New Rig

[Sava700]

See how it plays your games on that one card. Good card. I came from the nVidia camp after many years, and lately I like ATI cards. Many years ago ATI was noted for sluggish driver updates, but a couple of years ago they vowed to release driver updates monthly, and they've held that promise. I think they've been doing monthly driver updates for over 3 years now.

And make a mental note that it seems that 3 out of 4 people that build an SLI system end up posting constant problems on forums.

Well I wouldn't say monthly on the "Official" driver releases but plenty of beta releases or leaked drivers going around and to be honest ATI was in the same boat when Vista was released but Nvidia seemed to have reacted better. I've tested a few of the latest ATI cards on friends comps but I just don't see where they are all that much better and they are more frustrating to deal with at times so I stick to whats working and thats Nvidia. Seems Nvidia has partnered with more game companies like EA, Crytek, Infinity Ward for getting the games more optimized with their cards and drivers which gives them a +1 in my book.

[YeOldeStonecat]

Well I wouldn't say monthly on the "Official" driver releases but

Seems Nvidia has partnered with more game companies like EA, Crytek, Infinity Ward for getting the games more optimized with their cards and drivers which gives them a +1 in my book.

ATI promised monthly Catalyst updates, and they've been quite faithful to that promise, they're usually released mid-month. A quick search on Google will yield the facts, not opinions. There are even tech sites that review these monthly Cat updates..with a new review each month. Clearly those show that there are indeed monthly Cat releases.

If you play with beta or leaked drivers..that's "use at your own risk"..and have fun cleaning the trojan that was probably bundled with it. I stick with official drivers.

Want more proof? You'll see "roughly" 12 driver releases per year. Dates may be off on a couple due to FileHippos posting times...but it's showing that ATI is doing monthly.
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ati_c ... p/history/
ATI Catalyst Drivers 9.2 XP
Released: 21 Feb 2009 (3 days ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 9.1 XP
Released: 30 Jan 2009 (3 weeks ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 8.12 XP
Released: 11 Dec 2008 (2 months ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 8.11 XP
Released: 13 Nov 2008 (3 months ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 8.10 XP
Released: 16 Oct 2008 (4 months ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 8.9 XP
Released: 18 Sep 2008 (5 months ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 8.8 XP
Released: 22 Aug 2008 (6 months ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 8.7 XP
Released: 22 Jul 2008 (7 months ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 8.6 XP
Released: 19 Jun 2008 (8 months ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 8.5 XP
Released: 22 May 2008 (9 months ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 8.4
Released: 17 Apr 2008 (10 months ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 8.3
Released: 06 Mar 2008 (11 months ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 8.2
Released: 14 Feb 2008 (1 year ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 8.1
Released: 17 Jan 2008 (1 year ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 7.12
Released: 21 Dec 2007 (1 year ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 7.11
Released: 22 Nov 2007 (1 year ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 7.10
Released: 12 Oct 2007 (1 year ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 7.9
Released: 11 Sep 2007 (1 year ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 7.8
Released: 14 Aug 2007 (1 year ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 7.7
Released: 20 Jul 2007 (1 year ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 7.6
Released: 26 Jun 2007 (1 year ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 7.5
Released: 01 Jun 2007 (1 year ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 7.4
Released: 19 Apr 2007 (1 year ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 7.3
Released: 29 Mar 2007 (1 year ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 7.2
Released: 22 Feb 2007 (2 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 7.1
Released: 11 Jan 2007 (2 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 6.12
Released: 14 Dec 2006 (2 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 6.11
Released: 16 Nov 2006 (2 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 6.10
Released: 01 Nov 2006 (2 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 6.9
Released: 21 Sep 2006 (2 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 6.8
Released: 19 Aug 2006 (2 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 6.7
Released: 29 Jul 2006 (2 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 6.6
Released: 27 Jun 2006 (2 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 6.5
Released: 24 May 2006 (2 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 6.4
Released: 13 Apr 2006 (2 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 6.3
Released: 09 Mar 2006 (2 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 6.2
Released: 10 Feb 2006 (3 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 6.1
Released: 19 Jan 2006 (3 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 5.13
Released: 23 Dec 2005 (3 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 5.12
Released: 09 Dec 2005 (3 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 5.11
Released: 11 Nov 2005 (3 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 5.10
Released: 13 Oct 2005 (3 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 5.9
Released: 22 Sep 2005 (3 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 5.8
Released: 17 Aug 2005 (3 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 5.7
Released: 14 Jul 2005 (3 years ago)
ATI Catalyst Drivers 5.6
Released: 10 Jun 2005 (3 years ago)

Being a player of many EA games.....I've seen the "Optimized for nVidia" splash screen, but have yet to see it make a difference. IMO over the years ATI has still stood above for IQ in the game, even a game that's supposedly optimized for nVidia. (proving it's really just another fake sales pitch).

Again, I came from being an nVidia fanboy. They're both pretty toe-to-toe now, and over the past few gaming rigs...ATI has given me a rock solid problem free system that's done well. I'm not against nVidia....perhaps my new system will have one. But IMO it's about 50/50..can't go wrong either way.