Is there anyone using one of these ATI FirePro V4800 cards for SW? We are looking at our next gen of machines and debating the ATI FirePro V4800 vs. nVidia FX580.
The ATI card supports a newer version of DirectX (11 vs. 10) and also openGL (3.2 vs. 3.0), it has 1 Gb RAM vs. 512 meg on the FX580, and it's about $20 more per card.
The FX580 in an nVidia card and therefore has an advantage in better perceived long run stability with SolidWorks. I also think it has less overhead as far as what has to be installed for support software and simplicity of drivers. However, we also run Inventor and ACAD here and I have to wonder if since Inventor is DirectX based, the ATI card may be a better choice across the board.
The fact of the ATI having 1 Gb would be an advantage on 64 bit machines, and a disadvantage on 32 bit machines. I would think any new machines we set up would be 64 bit.
Thoughts?
WT
Wayne - Just a note about ATI support in case that's an issue for you. I bought an ATI FireGL V5600 last year which I thought had developed a problem (was actually one of my cables at fault). ATI sent me a replacement card up-front as I didn't have a standby card and they even sent it direct to the manufacturer of my then new PC for them to fit & burn in. All this organised through the UK distributor. Can't get much better than that.