Quote - why there is a radeon/nvidia war i just don't know.
i play games and do lots of intense 3d modeling with a radeon card (uv mapper pro too) and have no issues at all!

personally, either card will be good. they both do the same thing.
don't confuse the poor girl.

arcadia, either nvidia or radeon will work for you. it really comes down to what mobo is linked with what card and what chip and what driver you are using. some work great together and some don't.

Thanks.  My laptop had a nVidia graphic card (forget the model) but it didn't have Open GL capability.. And my desktop has the ATI Radeon Rage Pro Fury with Open GL capability which won't work on my system though :(

I can't really say I noticed any difference between them because of the difference in the monitors between computers. My laptop had high resolution LCD monitor whereas my desktop monitor was purchased with my first computer system in 2000, but I think that while it was new, that it was a few years older than that (my scanner and printer that came with the system were new unused 1997 models so I have no reason to believe they didn't do the same thing with the monitor).

I wish I could get a new monitor but I can't afford to at this point. It's either a new monitor or a new computer, and if my computer up and dies a new monitor isn't going to do me much good,  LOL

Quote - This is the point where it's pleasure and pain.  You simply need to aquire the knowledge necessary to make an informed decision that will best please your budget, and the advice given here is very good.

Yes, that's my plan. I want to make an informed decision so I'm gathering information.

Quote - I ended up buying on eBay

Thanks, but I'm not really comfortable with online auctions. I know people say that it's mostly businesses that sell stuff there but I'm leary about getting ripped off and paying for something that I don't get.  Plus I want to make sure that I'm getting something brand spanking new and not someone's used headaches.

Quote - Don't hesitate to look a bit beyond your budget.  You too may fall glassy eyed at feet of the multi-core kingdom!

I wish I could look beyond my budget, but since I'm paying cash for it, I can't.  In the past 7 years I've spent almost $10,000 Canadian dollars on 2 computers (First computer package = $2,000.00;  Upgrade 1 year later = $1,700.00;  Dell Laptop = $6,000.00 with financing) and out of that I have one working computer that is running on life support.  So I'm trying to do the best I can with up to $1500.00 budget.  I could wait 3 or 4 months and save up some more, but I don't think my desktop will live that long.

I forgot to add that I'm in Canada, so whatever the price is in USD, it's about double up here, and ordering from the US is not an option for me because of shipping, duty, brokerage fees, 13% taxes and currency exchange rates. 

"It is good to see ourselves as others see us. Try as we may, we are never
able to know ourselves fully as we are, especially the evil side of us.
This we can do only if we are not angry with our critics but will take in good
heart whatever they might have to say." - Ghandi