Nvidia or Radeon?

Nokia

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it sounds like you need a powerfull sytem for CAD work?

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If that is the case then the decision must be software based as MadBeaver suggested:

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The first thing to look at though is if there is a specific app. you want it for is it supported.

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You go to the application supplier first and look at what they recommend/support. This is because your major investment is in training/learning how to use it. Not to mention the cost of ownership of professional strength CAD applications. I have done this several times in the defence industry, as it is a process you have to go through each time the CAD supplier launches a major upgrade (usually once a year).

As for MadBeaver's other suggestion. This is something I understand well, it is based on decision matrix theory and is a technique I have used for almost 20 years. I must say that I have never used it for hardware, only for software package shortlisting/selection. You then go to a user acceptance testing phase.

As for Maxipoo12345's dilemma....................now is not a good time to be buying high end equipment for personal use. In a lot of cases your investment will be obsolete well before there is the software to take advantage of it.

Once again, a decision matrix is useful:
1. Hardware Options (64/32bit, AGP/PCI-e, etc)
2. Software requirements

Just populate the marix with 0/1/2 where 0= won't work, 1= will work equally well and 2= will work better. Unless you have good multivariate modelling skills (or have a cheater's package :D ) this may take several iterations.

Just my thoughts..............otherwise get the best Alienware you can afford, they have better bragging rights than Dell :D

If you can install a videocard you can build a whole system with the manuals given bvy each product. One thing is for sure this whole videocard thing is like golf now. Actually it's way past golf, it's like................pro model rocket hobby now! The price to keep up is f-n crazy. But kids will save up two-three months of pay from bagging groceries to buy the stuff.

Dell's gaming systems are the biggest load of **** and rippoff EVER. I could build the same if not better systems for half the cost...and I do build em...I sell BYOPC parts at work. Anywhere from a geforce 400 to an Nvidia 7800GTX.

Lets not even talk about their "tech" support.

Tell me about it......................they take advantage of the naive............no offense to any "SOHO”, "mom and pap", local repair entrepreneur's. But how much will they charge to build a comp from scratch?..........God knows CompUSSR will charge $80 at the least. Plus they will want you to pick from their shitty selection of MOBOS. I can put a new system together in maybe a little under an hour. That's not installing XP.......that takes at least a half hour. But y question to the "SOHO" repair stores. Do you lock down the PC at all? Or just a "fresh" repair or a real fresh install and wait for them to be back in a few weeks with a slow comp? I assume you guys run into some furked up systems, anything from SUE line systems to NT's people using admin as their average account. But after you fix those systems how do you send them off............just "clean up" their system and send them off to get more? Or do you guys actually lock it down and advise running on a limited account and a reinstall?

Just curious, not condemning anyone? Like I said I'm sure you seen some torn up systems.

Just replaced my old S3 with the XP/driver issues with a (well out of date) NVidia GeForce 5200. I'm quite satisfied with it - it's running very nicely on my older box and the sudden restarts have ceased nearly completely (still having sound issues, but that's a different story). Total cost for the board: Less than $50 US at the mom and pop. Cheapest I found online was $76 at pricewatch and this mom and pop computer store didn't require the delay in shipping either :)

Rusty's right though - if you can install any card on your system and get it to run successfully, you can count yourself amongst the many who can build their own systems with little or no trouble. I built my first box 8 years ago with $550. The box I'm currently using cost $500 and was built 2 years ago. Next one I build I think I'll splurge and get top of the line everything - I'm anticipating a max of $1k cost to my budget... Gawd I love toss and replace troubleshooting and plug and play building! :D