Graphics Card Compatibility?

[Zouave]

I was looking at this card:

http://ati.amd.com/products/fireglv5600/index.html

and I have a few questions, having not built a computer system in some time, and being a relative novice at the moment.

Am I stuck with an AMD cpu with the above card? Are ATI cards compatible with Intel cpus, as I was leaning heavily towards a Core 2 Duo chipset. With that being the case, do I need to start looking at Nvidia cards instead of ATI?

I got the distinct impression that for the money, ATI offers a better workstation (not gaming) graphics card. Will I be able to add a second card as the SLI cards will allow, if I go with ATI?

Thanks in advance, if I need to clarify my questions, please let me know.

[evasive]

http://ati.amd.com/products/workstation/techspecs3.html

I see nothing listed about a specific CPU in the system requirements, only a PCIe 16x slot on your motherboard.

[sbrehm72255]

The video card will work on any type system regardless of CPU type (Intel or AMD) as long as the Motherboard has the correct interface for the card.................

[Zouave]

Thanks, I was worried a lot about that. I appreciate the feedback.

[jimmy-j]

I'm sure Intel are backing ati's crossfire, Methinks because Nvidia has encroached onto Intels turf.

[Sabrewings]

Will I be able to add a second card as the SLI cards will allow, if I go with ATI?

With ATI, you wouldn't be using SLI. You'd be running Crossfire and need a Crossfire supporting motherboard.

[Zouave]

The official site for the card I was looking at above did not indicate directly that it supported Crossfire. Is that something that all ATI cards support, so long as the motherboard is in compliance, or do I need a specific graphics card to have that capability?

And I apologize for the relatively newbie-esque questions, I'm still trying to wrap my mind around some of the new technology, and how it works and relates to each other...

[jimmy-j]

Not all ATI cards will be crossfire, there will be a row of gold fingers along the top of the card for this purpose if it can be enabled, There is a page on their website which tells you what cards are compatable for cxrossfire.