How do you tell the difference among graphics cards?

[VerticalHorizon]

I really need a new card but looking up cards just confuses me. I'll find a card with really great specs and stuff but the reviews say it's unusable. I'll find a card with really low specs and the reviews say it's the best they've ever used.
My nVidia GTX 9800 just failed on me earlier this year and my friend gave me an ATI Radeon HD 6770 which is supposed to be a lot better, yet I find that my 9800 was outperforming it in nearly every game I play. Why the forget is that? Why are people on YouTube running BF3 on ultra with 35 fps using a 6770, yet I can't even run Metro 2033 on high without dropping to like 10 fps?
Why are new cards coming out that are inferior to older cards even when they're made by the same company?
What's the difference among brands like EVGA and VisionTek? Even when the specs look the same they are usually extremely different in performance.

The more I research the more confused I get. I just want to play stuff like Sleeping Dogs on extreme with at least 35 fps, I'm not trying to run Crysis or anything or do any in-depth video editing. I also know I do not want an ATI card since me and everyone I know with ATI cards have nothing but horror stories.

Someone please enlighten me

[Ad Bot]

[Titanium Man]

cpu's

do you have a crappy cpu

[VerticalHorizon]

cpu's

do you have a crappy cpu

Core i5 @ 3.2 ghz with 8 gb RAM. I've had this processor with both cards so that isn't the problem.

[Nickelob Ultra]

Might be a bad card...  ATI cards are odd.  Never had one since my old Radeon 9550 back during AGP times.

[Kaphonaits²]

Why are new cards coming out that are inferior to older cards even when they're made by the same company?
What's the difference among brands like EVGA and VisionTek?

Manufacturers. Not brand.

As for everything else, post all of your specs. Everrrrrythhinggggg.

[VerticalHorizon]

[ShadowsfeaR]

Good bet is to go with a 7770, as I have seen a lot of good press around it. I was going to get it to upgrade my 4something50 before I ended up building a computer :X I've had some seriously debilitating issues with Nvidia and never really trusted them since. :(

Also, price range?

[VerticalHorizon]

Good bet is to go with a 7770, as I have seen a lot of good press around it. I was going to get it to upgrade my 4something50 before I ended up building a computer :X I've had some seriously debilitating issues with Nvidia and never really trusted them since. :(

Also, price range?

I also know I do not want an ATI card

As far as price goes I have absolutely no money to spend on something like this and probably won't for a long time. I just want to learn more about cards.

[SpitFir3Tornado³]

Good bet is to go with a 7770, as I have seen a lot of good press around it. I was going to get it to upgrade my 4something50 before I ended up building a computer :X I've had some seriously debilitating issues with Nvidia and never really trusted them since. :(

Also, price range?

I've had my NVidia GTX260 for a long time, and it was like the first card to have a lot of cool NVidia-exclusive stuff. I've had no problems, except with RAGE but... Everyone had problems with RAGE.

edit: also physx is game-changing. i wouldn't have felt so immersed in metro2033 without the ability to push all those hospital curtains aroud. (jokes aside NVidia makes good cards.)

[Ben Grapevine]

Ati is terrible compared to Nvidia

[ShadowsfeaR]

As far as price goes I have absolutely no money to spend on something like this and probably won't for a long time. I just want to learn more about cards.

Oh, I glazed through, thought this was a "need a new card" thread. I can't read. Anyway, I just shoot for good GPU memory and core clock speeds, something's balanced. It's worked for me (I think). And as for manufacturers, it comes down to past reliability and features. People don't seem to like XFX for some reason, but mine has run flawlessly. I think it might be compatibility with other hardwares.

Ati is terrible compared to Nvidia

Stop

[Maxwell23461]

Ati is terrible compared to Nvidia

You're dead to me.

[Ben Grapevine]

You're dead to me.

I've owned both and by far Nvidia has outperformed and has been able to play more games than the ati cards

[The Big Bad Jellyfish]

NVIDIA : Amazing if you can afford it and get a good one.
ATI : Good if you're on a budget.

[ShadowsfeaR]

I've owned both and by far Nvidia has outperformed and has been able to play more games than the ati cards

My 7850 decimates anything I've thrown at it, including MoH:WF and BF3 on ultra.