NVIDIA GEFORCE3 VS SAPPHIRE 9000 PRO

"The NVIDIA ™ family of graphics processing units (GPUs) 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 Lightspeed Memory Architecture, the Ti 500, Ti 200, and original GPUs enable users to experience a rich environment instead of just looking at it on a computer screen."

"The nfiniteFX Engine - With the nfiniteFX engine's programmability, games and other graphics-intensive applications can offer more exciting and stylized visual effects. Vertex and Pixel Shaders are two patented architectural advancements that allow for a multitude of effects."

"3D Textures - A new teachnology that is part of the nfiniteFX Engine, 3D textures make hollow objects solid with true three-dimensional material properties such as wood grain or marbling."

"Shadow Buffers - Another new feature of the Titanium series, shadow buffers create realistic shadow effects in real time. Enables self-shadowing for characters and objects, and softens the edges of shadows for realistic effects, adding depth to scenes and highlighting spatial relationships between objects."

"NVIDIA nfiniteFX Engine - NVIDIA’s programmable Vertex and Pixel Shaders, and 3D textures. The nfiniteFX engine gives developers the freedom to program a virtually infinite number of custom special effects, in order to create true-to-life characters and environments."

"Pixel Shaders - Part of the nfiniteFX engine, Pixel Shaders alter lighting and surface effects that replace artificial, computerized looks with materials and surfaces that mimic reality."

"Shadow Buffers - Part of the nfiniteFX II and nfiniteFX Engines, shadow buffers enable self-shadowing for characters and objects, and soften the edges of shadows for realistic effects, adding depth to scenes and highlighting spatial relationships between objects."

"High-Definition Video Processor (HDVP) - Turns your PC into a fully functional DVD player, and an HDTV player with the purchase of an additional third-party decoder."

"High-Resolution Antialiasing (HRAA) - Delivers fluid frame rates of 60 frames per second or more at high resolutions, such as 1024x768x32 or higher, with full-scene antialiasing (FSAA) turned on. Featuring the Quincunx AA mode, HRAA delivers a high level of detail and performance for all applications."

"Lightspeed Memory Architecture - NVIDIA memory bandwidth optimizations designed to make complex scenes faster. These optimizations make full-scene antialiasing (FSAA) practical for the first time, enabling users to enjoy high-resolution antialiasing (HRAA)."

"Digital Visual Interface (DVI) - NVIDIA GPUs offers broad TMDS transmitter support for maximum flat panel compatibility."

"AGP 4X/2X and AGP Texturing Support - Takes advantage of new methods of transferring information more efficiently, and allows content developers to use high-quality, 32-bit color textures and high-polygon-count scenes."

"Microsoft DirectX 8.1 and OpenGL 1.3 Optimizations and Support - Delivers the best performance and guarantees compatibility with all current and future 3D applications and games."

"TV-Out and Video Modules - Gives end users the option of big-screen gaming, digital timeshifting VCR, and video-editing applications."

"World's Fastest DDR Memory Interface - 7.36GB per second memory subsystem ensures peak performance and the smoothest frame rates ever."