What I don't like about the new (and not so new) video cards is its refrigeration system: too big. If you want the video card then you will loose one port on your motherboard.

One of those video cards on my PC implies the "death" of the PCIe x1 port, which BTW I don't know for what it can serve but since I only have 2 more ports (normal PCI) I would not like to loose it.

I have seen video cards with passive refrigeration systems on magazines (based on liquid metal technology), but how much it can cost? And I don't remember for sure if this solution will take no more space over an extra port.

The other thing I have not clear is: What brand is better, nVidia or ATi? Because I have seen here video cards with more RAM from ATi at the same price as some models from nVidia with half that memory (I don't remember models now).