GeForce manufacturer question

[dgunthert]

Looking to get a new GeForce3 card. My question is on the manufacturers. Where can I get info on the quality of boards from Inno3d, PNY, Gainward, etc? I'm still getting the hang of this and about the only name I recognize is Asus. However, their boards tend to be $30-$40 higher.

[dgunthert]

Since I'm in the right forum for it, I'll add this: Recommendations on a sound card. I've had good experience with Turtle Beach and I'm thinking about a Santa Cruz with DSP. But Creative is of course the other big player, but I'm confused by the sheer number of different products available. SB Live, SB Audigy, Audigy Platinum, etc. Can anyone give some insight?

[Silver]

Gainward ti450 good card at a good price. I believe that PNY is an upcomer. I would wait a couple of weeks for a price shift to take place as the gf4s come out. Welcome to the forums

As for sound, don't ask me. If it makes noise I am happy so on board sound is fine with me.

[Wicked Klown]

For video I like the Visiontek Xtasy ones. For sound I would say an Audigy any of them.

[Pinky]

Gainward is the best of the three you listed, I'd stay away from PNY (but others have had good experiences with them)...

I love Turtle beach, and they're $60 at compusa... nothing wrong with the Audigys either, but they're more $$$ for basically the same quality with some features most will never need/use...

[]-[itman]

Video cards i'll list my opinions of the top players. Leadtek=Fast cards, good overclockers, but not the best image quality. Gainward=Pretty fast, haven't had much experience with them but from what i've seen good oc'ers, and good image quality. Visiontek=Pretty fast, good oc's, and good image quality IMO i'd call this the good all-around-Geforce cards. PNY=kind of new, not the best image quality, pretty fast, good overclockers, but is also usually the cheapest. One that i like that wasn't mentioned is Elsa, unfortunetly they stopped making consumer cards so they're kind of hard to find but if you can get a hand on one of their GeForce 3's i would get it if you have the money(i say that because they tend to be the most expensive but they are sweet!). Again IMO i prefer the Elsa card but if you can't find one then Gainward or Visiontek.

What Creative did was they created a new line of the same card only with their "Audigy Techonology". Most people that buy them love them but i agree with Pinky it's not really needed.