According to most reviews, ATI-based cards currently have a performance edge in single-textured rendering (as in using one texture on any particular polygon) and DirectX 9 shader rendering, while NVidia-based cards have the edge on multi-texturing (more important to games than 3D apps) and NVidia has better OpenGL drivers/support than ATI does (more important to D|S). For all intents and purposes, even the current cheapest/low-end add-on cards from either company will be many times better than an integrated Intel solution, so take your pick ;).

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