nvidia. Poor 2d graphics quality?
So here's the story I've been a LONG time ATI/AMD graphics card user. My last (and only) nvidia graphics card for desktop PC was the TNT 2, yeah a long time. Since then I had a variety of ATI cards, mostly their top model AIW cards until they stopped making them and my main rig currently runs 4870's in crossfire. Prior to the TNT 2 I used Matrox and ATI cards, but mostly Matrox until trying the TNT2, I only used the TNT2 for a short time because I found the image quality terrible in comparison to the Matrox/ATI cards I was use to, I switched to ATI AIW Radeon and found it much better.
So I decided I wanted to upgrade my my recently built HTPC which is a Sandy Bridge 2500K running on a ASUS P8H67-M Evo motherboard. I was using the Intel HD 3000 onboard graphics and the quality was fine and even light gaming was pretty good, but I wanted a little more gaming power. I run this through my Yamaha RX-V3900 Receiver using HDMI and that connects to my Epson 8700UB projector that projects to a 100" Dragonfly screen. I was very happy with the desktop graphics, I use this PC for watching videos from my hard drive, netflix, and other online services like NHL Gamecenter and UFC.tv. Surfing the web was fine and everything looked great but like I said I wanted more gaming power.
I'm considering upgrading my main PC to wither a Radeon 6970 or a GTX 580 and I figured since it has been so long since I tried an nvidia card I'd give it a GTX 460 a shot to see how it was compared to what I'm use too. That way I'd have some idea before spending almost $600 all in for a GTX 580.
I purchased a EVGA GTX 460 FTW EE and I have to say it looked terrible, the text is blurred and the images on the desktop look fuzzy and bad overall. I did a quick switch back to the Intel HD 3000 and it was significantly better. I decided to try on my main PC monitors. I tested his my Dell UltraSharp 2407 24" and Dell UltraSharp U2311H 23". I'm very use to the image on these monitors from my ATI 4870's I tested the GTX 460 and it looked like crap compared to the 4870, I then tried the Intel HD 3000 and it looked much better than the GTX but slightly less clear than the ATI. This was using the same DVI cable I've always used.
So I figured I got a bad card, so I go to the local store to buy a GTX card that I can easily return, I picked up a Zotac GTX 560 and installed it. Found it was equally as bad, did a full driver clean with driver sweeper removing it all. Guess what same results. I'm baffled at how this can be. I ran some movies and video games and they image quality is much more comparable to the ATI card, maybe a little less sharp but hardly noticeable unless you are standing still and really looking at non-moving items.
So this is my question, does nvidia still have poor 2D quality? How can it be this isn't really mentioned in reviews? I mean I look at my PC for more 2D stuff than I play games. The difference is so big that I couldn't see myself using the card like this for day to day stuff. I'm really disappointed with this.
I have two laptops with nvidia cards in them, a Alienware m11x and the quality isn't terrible, text is readable and things look good. I've passed it off since overall the 11.6" screen on the m11x isn't that great overall but I love the laptop. It used s 335m. My other laptop is a Sony Vaio F series with a 310m graphics chip. It looks better than the Alienware but that is because it uses a nicer LCD. I'll admit that neither look as good as my desktop but I figured that was normal for a laptop anyway.
So what gives? Anyone else notice this? I'll probably keep the GTX 460 because I got a pretty good price, I wanted to try Physx too. However, I sort of wish I spent the extra $30 or so and got a 6850 instead.
So I decided I wanted to upgrade my my recently built HTPC which is a Sandy Bridge 2500K running on a ASUS P8H67-M Evo motherboard. I was using the Intel HD 3000 onboard graphics and the quality was fine and even light gaming was pretty good, but I wanted a little more gaming power. I run this through my Yamaha RX-V3900 Receiver using HDMI and that connects to my Epson 8700UB projector that projects to a 100" Dragonfly screen. I was very happy with the desktop graphics, I use this PC for watching videos from my hard drive, netflix, and other online services like NHL Gamecenter and UFC.tv. Surfing the web was fine and everything looked great but like I said I wanted more gaming power.
I'm considering upgrading my main PC to wither a Radeon 6970 or a GTX 580 and I figured since it has been so long since I tried an nvidia card I'd give it a GTX 460 a shot to see how it was compared to what I'm use too. That way I'd have some idea before spending almost $600 all in for a GTX 580.
I purchased a EVGA GTX 460 FTW EE and I have to say it looked terrible, the text is blurred and the images on the desktop look fuzzy and bad overall. I did a quick switch back to the Intel HD 3000 and it was significantly better. I decided to try on my main PC monitors. I tested his my Dell UltraSharp 2407 24" and Dell UltraSharp U2311H 23". I'm very use to the image on these monitors from my ATI 4870's I tested the GTX 460 and it looked like crap compared to the 4870, I then tried the Intel HD 3000 and it looked much better than the GTX but slightly less clear than the ATI. This was using the same DVI cable I've always used.
So I figured I got a bad card, so I go to the local store to buy a GTX card that I can easily return, I picked up a Zotac GTX 560 and installed it. Found it was equally as bad, did a full driver clean with driver sweeper removing it all. Guess what same results. I'm baffled at how this can be. I ran some movies and video games and they image quality is much more comparable to the ATI card, maybe a little less sharp but hardly noticeable unless you are standing still and really looking at non-moving items.
So this is my question, does nvidia still have poor 2D quality? How can it be this isn't really mentioned in reviews? I mean I look at my PC for more 2D stuff than I play games. The difference is so big that I couldn't see myself using the card like this for day to day stuff. I'm really disappointed with this.
I have two laptops with nvidia cards in them, a Alienware m11x and the quality isn't terrible, text is readable and things look good. I've passed it off since overall the 11.6" screen on the m11x isn't that great overall but I love the laptop. It used s 335m. My other laptop is a Sony Vaio F series with a 310m graphics chip. It looks better than the Alienware but that is because it uses a nicer LCD. I'll admit that neither look as good as my desktop but I figured that was normal for a laptop anyway.
So what gives? Anyone else notice this? I'll probably keep the GTX 460 because I got a pretty good price, I wanted to try Physx too. However, I sort of wish I spent the extra $30 or so and got a 6850 instead.
That's 30 minutes away, I'll be there in 10.
Beer: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.
Beer: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.