Everyone says HDR wont work on 98xx/X8xx cards, yet in that preview of the Source lost coast posted here-
arstechnica.com/articles/culture/lostcoast.ars/1

The guy runs HDR on a 9600. So whats the real deal with SM 3.0?

On NVIDIA cards, it stores these values as 16-bit floating point data (what is known as a "linear color space," as opposed to separate RGB values), and on ATI cards stores it as a 4.12 integer value (again a linear space). The advantages of this technique are many. All DirectX9 hardware is supported, and because it does not require that much extra texture memory the performance hit is small even on an ATI 9600. Fog effects work, and so does FSAA. The only real downside is that HDR effects are not supported with refraction, so while light will still stream in nicely through stained-glass windows, you won't see the HDR effects when looking directly through the window at the sun. It is a small price to pay, however.

I dont like the look of HDR. Looks too warm and fuzzy, i thought the funky contrast setting in NFSU2 was bad enough, but this is stupid!

Not their job

I've always believed that companies should produce the best product they can and let the people decide what they like and what they want. It is so sad to see a company like NVIDIA punch below the belt like this. Even if everything they say is true, nobody likes to see that kind of behavior. If their product is superior, then they have nothing to worry about because reviewers like ourselves will write what is good, what is great, and what is maybe not worth your money. Thing is, I don't think I have ever seen a reviewer attack one product or another in such a way. It's unprofessional. It gives me a bad taste in the mouth like the Cola wars of past where Pepsi commercials were always taking pot shots at Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola never said Pepsi tastes bad. They just made cool commercials featuring their product. NVIDIA should do the same (like the NVIDIA girl at the end of their presentation about ATI Crossfire). I'm not protecting ATI or anything, because the numbers just aren't there so far for ATI's Crossfire, but I'd hate to see NVIDIA and ATI start throwing chairs and whatnot at each other...Just so uncool.

More BS from one Manufactor about the other.

Nvidia is scared cuz they know whats coming around the corner ;)

aha