Video Cards, a love story

[moonbogg]

So, tell me if I am totally weird.
When I buy new video cards, there is a potent swirl of feelings and emotions directly related to that purchase and those feelings are blissful. Those occasions, as well as the weeks following them, are so memorable that they leave me missing those feelings in the same way that I would miss, perhaps a pet turtle or something (these feelings are not dog or cat caliber).
Everything about that upgrade experience leaves a mark in my heart. The smell of fresh, new electronics, the anticipation of playing that favorite game totally maxed out, and the physical appearance of the card with all its nice design features and colors, all add to the experience.
Songs that frequently play on the radio will be heard at a later time and it brings me back to those fond moments, in the same way that the smell of a new rain on the pavement reminds me of a cool spring evening.
Am I weird?

 

[Eureka]

That's normal human behavior. That's fixation/addiction you're describing.

However, you're addicted to video cards. Yes it's weird. Most people prefer to be addicted to more common things. But that's life, we all have weird addictions (and I think many of us on AT might be slightly (or more than slightly) obsessed with hardware).

 

[Meghan54]

However, you're addicted to video cards.

No he's not. Go talk with lavaheadache...now that's one video card addicted gent. I've seen parts of his collection---impressive.

 

[BD231]

Sounds much like my addiction to cracker barrel.

 

[Eureka]

No he's not. Go talk with lavaheadache...now that's one video card addicted gent. I've seen parts of his collection---impressive.

I've seen the pictures, it's intense. OP just hasn't succumbed to that level of dedication yet.

 

[blastingcap]

So, tell me if I am totally weird.
When I buy new video cards, there is a potent swirl of feelings and emotions directly related to that purchase and those feelings are blissful. Those occasions, as well as the weeks following them, are so memorable that they leave me missing those feelings in the same way that I would miss, perhaps a pet turtle or something (these feelings are not dog or cat caliber).
Everything about that upgrade experience leaves a mark in my heart. The smell of fresh, new electronics, the anticipation of playing that favorite game totally maxed out, and the physical appearance of the card with all its nice design features and colors, all add to the experience.
Songs that frequently play on the radio will be heard at a later time and it brings me back to those fond moments, in the same way that the smell of a new rain on the pavement reminds me of a cool spring evening.
Am I weird?

I can think of only like 2 things that have ever done anything like that to me, even a little bit, and they weren't things but women. So.. yes, you are weird. But apparently you have company (hi lava!).

 

[Meghan54]

I've seen the pictures, it's intense. OP just hasn't succumbed to that level of dedication yet.

Much more intense in person. Never seen such a stack of video cards in my life.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

No he's not. Go talk with lavaheadache...now that's one video card addicted gent. I've seen parts of his collection---impressive.

I need to talk to him because I have a 7800GT sitting at home and I remember a thread where someone had one and he wanted it.

 

[guskline]

moonboog, are you married? My wife of nearly 40 years accuses me of acting like you are describing when i'm waiting for the UPS truck to appear with a new part from newegg. No shame in being "addicted" to computers so long as your "addiction" doesn't cause you to ignore your wife/husband/significant other, your parenets and your children/grandchildren.:awe:

 

[Janek1]

Hi i got the same or similar feelings i love my computer its called Dragoni my brand new baby my old one was Bob and the before and before they all have names and all have a family tree just kidding about the family tree lol.

But yes i do 2 also have feelings to my computer its like my son. =D

I even talk to my Dragoni lol just joking haha well sometimes i do. ^_^

 

[lavaheadache]

No he's not. Go talk with lavaheadache...now that's one video card addicted gent. I've seen parts of his collection---impressive.

lol, Thanks old man. I feel famous and almost..... legendary =). How's the Titan?


OP, What's your favorite card?

I'm thinking my top 5 favorites are *in no particular order* just due to sheer bad assery.

9800/9700 pro - complete domination

8800 GTX - complete domination and still viable today nearly 7 years or so after introduction.

X1900 XTX- much better future proof card than the equivalent 7 series. In fact I'm so impressed with this card because it can provide a completely playable experience in the new Batman games with good image quality. When the Cape busy season dies down I'm going to invest more time into seeing what this ah heck is still capabale of.

Diamond Monster 3d Voodoo 2 12 meg SLI- 1024x768 Unreal. Need I say more?

HD 4870- Wiped the stupid smirk right off Jen's face along with hundreds of dollars off the price of their recently released highend

 

[Janek1]

Hi lavaheadache i agree the x1900 xtx is a fantastic card i use it to this very day and it works like a charm. =)

lavaheadache Can you please help me out in my thread thank you i think you will know what i mean and have the solution thanks.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2321043

 

[Will Robinson]

lol, Thanks old man. I feel famous and almost..... legendary =). How's the Titan?


OP, What's your favorite card?

I'm thinking my top 5 favorites are *in no particular order* just due to sheer bad assery.

9800/9700 pro - complete domination

8800 GTX - complete domination and still viable today nearly 7 years or so after introduction.

X1900 XTX- much better future proof card than the equivalent 7 series. In fact I'm so impressed with this card because it can provide a completely playable experience in the new Batman games with good image quality. When the Cape busy season dies down I'm going to invest more time into seeing what this ah heck is still capabale of.

Diamond Monster 3d Voodoo 2 12 meg SLI- 1024x768 Unreal. Need I say more?

HD 4870- Wiped the stupid smirk right off Jen's face along with hundreds of dollars off the price of their recently released highend

I'd have to agree with that lineup and your comments though I would exchange the Voodoo for an NVDA 8800GT.That had a hell of a run and was well priced too.
I had the X1900XT and it was a very good card.It was so great in BF2 after the X850XT PE I'd been running.
The HD4850 was also a terrific card.The better IQ was really noticeable.
I also had a high strung beastie called X800 XT Platinum Edition which was awesome at that time and is currently running a PC/Widescreen TV combo
at a friend's house.
I've found my ATi cards to last a long time,perform well and I haven't had one fail yet.
That's why I support them.:thumbsup:

Oh and ps...... Lava...how about a nice selection of pics showing your collection?
I'd love to see them as I'm sure many others would.

 

[guskline]

Could the theme of this thread be the basis for a new Country -Western song?

 

[njdevilsfan87]

I definitely get high off the smell of new computer hardware. Video cards especially lately (mining rigs).

 

[lavaheadache]

I'd have to agree with that lineup and your comments though I would exchange the Voodoo for an NVDA 8800GT.That had a hell of a run and was well priced too.
I had the X1900XT and it was a very good card.It was so great in BF2 after the X850XT PE I'd been running.
The HD4850 was also a terrific card.The better IQ was really noticeable.
I also had a high strung beastie called X800 XT Platinum Edition which was awesome at that time and is currently running a PC/Widescreen TV combo
at a friend's house.
I've found my ATi cards to last a long time,perform well and I haven't had one fail yet.
That's why I support them.:thumbsup:

Oh and ps...... Lava...how about a nice selection of pics showing your collection?
I'd love to see them as I'm sure many others would.

I'll pull some of my favorites out and snap a couple bikini shots for ya. It would be very difficult to get a good picture of them all. I could do it generational I guess.

As always. If anybody has cards they think I should have send me a pm. I'm only interested in the Highend cards meaning Top Tier. No 8800 gts's, GTX 260's, 2600 pro's, ti 4200's, 5200 ultra's, HD3650's, 8600gt's, etc......

 

[flexy]

basically, I agree...getting a new graphics card is one of those h/w purchases I always look forward and highly enjoy. LOTS of memories, back in the days when I was still so crazy having to have "the newest and best and greatest" as soon as it was available.

Sadly, today with $1000 cards this doesn't really work anymore...I remember several years back when I still lived in the states, usually the "newest and greatest" card cost like $400-$500..anyone remember those days?

 

[Janek1]

basically, I agree...getting a new graphics card is one of those h/w purchases I always look forward and highly enjoy. LOTS of memories, back in the days when I was still so crazy having to have "the newest and best and greatest" as soon as it was available.

Sadly, today with $1000 cards this doesn't really work anymore...I remember several years back when I still lived in the states, usually the "newest and greatest" card cost like $400-$500..anyone remember those days?

Me too dude. I lived in Sarasota Fl now im back in the Czech cesko. =)

 

[Granseth]

I can identify these feelings myself. The butterflies in the stomach when I getting something new that makes the games look so much better.

I worked selling HW when the Voodoo came out, and I think that was the most remarkable change in computer gaming for me. Suddenly 3D looked alive, and not blocky.

Then there was the upgrade from Matrox G400 to Radeon 9500 Pro, ooh great times.

And now I've been using the same HW (7970) for almost 1 1/2 years, and mostly because there haven't been any remarkable upgrades. So what looked like an expensive upgrade is suddenly not so bad.
Though I haven't had the butterflies, or the need too look at some 3D graphics since the 9500Pro. I think that was my one true love.

 

[Barfo]

You tell me, OP

 

[Janek1]

You tell me, OP

=DDDD :twisted: () :biggrin:

 

[moonbogg]

moonboog, are you married? My wife of nearly 40 years accuses me of acting like you are describing when i'm waiting for the UPS truck to appear with a new part from newegg. No shame in being "addicted" to computers so long as your "addiction" doesn't cause you to ignore your wife/husband/significant other, your parenets and your children/grandchildren.:awe:

I am married with two boys...um...I mean I have two kids that are male. Yes, my PC addiction does take a lot of my time and is something that needs to be worked on. I am aware of it and have made progress in this area. I am usually motivated by pain, and ignoring your wife is a wonderful way to experience this pain.

OP, What's your favorite card?

I would have to judge my favorite cards based on the related emotions they gave me, and not on the best card in objective terms.
I had amazing feelings about building my first PC, and the Geforce3 Ti200 that I bought for it was a big part of that. I was able to max Unreal Tournament and i felt like a king during lan parties. Loved that card because building PCs was a new experience for me.
I loved my Geforce4 Ti4600 for the reason that it was my first high end card and I knew I had the best.
I loved all my cards and get good feelings from all of them, but those early days were pretty great.

 

[nenforcer]

This thread needs an embedded YouTube clip of a high end video card unboxing.

I love watching those.

 

[moonbogg]

This thread needs an embedded YouTube clip of a high end video card unboxing.

I love watching those.

I love unboxing the goods, because I know the implications of my actions at that point. It is not a piece of hardware that I am removing from that box, but it is countless hours of immersive experience, thousands of social interactions, epic victories and tragic defeats. Yes, out of that box comes entire worlds, and as hardware advances, the line seperating reality from fiction will become ever more blurry and difficult to distinguish. If life is an experience, then gaming is a part of it.

 

[Smoblikat]

Nope, not weird........at least to me. I feel the same way about opening up a fresh hard drive.......:wub: