number one cause of Vista crashes.

I know im the odd man out, but i personally HATE ati drivers, im seriously debating swapping my old 7800gtx for my HD 4890 because of it

Im sure i got a bad card, but my driver "Recovers from serious errors" quite often, crashing the game with it (like once a week)

But seriously, i know u guys are way pro ATI on this forum so if someone could help me force Vsync off on Windows 7 for old ass games (like Diablo II) im gonna continue my rant about ATI cards... oh yea here is what doesn't work so don't try suggesting it:
CCC
ATT
Rivatuner
Desktop Composition

 

[imported_Asianman]

Consider yourself lucky, I had a 3870 that "recovered from serious error" every 20minutes on desktop.
I've owned about 5 ATI setups in the past two years, and I have to say that I haven't been very satisfied. Crossfire (4850s) results in massive stuttering and lag, and in windows XP, their drivers aren't very optimised. Their Vista and 7 drivers are quite impressive though.
My only NV card (GTX 275) has so far been quite good, although I can't get the overclock to apply after I restart my computer.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: Ben90

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
ATI drivers are more stable than Nvidia drivers. Look at the Vista crash reports that got released, and Nvidia drivers were the number one cause of Vista crashes.

I know im the odd man out, but i personally HATE ati drivers, im seriously debating swapping my old 7800gtx for my HD 4890 because of it

Im sure i got a bad card, but my driver "Recovers from serious errors" quite often, crashing the game with it (like once a week)

But seriously, i know u guys are way pro ATI on this forum so if someone could help me force Vsync off on Windows 7 for old ass games (like Diablo II) im gonna continue my rant about ATI cards... oh yea here is what doesn't work so don't try suggesting it:
CCC
ATT
Rivatuner
Desktop Composition

9/10 its either factory overclocked card,overclocking,faulty card or something other then drivers,I have only had that happen to me on a Nvidia factory overclocked 7800GT OC card,reducing the factory overclock fixed the issue,end of the day its very rare its caused by Nvidia/ATI drivers.

 

[Bateluer]

Why does this always come up? ATI drivers have been solid for most of the last decade, its Nvidia's drivers that have been lackluster the last few years.

ATI had poor drivers back in the Rage 128 and early Radeon days, stigma's like that stick around a long time it seems. Ironically, most are probably too young to remember the Rage 128s with clarity too.

 

[Schadenfroh]

ATI had spotty AGP driver support (hotfix city) during my x1950 pro days. Their x1950 AGP Linux drivers also had more "quarks" than nvidia's drivers at the time (had an nVidia 7900 PCI-E in my notebook, AGP ATI x1950 in my desktop) like lag when scrolling with 3d desktop effects enabled. Went with an nVidia GTX260 this round for the better Linux support. I am sure ATI's PCI-E Windows drivers are fine. Their PCI-E Linux drivers might be fine as well, I was just running a legacy interface.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Honestly, I've owned many cards from both manufacturers. Everything from a GeForce 2, Geforce3, ATI 8500Pro, 6800GT, 7800GT, 2900xt, 4870, GTX280, GTX295 and haven't had many issues to complain about. There's the occational bug or problem here or there but nothing that just crashed every time.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
Honestly, I've owned many cards from both manufacturers. Everything from a GeForce 2, Geforce3, ATI 8500Pro, 6800GT, 7800GT, 2900xt, 4870, GTX280, GTX295 and haven't had many issues to complain about. There's the occational bug or problem here or there but nothing that just crashed every time.

Likewise (GF4 MX440, 9800 pro, 6600GT, 6800GT, 4350, 9600GT and 4850) and QFT :beer:

Where things DO crash all the time, it is almost always a user specific issue, and it drives me up the wall when people say 'oh but I had a GTX 260/4870/Volari V8 Duo and it crashed my computer and wiped my HDD every 14.7 minutes, nVidia/ATI/XGI drivers are clearly teh sh1tz0rs!'.

Stop and think about it for a second; did this happen to every other GTX 260/4870/Volari V8 Duo owner at that time? I'll bet a squillion smackeroos that it didn't. QED: your experience clearly was not representative of the experience 99.99something% of users enjoyed, and your conclusion just plain wrong.

*wipes fevered brow*

EDIT: A poor choice of my last card there, rumour has it that XGI drivers were 'teh sh1tz0rs' That's another story however, and shouldn't distract from my rant!

 

[Ben90]

Where things DO crash all the time, it is almost always a user specific issue, and it drives me up the wall when people say 'oh but I had a GTX 260/4870/Volari V8 Duo and it crashed my computer and wiped my HDD every 14.7 minutes, nVidia/ATI/XGI drivers are clearly teh sh1tz0rs!'.

Stop and think about it for a second; did this happen to every other GTX 260/4870/Volari V8 Duo owner at that time? I'll bet a squillion smackeroos that it didn't. QED: your experience clearly was not representative of the experience 99.99something% of users enjoyed, and your conclusion just plain wrong.

Im plain wrong, my card doesnt crash once a week, thanks for helping me diagnose my problem.
You have also helped my understand why my laptop first would crash from windows, then would crash posting, now wont even post... im too aggressive with the power button i guess
Oh yea, i knew i shouldn't press the restart button while posting; RIP OCZ Ram.
Damn trying to change the time on my moms p4, RIP
Sorry Mr. Winkler (My old Cisco teacher) you shouldnt have let me change the IP Address, RIP NVRAM

Do you realize not everything gets caught in quality control/shit breaks during shipping?
http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=3596
http://www.anandtech.com/syste...howdoc.aspx?i=3281&p=8

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Ben90

Where things DO crash all the time, it is almost always a user specific issue, and it drives me up the wall when people say 'oh but I had a GTX 260/4870/Volari V8 Duo and it crashed my computer and wiped my HDD every 14.7 minutes, nVidia/ATI/XGI drivers are clearly teh sh1tz0rs!'.

Stop and think about it for a second; did this happen to every other GTX 260/4870/Volari V8 Duo owner at that time? I'll bet a squillion smackeroos that it didn't. QED: your experience clearly was not representative of the experience 99.99something% of users enjoyed, and your conclusion just plain wrong.

Im plain wrong, my card doesnt crash once a week, thanks for helping me diagnose my problem.
You have also helped my understand why my laptop first would crash from windows, then would crash posting, now wont even post... im too aggressive with the power button i guess
Oh yea, i knew i shouldn't press the restart button while posting; RIP OCZ Ram.
Damn trying to change the time on my moms p4, RIP
Sorry Mr. Winkler (My old Cisco teacher) you shouldnt have let me change the IP Address, RIP NVRAM

Do you realize not everything gets caught in quality control/shit breaks during shipping?
http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=3596
http://www.anandtech.com/syste...howdoc.aspx?i=3281&p=8

This is a DRIVER DISCUSSION.

If it's hardware broken then the driver didn't cause problems for you clearly it was the broke hardware.

 

[imported_Halley]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
Honestly, I've owned many cards from both manufacturers. Everything from a GeForce 2, Geforce3, ATI 8500Pro, 6800GT, 7800GT, 2900xt, 4870, GTX280, GTX295 and haven't had many issues to complain about. There's the occational bug or problem here or there but nothing that just crashed every time.

I've never had any issues with both camps. Maybe because I've never overclocked video cards. Always uninstall drivers then update with manufacturers' releases.
My buddies laugh at me because I always install video cards by reading through quick guides. I suspect being conservative works for me.

 

[SlowSpyder]

No problems here on Vista 64. No significant problems from either company for me really.

 

[evolucion8]

My biggest issues happened with my old X800XT PE which in some games locked up my PC, but never had issues with my X1950XT AGP, or HD 3850 AGP or HD 4870 1GB.

 

[Nemesis 1]

I have never really complained about drivers for ATI/NV either . I have about the same amount of trouble with both. which is seldom , But If I had to say which bsods the most > I wouldn't . To close to call , Bias would win the day and I would be making a prejuduce choice , Thats a fact . From my perspective . ATI is Better Hardware over the long run . Thats Prejudice on my part that will be proven out in next 2 years . ATI does have the Best GPU Tech . NV has the Best IDEA! Intel has resources and compilers that make this thing almost unfair. I Keep hereing about intel drivers for larrabbe. Some how I think Me and the internet have hugh disconnect. Intels is doing everthing in software other than textures. I really don't believe Intels drivers are going to be that big a deal . Intel only needs to make drivers that are DXcompatiable Than Software takes over. Intel not doing hardware render so the drivers are not even close to being related. AT present . ATI/NV have to upgrade hardware to be DX11 be compilant . Were as Intel needs only to upgrade Drivers AND Mainly the Software. Right now advantage ATI/NV. The eventual winner. ATI/Intel. In the end I think every Intel cpu will have AN ATI processor intagrated with it . It could Be Intel/NV but think NV blew that oppertunity.

A word of warning All the corperate players that know what each has.

When one of there own is about to die . Rather than put it out of Misery. They Hype up and coming parts , They also begin to produce substandard parts and constantly change products name for same arch . So as to slowly bleed the public out of ever Stock dollar and product dollar to the point of being unlawful .

Don't believe it Google an big old dead company and see if its not so . Check the last 1.1/2 years of Dec . Right after the stock price was driven to the point they were bigger than big blue . Talk about Scams . Check who long they lasted after that. LOL!!!

I not saying anyones in trouble here but there are signs from the past that tell of a curve ahead or Dead END!

 

[SickBeast]

AMD and NV both make very good drivers at this point.

Intel makes *terrible* drivers. They are the true problem, and they are probably the reason why Larrabee will fail.

SiS and VIA also make questionable drivers.

 

[Nemesis 1]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
AMD and NV both make very good drivers at this point.

Intel makes *terrible* drivers. They are the true problem, and they are probably the reason why Larrabee will fail.

SiS and VIA also make questionable drivers.

What does Larrabee Have to do with IGP drivers . Nothing I am aware of . AS I said there is a disconnect here. I guess will wait on larrabee so all can scratch heads and say Oh Now I understand how this works . Intel Larrabbee drivers are not same as ATI/NV present drivers . Intel is depending On SOFTWARE RENDER. not hardware. HUGH differance. Intels driver package won't carry anyweres near the baggage of NV /ATI drivers. My personnal opinion is intel shouldn't even bother with DX9 games . Baggage not worth it . Take the sales hit and let industry catch up . They have the resources.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Nemesis 1

Originally posted by: SickBeast
AMD and NV both make very good drivers at this point.

Intel makes *terrible* drivers. They are the true problem, and they are probably the reason why Larrabee will fail.

SiS and VIA also make questionable drivers.

What does Larrabee Have to do with IGP drivers . Nothing I am aware of . AS I said there is a disconnect here. I guess will wait on larrabee so all can scratch heads and say Oh Now I understand how this works . Intel Larrabbee drivers are not same as ATI/NV present drivers . Intel is depending On SOFTWARE RENDER. not hardware. HUGH differance. Intels driver package won't carry anyweres near the baggage of NV /ATI drivers. My personnal opinion is intel shouldn't even bother with DX9 games . Baggage not worth it . Take the sales hit and let industry catch up . They have the resources.

Oh look, Nemesis swooped on down as soon as I said "Larrabee". Hi Nemesis! :beer:

In response to your post, intel's programming team needs to somehow make a "driver" for Larrabee when they can't even make one for a crappy low end IGP. It's not going to happen, and if it does, the drivers will be crap unless they hire a large team of programmers.

Just because the Larrabee will use software rendering, it doesn't mean it won't need some serious programming to get that to work out properly. I haven't even touched upon the emulation layer either. :light: :Q

 

[Nemesis 1]

Intels Software team has to do its Job . I won't debate the differances in drivers for hardware render Vs. Software render. Its not long wait now at all. Of course Hardware render be faster in some things . But software can do so very much more. If your looking for FPS. ATI/NV win . If your looking for exciting gameplay without waiting on next generation hardware. Software render is hands down winner. I will go for quality over quanity as I always have . So until than Larrabee looks good . If They show a game that exploits Larrabee software render along with other tricks. I will be sold just for that 1 game but its going to have to be really really good. To pull me away from ATI.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Nemesis 1
Intels Software team has to do its Job . I won't debate the differances in drivers for hardware render Vs. Software render. Its not long wait now at all. Of course Hardware render be faster in some things . But software can do so very much more. If your looking for FPS. ATI/NV win . If your looking for exciting gameplay without waiting on next generation hardware. Software render is hands down winner. I will go for quality over quanity as I always have . So until than Larrabee looks good . If They show a game that exploits Larrabee software render along with other tricks. I will be sold just for that 1 game but its going to have to be really really good. To pull me away from ATI.

Nemesis, with something like a graphics card, content is king. Do you really think that the entire industry of game developers is going to just suddenly stop programming their games for DX just so they can port their games to an unproven and unreleased product like the Larrabee? I don't. There's no way they will. The only games that will come out for it will be paid for by intel themselves, or else console games if the rumors of the PS4 having Larrabee for its GPU are true. Actually, if the PS4 really does use it, then it actually has a prayer of getting some good games, but they will all be ports. In that case you might as well just buy a PS4 (which you undoubtedly will, Nemesis, if it has your beloved intel GPU inside).