Graphic cards are constantly improving, bringing us more realistic graphics. As this happens, the price on each card seems to steadily go up. If you are like me, you like your monitor to produce the most realistic graphics whether you are working or playing. I put this page together to give you a little in-site into the new technologies being used in some of the hottest graphic cards on the market today.

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ATI

The RADEON 8500 is a high-performance gaming 3D accelerator that uses innovative design and intelligent architecture to provide the next level in graphics performance and image quality. The RADEON 8500 is capable of generating real-time graphics and effects of the same quality as those found in the latest pre-rendered computer generated movies. By supporting the newest features found in both DirectX 8.1 and OpenGL, the RADEON 8500 provides the most comprehensive feature set of any graphics processor available.

The RADEON 8500 introduces new and revolutionary technologies at all stages of the 3D graphics pipeline, including:

• TRUFORM, which pre-processes 3D artwork being fed into the graphics accelerator by converting it from flat triangle data into curved surface data, allowing more highly detailed and realistically lit images with virtually no performance loss.
• SMARTSHADER technology, which revolutionizes the graphics pipeline by making both the geometry processing and pixel processing stages more programmable than ever before, and allowing developers to easily create amazing new graphics effects while maintaining a high level of performance.
• SMOOTHVISION, which raises the bar for image quality using programmable multisample anti-aliasing methods to post-process graphics before they are displayed.

For more on ATI's new graphic cards, visit ATI.

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NVIDIA

The NVIDIA GeForce3 graphics processing unit (GPU) shakes up the gaming industry with unprecedented visual effects and sizzling frame rates, injecting life into the previously artificial world of computer-generated graphics.

Powered by the new NVIDIA nfiniteFX engine and the Lightspeed Memory Architecture, the GeForce3 GPU enables you to look into a rich environment instead of just a computer screen. 3D scenes have ambiance with the GeForce3 because textures appear photo-realistic and custom lighting heightens the drama. Characters and living creatures have organic imperfections and unique expressions—you can see their personality. Programmability and performance combine to provide the catalyst for this graphics revolution.

For more GeForce specs, visit Nvidia.