Readers' Award 2003 Results (4)
Grumpy/Bluetooth 5 Jan 2004

If you thought it was tough selling Chipsets for mainboards in 2003, spare a thought for those offloading Video Cards. Up until the end of 2002, Nvidia has always been the Champion of Graphics cards, and it was with some amount of disbelief that ATi strode into 2003 and kicked them where it really hurts. Nvidia Loyalty, a phrase often spoken on the Forums, was all that stood between the company and the dark abyss. ATi had the 9800 and 9600 Families, fast and near flawless. Nvidia the 5800 and 5600. Too hot, too noisy, too slow..and that was before you tried to run a Direct X 9 Demo. Nvidia fumbled the ball, then tried to run faster by using non approved methods. Soon everyone was pointing the finger at everyone else yelling CHEATER!  It all looked black and windy at Nvidia, until late in the day when the 5900 Series entered the fray. Still not the performance champ, it gave back some credibility, and set up what is turning out to be their finest release of 2003, the 5700 Ultra. At last, they had a rival for the 9600 Pro and 9600XT. So as Father Time retires to his room for another year, let us see who won the favour of our Members for 2003.

Best Graphics card In Overclocking 2003 turned up a surprise in the midst of it all. 1st Place belonged to the Gigabyte Radeon 9700 Pro with 25.1%, followed in 2nd by the ATi Radeon 9600 on 24.7%. MSI and their GF4 Ti4200 128 MB got 3rd with 18.0%, proving the current popularity of this Chip with overclockers looking for a bargain. In fourth was the Gigacube 9600 Pro VIVO 128 MB, a nice little surprise package that overclocked remarkably well. Just beaten by MSI at 17.7%, this Card is one of many being produced by the new Champ of Video Cards in 2003..inexpensive, rock solid with good overclocking, Gigacube/GeXcube will be a company to watch in 2004. Kudos to Gigabyte, they make very good Video Cards, and they are a nice colour.

Best Graphics Card in Overclocking

Next up is Best Graphics card In Price/Performance Ratio 2003, with ATi Cards dominating again. Sneaking into first on 20.8% is the ATi Radeon 9600 Pro, obviously made by ATi as their retail offering. Just behind at 19.1% is the Sapphire Radeon 9500 Pro. An older product, and hard to acquire now, this gives performance beyond the 9600 XT making it the find of the century if one pops up. Third is a funny one, the ATi Radeon 9800 Pro with 14.8%. Not really cheap, but very fast, Members obviously think that it is overall good value compared to the latest from ATi and Nvidia. Gigabyte on 12.1% with the Radeon 9600 pro snares fourth, burying Nvidia in this category.

Best Graphics Card in Price/Performance Ratio

Last but by no means least is Best Graphics Card package 2003, the only category here that Nvidia makes a fight of. Again it is Asus who brings home the Gold with another great bundle. Holding a gigantic 53.2% of voters hearts with the 9800XT Limited Edition, this 9800XT Radeon is loaded down with features and goodies. Games, DVD writing and playing software, Video Security options, all you could ever want is there in the bundle. Scoring 21.4 % was Chaintechs'  FX71Apogee, using the Nvidia 5600 Ultra Chip. Having one of the coolest looking cards I have ever seen, a unique cooling solution, games and utilities and all the cables and adapter one would need. plus, you get a monitor cleaning ball and an anti static brush...this is a nice touch. Dropping down to 12.8% of the vote is the Gigabyte GV-R96128DU Radeon 9600, giving Gigabyte a string of Awards for Video Cards. MSI rounds out the four contestants on 12.5% with their FX5200 TDR 128MB (MS-8907). This gives Nvidia and ATi two places each.

Best Graphics Card Package

Overall it was a year dominated by ATi, they won almost anything they contested, had the better value for money, and had technology far better suited for the upcomin g flood of Direct X 9 programs. The only fight was to see who could sell the most Radeon Cards  In 2004, the war will get serious, expect fast turnover of technology as both companies try to leapfrog the other.

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